Associate Director, Scientific & Capability Learning

Band

Level 5

 

Job Description Summary

The Associate Director, Scientific & Capability Learning designs, develops, and enables high quality scientific and functional learning frameworks and curricula across International Medical Affairs (IMA).

This role builds a scalable learning architecture that strengthens medical capabilities across International, Regional, and Country teams. It designs and deploys high quality, audience tailored learning programs that support key medical metrics, enhance scientific confidence, and ensure organizational readiness. Partnering across IMA, Regions, Countries, GMA, and technology teams, the Associate Director identifies capability gaps, defines fit for purpose learning solutions, and drives adoption of modern learning platforms. The role also drives standardization of learning practices, processes, and tools across IMA, enabling effective knowledge management.

#LI-Hybrid

This role is based in London, UK; Dublin, Ireland; or Barcelona, Spain.

 

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

Effective Capability Building

• Design and maintain fit‑for‑purpose, industry‑leading, role‑based capability curricula and frameworks that strengthen scientific literacy and medical excellence.

• Identify capability needs through structured, data‑driven assessments and translate insights into targeted learning priorities.

• Develop blended learning solutions (virtual, in‑person, self‑paced) that drive sustained development and on‑the‑job application.

• Apply consistent standards for learning effectiveness, governance, and measurement to ensure quality and impact.

Collaboration and Engagement

• Partner across IMA, GMA, International Learning & Capability, Regional, and Country teams to align learning approaches and ensure cohesive, scalable delivery.

• Integrate external best practices and industry benchmarking to enhance IMA learning standards and frameworks.

Technology, Platforms & External Partnerships

• Work with platform teams to select, optimize, and embed modern learning technologies and analytics tools.

• Enable adoption of global/international learning platforms by addressing digital learning capability gaps and supporting change management.

Functional Excellence, Governance & Knowledge Management

• Applies sound learning design principles to develop consistent, scalable, fit‑for‑purpose solutions. Supports measurement of learning effectiveness and continuous improvement of frameworks, content, and processes using feedback and performance insights.

• Support capability governance, standards, and approval processes for learning design and evaluation.

• Ensure compliance with internal policies and regulatory standards, maintain SOPs and guidelines, and promote effective knowledge management through structured content reuse and lifecycle management.

Essential Requirements:

• Advanced degree in life sciences/healthcare (PhD, PharmD, MD) or equivalent experience in Learning & Capability; training in learning/capability development is an advantage.

• Fluent oral and written English. Additional regional or local language are desirable.

• 5+ years of experience in pharma/healthcare with strong focus on Medical Affairs, learning and capability building.

• Understanding of Medical Affairs, drug development, and key medical roles and capability needs.

• Proven experience designing, scaling, and sustaining capability programs with measurable impact.

• Hands‑on experience with learning technologies (LMS, virtual learning, learning analytics) and modern learning modalities.

• Strong matrix collaboration skills across Global/International, Regional, and Country teams. Strong communication, facilitation, and influence skills, with a business‑ and performance‑oriented mindset.

• Change enablement: Proven ability to enable change and drive adoption of new tools, platforms, and ways of working; high learning agility.  

Benefits & Rewards:

UK: Competitive salary, Sales incentive bonus, Pension scheme, Share purchase scheme, Health insurance, 25 days annual leave, Flexible working arrangements, subsidized dining facilities, Employee recognition scheme, learning and development opportunities.

Other locations: Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:  

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

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

Join our Novartis Network: Not the right Novartis role for you? Sign up to our talent community to stay connected and learn about suitable career opportunities as soon as they come up: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

 

Skills Desired