Director, Product Strategy Lead LCM - Immunology

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director, Product Strategy Lead LCM - Immunology

Company: Novartis

Location: East Hanover, New Jersey, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Strategy & Marketing Operations

Date Posted: March 16, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic development and execution of product marketing plans within the Immunology therapeutic area, focusing on long-term revenue growth and market share optimization.

• Drive comprehensive product lifecycle management (LCM) strategies, encompassing pre-launch, launch, and post-launch phases to maximize brand potential.

• Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, including Sales, Managed Markets, Medical, Regulatory, and Global counterparts, to ensure cohesive strategy and execution.

• Conduct rigorous ROI assessments for tactical marketing programs and ensure effective implementation across field forces.

• Oversee market research initiatives and adapt strategies based on evolving competitive landscapes and customer insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title specifies "Product Strategy Lead," the core responsibilities and required skills, particularly around marketing mix, tactical program execution, ROI assessment, and sales enablement, strongly indicate this role functions within a Product Marketing or Brand Management capacity, with a significant emphasis on strategic operational execution. The "LCM" (Lifecycle Management) component highlights a focus on managing products from development through maturity. This role is less about pure R&D strategy and more about translating scientific advancements into market success through strategic marketing and operational planning.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive, long-term strategic marketing plans for assigned Immunology brand(s), aligning with global brand strategy.

• Continuously monitor product performance, competitive intelligence, and customer base dynamics to proactively identify and implement necessary strategic adjustments.

• Lead and manage ROI assessments for all tactical marketing programs, ensuring alignment with budget and strategic objectives.

• Drive cross-functional alignment and consensus-building among extended brand team members (Sales, Managed Markets, Medical, Clinical, Regulatory, Training, Finance, etc.) to ensure seamless execution.

• Present brand strategies, performance updates, and action plans to senior management, effectively addressing competitive threats and market shifts.

• Collaborate closely with Global teams on critical brand development issues, ensuring alignment and integration with global strategy.

• Lead the preparation and execution of new indication launches, defining market size, opportunity, forecasting, and developing pre-marketing and marketing plans.

• Oversee market research initiatives to inform brand strategy, anticipate market reactions, and identify new growth opportunities.

• Provide strategic leadership to cross-functional GPT (Global Product Team) members, ensuring cohesion, brand integrity, and alignment across pricing, safety messaging, pharmacovigilance, regulatory interactions, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and supply forecasting.

• Ensure strict adherence to Novartis policies, procedures, and ethical standards, fostering integration into the Novartis culture.

• Manage reporting of technical complaints, adverse events, and special case scenarios promptly and compliantly.

• Oversee the distribution of marketing samples, where applicable, in accordance with company guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a senior-level marketing leadership role with significant operational oversight. The emphasis on "leading interactions," "building consensus," and "presenting to senior management" suggests a need for strong leadership and communication skills beyond traditional marketing strategy. The inclusion of "supply forecasting" and "manufacturing" collaboration points towards a deep understanding of the end-to-end product lifecycle and operational dependencies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field is required.

Experience:

• Minimum of 8+ years of progressive experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, or healthcare consulting industry.

• Experience should encompass at least two distinct types of cross-functional roles or experiences.

• Demonstrated experience in US market launches and managing products through various lifecycle stages (LCM).

• Alternatively, General Manager experience in other countries can be considered.

• Proven experience leading large and/or diverse multi-functional teams.

• Experience in sales leadership roles.

• Strong background in process management and operations management and execution.

• Experience working effectively across functional and trans-national boundaries.

Required Skills:

• Agility: Ability to adapt quickly to changing market conditions and strategic priorities.

• Business Strategy: Expertise in developing and executing comprehensive business and marketing strategies.

• Commercial Excellence: Deep understanding of commercial operations, market access, and sales enablement.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to lead and influence diverse teams across multiple departments and geographies.

