Commercial Head / Business Unit Head

Major accountabilities:  

Performance & Launch 

• Lead the design and execution of strategic, account-specific plans that deliver patient value and competitive commercial impact. 

• Own sales, market share, and profitability targets, ensuring delivery against budget and growth objectives. 

• Drive product growth through lifecycle management, successful launches, and strategic partnerships. 

• Oversee cross-functional coordination for key launches, ensuring flawless execution and market readiness. 

• Maximize sales force execution, effectiveness, and ROI through capability building and innovative commercial approaches. 

• Manage budget and financial performance, ensuring full compliance with Ethics, Risk & Compliance standards. 

Strategic Agility / Business Acumen / Results Orientation 

• Translate global and local strategies into actionable, market-specific plans that drive brand, customer, and launch success. 

• Collaborate with Commercial Heads to shape agile, customer-centric digital and engagement strategies that respond to evolving market and patient needs. 

• Contribute to strategic portfolio development by supporting commercial assessments, forecasting, in-licensing, and lifecycle planning in partnership with global, regional, and local teams. 

• Collaborate cross-functionally to drive shared goals, enhance customer engagement, and deliver value across the healthcare ecosystem. 

Leadership & Culture 

• Champion the Novartis culture and leadership standards and actively showcase the Novartis culture and leadership expectations across all levels of the organization. 

• Foster a culture of excellence and innovation by driving engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement. Lead all people-management processes with integrity and strategic foresight. 

• Attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent in value & access—including from other industries. 

• Drive cross-functional collaboration and inclusivity. Build diverse, agile, and high-performing teams that consistently deliver results. 

Key performance indicators:  

• Achievement of defined performance targets across key business metrics. 

• Delivery of customer satisfaction outcomes in line with the defined index. 

• Identification and realisation of new business development opportunities that support strategic growth. 

• Establishment and activation of external partnerships that contribute to business value and innovation. 

• Execution of pipeline product launches in alignment with budget and business plans. 

• Delivery of efficient, compliant, and high-performing operations across all business functions. 

Requirements: 

• Minimum of 10 years’ relevant experience working with high-performing regional and local sales, marketing, medical, and/or access teams in the healthcare or life sciences industry. 

• Proven commercial leadership experience with full P&L responsibility 

• Demonstrated people management experience 

• International mobility required 

• Strong track record of performance and successful delivery 

• Proven success in leading product launches 

• Proactive self-starter with a change-agent mindset 

• Strong leadership capabilities with experience introducing innovation into healthcare systems 

• Deep understanding of customer needs, market dynamics, and competitor strategies 

• Comfortable working independently in a start-up environment with a hands-on, roll-up-the-sleeves approach 

• Proficient in analysing financial and market data to inform strategy and communicate insights effectively 

• Entrepreneurial mindset with unwavering integrity and professionalism 

Languages: 

• English fluent spoken & written,  

• Highly desirable local language proficiency