Associate Director - Data Science

Summary

The Insights and Decision Science (IDS) team is dedicated to enabling improved decision making at Novartis by leveraging superior data to identify actionable insights that drive enhanced performance. We collaborate closely with the US business, bringing insights and challenging ideas to empower smarter, data-driven decision-making. This role is crucial in leading the development and deployment of advanced AI solutions that enhance operational efficiency and drive strategic growth across the organization.

This position plays a vital role in integrating AI-driven solutions across various platforms, fostering collaboration between the US commercial team and the India-based data science team. By championing the exploration of cutting-edge AI technologies, the Lead – Data Science Predictive Analytics ensures that our strategies are informed by the latest advancements in generative AI and large language models (LLMs). This role will collaborate with other members of the IDS AI and Innovation team members to create, pilot, and scale AI tools to support broader goals of the IDS strategy to transform business processes and outcomes.

About The Role

Location – Hyderabad Hybrid

Key Accountability

• Lead the development and deployment of scalable AI solutions, focusing on advanced AI applications across various business units.
• Be prepared to engage in hands-on work when necessary to support the team and further our data science initiatives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate AI-driven solutions across various platforms and services.
• Drive innovation by staying current with advancements in AI, particularly in generative models and LLM technologies.
• Champion the exploration and integration of cutting-edge AI technologies, particularly in the field generative AI.
• Act as a key liaison between the US commercial team and the India-based data science team.
• Lead the design and deployment of agentic AI systems, including autonomous agents, multi‑agent workflows, and orchestration frameworks (e.g., ReAct, AutoGPT‑style planners, tool‑using agents).
• Define standards and reusable blueprints for enterprise‑ready AI agents that support decision-making, workflow automation, and adaptive reasoning.
• Lead internal capability uplift by training teams on agent design patterns, orchestration flows, memory management, tool‑use, and safety layers.
• Stay abreast of state-of-the-art foundation models and other innovative trends in data science and leverage these insights to inform our strategies.
• Bring a “can-do” attitude and teamwork and inspire others on culture change.
• Acts as an AI role model, championing a culture that embraces cutting-edge AI technologies and encourages experimentation and adoption of best practices
• Drive collaboration with East Hanover and Hyderabad teams ensuring effective knowledge transfer and alignment on priorities.
  
  

Essential Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in data science, with 6-8 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry
• Build and deploy scalable machine learning models using cloud-based services such as AWS and Azure
• Strong understanding of deep learning algorithms, foundational/ LLM models, statistics, and recommendation system and Predictive Analytics
• Demonstrated experience in LLM implementation and scaling, including the development of reusable components, pipelines, and architecture to support enterprise-wide use cases
• Proven track record of LLM product ownership and execution, driving the full lifecycle from use-case definition and development to deployment, adoption, and continuous improvement
• Experience in Agentic AI concepts and design, including autonomous agents and orchestration frameworks to support dynamic decision-making across business processes
• Deep understanding of agentic AI concepts, including autonomous task execution, tool‑calling agents, planning/critic/executor patterns, and multi-agent collaboration frameworks.
• Hands‑on experience building or scaling LLM-powered agents for workflow automation, decision support, or enterprise knowledge retrieval.
• Experience with orchestration platforms such as LangChain, LlamaIndex, Haystack, DSPy, or Azure/AWS agent frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to convert LLM and agent prototypes into reusable enterprise components, enabling application across multiple use cases.
• Ability to operate in a hands-on capacity when necessary.
• Proficient in programming languages such as Python, Spark, TensorFlow, and PyTorch
• Experience with digital channel selection for “next best action”
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to identify creative solutions to complex problems
• Strong ability to effectively communicate and work across different time zones
• Supports direct reports and also delivers own individual contribution
  
  

Education (minimum/desirable)

• Bachelor's degree in related field is required; Master of Science and/or MBA strongly preferred
  
  

Additional Qualifications Are As Follows

• Minimum 10 years of experience in analytics, decision science, or related roles, preferably in the pharmaceutical or healthcare sector
• Ability to balance operational execution with high-level strategic thinking, supporting both day-to-day performance and long-term business goals
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including sales, data Operations , and product development and drive strategic initiatives
  
  

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting, and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together.  https://www.novartis.com/about/roadmap/people-and-culture

Commitment To Diversity & Inclusion

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse team’s representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Values and Behaviors: Demonstrates and upholds Novartis values and behaviors in all aspects of work and collaboration.

Location: Hyderabad NKC. Hybrid | 3 days a week in office is mandatory.

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Benefits and Rewards: Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.

Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)