• Customer Orientation: Strong focus on understanding and meeting customer needs within the healthcare sector.

• Influencing Skills: Demonstrated ability to persuade and gain buy-in from stakeholders at all levels.

• Inspirational Leadership: Ability to motivate and guide teams towards achieving ambitious goals.

• Marketing Strategy: Profound knowledge of brand strategy, marketing mix, and campaign development.

• Negotiation Skills: Proficiency in negotiating with internal and external stakeholders.

• Operational Excellence: Commitment to driving efficiency, quality, and continuous improvement in marketing operations.

• People Management: Strong skills in coaching, developing, and managing direct and indirect reports.

• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM): Expertise in managing products throughout their entire lifecycle.

• Product Strategy: Ability to define and articulate compelling product visions and strategies.

• Healthcare Sector Understanding: In-depth knowledge of the pharmaceutical/biotech industry, regulatory environment, and market dynamics.

Preferred Skills:

• Asset Management: Understanding of how to leverage and manage product assets effectively.

• Digital Marketing: Proficiency in leveraging digital channels for marketing and engagement.

• Priority Disease Areas Expertise: Specific knowledge of Immunology or related therapeutic areas.

• Stakeholder Engagement & Management: Advanced skills in managing complex stakeholder relationships.

• Strategic Partnerships: Experience in developing and managing strategic alliances.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required experience level (8+ years with at least two cross-functional roles) and the preference for an MBA, combined with the extensive list of required skills, position this as a senior leadership role within Product Strategy/Marketing. The emphasis on US market launch and LCM suggests a need for practical, hands-on experience in bringing and managing products in a highly competitive market. The skill set leans heavily towards strategic thinking, operational execution, and cross-functional leadership.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Marketing Plans: Examples of comprehensive strategic marketing plans developed for pharmaceutical products, showcasing market analysis, target segmentation, positioning, and core marketing strategies.

• Product Launch Case Studies: Detailed case studies of successful product launches, highlighting pre-launch planning, execution, cross-functional coordination, and post-launch performance metrics.

• Lifecycle Management (LCM) Initiatives: Documentation of strategies implemented to manage products through different lifecycle stages, including market revitalization, indication expansion, or competitive response.

• ROI Analysis & Performance Tracking: Examples of ROI assessments for marketing programs, demonstrating how return on investment was calculated, tracked, and reported, with clear links to business outcomes.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Frameworks: Evidence of developed frameworks or processes used to foster effective collaboration with Sales, Medical, Regulatory, and other key functions.

Process Documentation:

• Strategic Planning & Execution: Documented processes for developing annual strategic marketing plans, including market assessment, goal setting, and tactical planning phases.

• Market Research & Insights Integration: Workflows detailing how market research is conducted, insights are synthesized, and they inform strategic decision-making and plan adjustments.

• Cross-Functional Alignment & Approvals: Established processes for gaining consensus and securing necessary approvals from various functional departments and regulatory bodies for marketing initiatives.

• Performance Monitoring & Optimization: Systems and processes for tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) of marketing programs, conducting post-campaign analysis, and implementing optimization strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role at this level, a portfolio demonstrating strategic thinking, operational execution, and quantifiable results is crucial. Candidates should be prepared to showcase not just the strategy, but the how – their specific processes, the tools they used for collaboration and tracking, and the tangible impact on business objectives like sales, market share, and ROI. Emphasis should be placed on structured case studies that clearly articulate the problem, their solution, their role, and the measurable outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $185,500.00 - $344,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, life, and disability insurance benefits.

• 401(k) plan with company contribution and match.

• Generous time off package, including vacation days, personal days, and holidays.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week, with potential for extended hours during critical project phases or launch periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is indicative of a senior Director-level position in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly for a strategic marketing role in a major biopharmaceutical company like Novartis. The benefits package is typical for large US-based corporations, emphasizing comprehensive coverage and retirement savings. The expectation of working beyond standard hours is common for roles with significant launch responsibilities or demanding strategic oversight.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology

Company Size: Large Enterprise (10,000+ employees)

Founded: 1996 (formed from the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz)

Team Structure:

• This role is part of the Immunology business unit, likely within the North America commercial organization.

