The Director of Digital, Data, and IT (DDIT) P&O Platforms is responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle management of the key HCM platforms core to the operations of the P&O function within Novartis. These platforms include Workforce (Time & Attendance), Cornerstone (LMS), ServiceNow HRSD, Learning Experience Platforms (LxP), Talent Marketplace solutions and Workday. This role ensures platform stability, innovation, compliance, and alignment with the strategic and tactical goals of the P&O function and Novartis overall.
About the Role
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership and Strategy:
- Develop and execute the short- and long-term product strategies for P&O platforms in close collaboration with P&O domain leaders and business product owners. Ensure alignment of platform strategy to broader P&O transformation, compliance requirements (e.g., SOX IT, GxP), and Novartis digital aspirations.
- Provide visionary leadership, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence.
- Align DDIT initiatives with business goals, ensuring they support the overall strategy and objectives of the organization.
Solution Delivery:
- Manage the lifecycle of P&O platforms including Workday, Workforce , Cornerstone, ServiceNow HRSD, Talent Marketplace, and Learning Experience Platforms.
- Ensure operational excellence and compliance, including managing third-party service providers and platform vendors.
- Collaborate with business owners to maintain and evolve platform roadmaps based on demand, priorities, and capability gaps.
- Identify opportunities for innovation and improvement leveraging AI, automation, and emerging technologies.
- Govern platform upgrades, releases, and enhancements, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture and data management standards.
Stakeholder Partnering:
- Act as a strategic technology advisor to P&O domain leads, aligning roadmaps with evolving business needs.
- Facilitate governance forums to review demand, backlog, platform KPIs, and compliance posture.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders (e.g., EDM, security, architecture, procurement) to ensure platform integrity and risk management.
- Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders, providing strategic advice and ensuring alignment between IT and business priorities.
- Facilitate effective communication and collaboration between IT and business teams, as well as build strong partnerships with other DD&IT teams in spirit of collaboration (APD, ISC, IES).
Financial Management:
- Manage the respective products budgets for areas in accountability scope, ensuring cost-effective delivery of IT services and solutions.
- Monitor and report on financial performance, identifying opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements.
- Ensure compliance with Novartis financial policies and procedures.
Risk Management and Compliance:
- Identify and mitigate risks associated with IT projects and operations.
- Ensure compliance with relevant regulations (SOX IT, GxP), standards, and best practices, particularly those relevant to the pharmaceutical industry.
- Implement robust security measures to protect data and IT assets.
- Experience:
- Minimum of 16+ years of experience in IT management, with significant experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Proven expertise in delivering People & Organization (HR) technology solutions at scale
- Deep experience in managing and operating global HR platforms at scale, particularly Workforce (Time & Attendance) , Cornerstone (or other similar LMS), ServiceNow HRSD and Workday and emerging platforms such as Talent Marketplaces and LxPs.
- Proven ability to manage platform strategies, product roadmaps, and third-party vendor performance.
- Experience in governance, audits, and compliance (SOX IT, GxP) is required.
- Demonstrated experience in strategic planning and managing large-scale IT projects and programs.
- Skills:
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing platform operations across multiple technologies.
- Experience with managing external support providers, outsourced and managed service providers as well as UT operations as scale.
- Ability to build platform strategies while balancing operational excellence and innovation.
- Experience will IT services in a product centric eco-system.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders within the pharmaceutical industry.
