Director, ESG & License to Operate Policy

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive ESG policy shaping, focusing on governance, green chemistry and “license to operate” topics incl. health and environment in key geographies in close partnership with the Novartis ESG office. Identify, prioritize and influence emerging policies beyond healthcare that impact the Novartis business operations, i.e. topics around our ‘license to operate’  
• Identify policy asks focused on maintaining our license to operate in context of increasingly stringent expectations on e.g. Environment (e.g. Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and PFAS in the EU) and governance (e.g. CSRD) 
• Proactively monitor and scan the ESG policy landscape, conducting structured & predictive policy horizon scanning to anticipate future developments in the ESG and license to operate policy landscape and identify which priority legislations around ESG and license to operate to shape, and articulate clear Novartis policy asks.
• Identify opportunities for targeted advocacy in the EU, working closely with the Region Europe PA team.
• Act as Global Public Affairs point of coordination with the ESG Office . Coordinate targeted, cross-functional internal expert groups to assess policy impacts of new developments around ESG and License to Operate Policy.
• Support relevant function- or business-led ESG initiatives from a Public Affairs perspective (e.g., with Global Health, Value & Access, Environmental Sustainability, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Human Rights, Ethics & Compliance, key Country Management and more) 
• Represent Novartis in key trade associations in working groups focused on environmental policy and license to operate topics, incl. IFPMA 

What you’ll bring to the role:

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Strong understanding of the regulatory and legislative environment in the EU and US, particularly around ESG and License to Operate topics. Understanding of other major geographies is an advantage, e.g. China, Japan.  
• Strong knowledge of ESG topics and current ESG landscape incl. reporting  
• Expertise in ESG policy, particularly as it applies to environment and governance issues ex-US and license to operate topics 
• Understanding of enterprise strategy and strategy development processes and ability to convert insight into strategic recommendations.  
• External orientation, with a strong external network and excellent interpersonal and partnering skills with excellent Business and organizational awareness, enterprise perspective. Ability to collaborate and work effectively in a global matrix organization  
• Strategic sense, combined with strong understanding of portfolio and commercial strategy development  
• Ability to develop senior management/Executive briefings on key policy issues and strategies. 
• Fluent in English.    

DESIRABLE:

• Master’s degree in Regulatory Affairs, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Policy, or related field is preferred. 

Why Novartis? Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us! Learn more here: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Accessibility and accommodation:

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to inclusion.switzerland@novartis.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Join our Novartis Network:

If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to hear more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers and take pride in maintaining a diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to building diverse teams, representative of the patients and communities we serve, and we strive to create an inclusive workplace that cultivates bold innovation through collaboration and empowers our people to unleash their full potential