• The position reports to a senior leader (e.g., Head of Immunology Marketing, VP of Commercial Strategy).

• The role involves leading a core brand team and collaborating extensively with a broader, extended brand team comprising representatives from Sales, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, Market Access, Global Product Teams, and other functional areas.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Novartis emphasizes leveraging market data, clinical insights, and financial analysis to inform strategic decisions and measure performance.

• Agile & Innovative Approach: The company fosters a culture that encourages innovation, agility, and a willingness to challenge the status quo to drive advancements in medicine.

• Patient-Centricity: A core value is focusing efforts on improving patient outcomes and addressing unmet medical needs.

• Global Collaboration: Encourages strong partnerships with global teams to ensure strategy alignment and leverage best practices worldwide.

Company Website: https://www.novartis.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Novartis is a global leader in the pharmaceutical industry, known for its commitment to innovation, research, and patient well-being. The company culture is generally characterized by a focus on scientific excellence, cross-functional teamwork, and a drive for innovation. For a role in Product Strategy, understanding this culture is key to navigating internal dynamics and driving successful product commercialization. The Immunology unit is a significant area of focus for Novartis.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior leadership position within Product Strategy and Marketing Operations, equivalent to a Director or senior manager level, with significant strategic responsibility and impact. It's a critical role for managing product success from development through maturity.

Reporting Structure:

• Reports to a VP or Head of Brand/Therapeutic Area Marketing.

Operations Impact:

• Directly influences revenue generation, market share, and profitability for key Immunology products.

• Plays a pivotal role in strategic decision-making regarding product development, market access, and commercialization strategies.

Growth Opportunities:

• Advancement to VP/Senior Leadership: Potential to progress to Vice President of Marketing, Head of a Therapeutic Area, or General Manager roles.

• Broader Commercial Leadership: Opportunities to move into broader commercial strategy, market access leadership, or business unit leadership positions.

• Global Mobility: Potential for international assignments or roles with global strategic oversight given Novartis's global footprint.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise within a specific therapeutic area or move into broader strategic functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a significant step in a career path for pharmaceutical marketing professionals. Success here can lead to broader commercial leadership roles, either within the same therapeutic area or expanding into other commercial functions. The emphasis on LCM and strategic execution provides a strong foundation for senior management positions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Primarily an on-site role at a major Novartis campus (East Hanover, NJ).

Office Location(s): East Hanover, New Jersey, United States. Some flexibility for occasional travel to other Novartis offices or for industry events may be expected.

Workspace Context:

• The work environment is expected to be collaborative and fast-paced, typical of a large pharmaceutical company.

• Access to state-of-the-art office facilities, technology, and internal resources will be provided.

• Opportunities for interaction with diverse teams across commercial, medical, regulatory, and R&D functions.

Work Schedule:

• Standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility often available, but significant demands during product launches and critical strategic planning periods. The role requires dedication to meeting project deadlines and strategic objectives, which may necessitate working beyond standard hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in East Hanover suggests a collaborative and integrated work environment typical of large biopharma headquarters or major regional offices. The emphasis on cross-functional collaboration implies a dynamic office setting where interaction with various departments is frequent and encouraged.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager covering strategic thinking, leadership experience, product strategy expertise, and operational execution capabilities.

• Cross-Functional Panel Interview: Interviews with key stakeholders from Sales, Medical, Regulatory, and potentially Global teams to assess collaboration skills, understanding of interdependencies, and ability to gain consensus.

• Case Study Presentation/Business Case: Candidates may be asked to prepare and present a strategic marketing plan, launch strategy, or a response to a competitive scenario. This is a critical component for assessing strategic thinking and presentation skills.

