Job Description Summary
Job Title: Director & Group Head (Applied AI)
#LI-Hybrid
Location: Cambridge, USA
Relocation Support: This role is based in Cambridge, USA. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.

This leadership role for the Applied AI group of AI4R will be tasked with strong technical, team and project leadership, aligning with biomedical subject matter experts to deeply understand ML opportunities in drug discovery, assessment of the model landscape, leading model benchmarking, and applying the right AI approaches, algorithms, models and workflows to maximize impact on key domains areas of biomedical research that will potentially lead to developing better drugs, faster.

Job Description

Step into a pivotal leadership role at the forefront of scientific innovation, where cutting-edge artificial intelligence meets biomedical research. As Director & Group Head (Applied AI), you will shape how advanced machine learning approaches accelerate drug discovery, translating complex data into meaningful scientific insights that can transform patient outcomes. You will lead high-impact collaborations, guide strategic AI direction across research domains, and empower teams to push the boundaries of what is possible in developing better medicines, faster.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the applied artificial intelligence strategy and multi-year roadmap across drug discovery research.
• Align priorities with portfolio needs, scientific opportunities, and measurable business and research impact.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams to identify, prototype, benchmark, and deploy fit-for-purpose artificial intelligence solutions.
• Govern an applied artificial intelligence portfolio with clear intake, prioritization, resourcing, delivery oversight, and success metrics.
• Establish best practices for problem framing, data readiness, benchmarking, evaluation design, and reproducible model development.
• Drive benchmarking of foundation and task-specific models, enabling transparent trade-offs and informed adoption decisions.
• Partner with engineering teams to scale solutions and embed them into day-to-day scientific decision making.
• Define rigorous evaluation metrics linking model performance to downstream decisions and experimental outcomes.
• Build a culture of scientific rigor, rapid iteration, mentorship, and practical impact across teams.
• Forge strategic academic and industry collaborations to accelerate innovation, benchmarking, and technology transfer.

Essential Requirements

• Demonstrated experience in leading core machine learning capability development initiatives across drug discovery teams and use cases.
• Proven experience with foundation model benchmarking in drug discovery applications.
• Hands-on experience applying machine learning to core drug discovery areas such as target identification or computational chemistry.
• Strong experience in large-scale model training, distributed computation, model adaptation, and deployment within machine learning operations frameworks.
• Deep curiosity and passion for biomedical sciences and therapeutic discovery, with ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly.
• Minimum of 12+ years of experience in innovation, development, deployment, and continuous support of machine learning and modeling solutions.
• Strong coding proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks, with experience using version control systems such as Git.
• Ability to manage complexity, balance priorities, and drive outcomes effectively within matrixed environments using a proactive mindset.

Desirable Requirements

• Publications, patents, or open-source contributions demonstrating machine learning innovation and domain expertise.
• Strong curiosity for emerging technologies with pragmatic ability to apply them to real-world business challenges.

Compensation and Benefits

Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary

The salary for this position is expected to range between 1,94,600.00 - 3,61,400.00 USD Annual.

The Final salary offered is determined based on factors such as relevant skills and experience and will be reviewed periodically upon joining Novartis. Novartis may update the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility for annual equity awards.

US-based eligible associates receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life, and disability coverage, a 401(k) plan with company contribution and matching, and a range of additional benefits. Associates are also eligible for a generous time-off package, including vacation, personal days, holidays, and other leave options. To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click here.

Salary Range

Skills Desired