• Senior Leadership Interview: Final interview with a senior executive (e.g., VP Marketing, Head of Immunology) to evaluate strategic vision, leadership potential, and alignment with company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quantify Impact: For each project or case study, clearly articulate the business objectives, your specific role and contributions, the strategies implemented, and most importantly, the quantifiable results (e.g., market share increase, revenue growth, ROI achieved, successful launch metrics).

• Showcase Strategic Thinking: Demonstrate your ability to analyze complex market situations, identify key drivers of success, and develop innovative yet practical strategies.

• Highlight Cross-Functional Leadership: Include examples where you successfully led or influenced cross-functional teams to achieve common goals. Detail your approach to stakeholder management and consensus building.

• Focus on LCM: If possible, include examples that span different stages of the product lifecycle, showcasing your ability to adapt strategies over time.

• Structure for Clarity: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by product, by strategic initiative, or by lifecycle stage. Use clear headings, concise descriptions, and impactful visuals (charts, graphs) where appropriate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Marketing Plan: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach developing a marketing plan for a new immunology product or revitalizing an existing one. Think about market segmentation, targeting, positioning, the marketing mix, key performance indicators, and budget allocation.

• Competitive Response: Anticipate common competitive threats in the immunology space (e.g., new entrants, competitor product launches, pricing pressures) and outline strategic and tactical responses.

• Launch Planning: Be ready to discuss the critical elements of a successful product launch from a marketing perspective, including pre-launch activities, launch execution, and post-launch monitoring.

• Operational Execution: Prepare to discuss how you ensure marketing strategies are effectively translated into actionable plans for field teams and how you measure their success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess strategic acumen, leadership capability, and operational execution skills. The case study or business case presentation is likely a significant factor, requiring candidates to demonstrate their ability to think critically and communicate complex strategies effectively. A well-curated portfolio that showcases tangible results and strategic thinking will be crucial for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CRM Systems (e.g., Veeva CRM, Salesforce): For managing customer interactions, sales force automation, and tracking sales performance.

• Marketing Automation Platforms (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot, Pardot): For executing digital marketing campaigns, lead nurturing, and customer engagement.

• Project Management Software (e.g., Asana, Monday.com, Microsoft Project): For planning, tracking, and managing complex marketing projects and cross-functional initiatives.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Business Intelligence (BI) Tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, QlikView): For creating dashboards, visualizing data, and generating reports on product performance, market trends, and campaign effectiveness.

• Data Analysis Tools (e.g., Excel, R, Python): For in-depth data analysis, statistical modeling, and deriving actionable insights.

• Market Research Platforms (e.g., IQVIA, Symphony Health): For accessing and analyzing pharmaceutical market data, prescription trends, and competitive intelligence.

CRM & Automation:

• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Software: Tools that support the management of product development, launch, and post-market phases.

• Content Management Systems (CMS): For managing and distributing marketing collateral and digital content.

• Collaboration Platforms (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack, SharePoint): For facilitating communication and collaboration among internal teams and external partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with standard pharmaceutical marketing and CRM tools is essential. The role will likely involve extensive use of data analytics and reporting tools to monitor performance and inform strategic decisions. Familiarity with market research data providers common in the pharmaceutical industry is also a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Agility: A commitment to continuous improvement, embracing new technologies, and adapting quickly to market dynamics.

• Patient Focus: Dedication to improving patient lives through the development and commercialization of innovative therapies.

• Integrity & Compliance: Upholding the highest ethical standards in all business practices and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued and cross-functional teams work together effectively towards common goals.

• Excellence & Accountability: Striving for high performance, taking ownership of results, and driving accountability throughout the organization.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Emphasis on building strong partnerships with Sales, Medical, Regulatory, Market Access, and Global teams, ensuring alignment and shared ownership of brand strategy and execution.

• Data-Driven Communication: Utilizing data and insights to inform discussions, build consensus, and drive decision-making.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive feedback to foster continuous learning and improvement within teams.

• Strategic Alignment: Ensuring all team efforts are aligned with overarching brand and company strategic objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Novartis's values of "Innovation," "Quality," "Patient," "Collaboration," "Integrity," and "Leadership" are central to its culture. For this role, demonstrating a strong understanding and embodiment of these values, particularly Collaboration and Integrity, will be key to successful integration and performance.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Intense Competitive Landscape: The Immunology therapeutic area is highly competitive, requiring continuous strategic adaptation to stay ahead of competitors and evolving treatment paradigms.

• Regulatory & Compliance Rigor: Navigating the complex and ever-changing regulatory landscape for pharmaceuticals requires meticulous attention to detail and strict adherence to compliance standards.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Achieving consensus and driving action across multiple departments with potentially competing priorities can be challenging.

• Market Access & Reimbursement: Securing favorable market access and reimbursement for new and existing therapies is critical and often complex.

• Adapting to Market Shifts: Rapid advancements in scientific understanding and treatment modalities (e.g., biologics, gene therapies) require continuous learning and strategic pivots.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Marketing & Strategy Training: Access to internal and external training programs focused on cutting-edge marketing strategies, digital marketing, and product lifecycle management.

• Therapeutic Area Expertise: Deepening knowledge within Immunology through internal resources, scientific conferences, and collaboration with medical experts.

• Leadership Development Programs: Opportunities to enhance leadership, management, and strategic planning skills through dedicated programs.

• Exposure to Global Strategy: Working with global teams provides insights into international market dynamics and strategic approaches.

• Industry Conferences & Networking: Opportunities to attend key industry events for professional development and networking.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential by exposing the candidate to complex market challenges, advanced strategic frameworks, and diverse stakeholder management. Overcoming these challenges will provide valuable experience for future leadership roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to developing a product strategy for a new immunology therapy entering a crowded market. What are the key considerations?"

• "How do you balance long-term brand vision with short-term tactical execution and ROI measurement?"

• "Walk me through a time you had to adapt a marketing strategy due to unexpected competitive actions or market shifts. What was your process, and what was the outcome?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Novartis's commitment to innovation in Immunology?"

• "How do you align your work with company values like Patient Focus and Integrity?"

• "Describe a situation where you had to influence senior leadership to adopt your strategic recommendation."

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• STAR Method: Structure your case studies and examples using the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) method to provide clear and concise narratives.

• Quantify Everything: Be prepared to discuss the specific metrics and data that underpinned your strategies and demonstrated your impact. Focus on KPIs relevant to product strategy and commercial success.

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize your role in leading teams, driving consensus, and influencing decisions.

• Showcase Operational Acumen: Detail the processes you implemented or improved to ensure effective execution of your strategies.

• Tailor to Novartis: Research Novartis's current pipeline, strategic priorities in Immunology, and recent company news to tailor your examples and demonstrate genuine interest.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, robust operational execution, strong leadership, and a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical product lifecycle. Preparing specific, data-backed examples using the STAR method will be critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Novartis careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Preparation: Carefully curate and organize your professional portfolio, focusing on 2-3 key projects that best exemplify your strategic marketing leadership, product launch experience, and LCM success. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the challenge, your strategic approach, cross-functional collaboration, and quantifiable results.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords directly from the job description, emphasizing experience in product strategy, LCM, marketing leadership, cross-functional team management, and pharmaceutical market launches. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Interview Practice: Conduct mock interviews focusing on strategic questions, behavioral scenarios (using the STAR method), and practice presenting your portfolio highlights concisely and impactfully. Be ready to discuss your approach to market analysis, strategy development, and operational execution.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Novartis, its Immunology portfolio, recent news, and its stated values. Understand the competitive landscape for key immunology products and be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with Novartis's strategic objectives and culture.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.