
Novartis
Franchise Medical Head – Medical Affairs & Therapeutic Franchise Strategy
- Permanent
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Experience 10 - 15 yrs
Job expiry date: 25/05/2026
Job overview
Date posted
10/04/2026
Location
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Salary
SAR 40,000 - 50,000 per month
Compensation
Comprehensive package
Job description
The Franchise Medical Head at Novartis Saudi Arabia is responsible for leading the medical strategy and execution for a therapeutic franchise while ensuring scientific excellence, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with global, regional, and local business objectives. The role involves developing and executing Franchise Medical Strategy aligned with global and regional strategy including integrated planning for launch readiness, lifecycle management, and patient access initiatives. The position translates strategy into operational medical plans for country or cluster, leads Franchise Medical team including Medical Leads and Medical Science Liaisons, and ensures alignment with commercial, regulatory, and market access strategies. The Franchise Medical Head oversees medical information, evidence generation, and scientific exchange with internal and external stakeholders, ensures compliance with pharmacovigilance and regulatory standards, and provides medical insights to shape clinical practice and healthcare policy. The role supports and oversees clinical trials across Phase I–IV, Investigator-initiated studies (IITs), and Non-interventional studies (NIS), while maintaining high standards of scientific credibility and operational excellence. The position requires extensive Medical Affairs leadership experience, expertise with specialty products, strong understanding of Saudi healthcare landscape, and ability to lead diverse teams within cross-functional pharmaceutical environment supporting Research & Development and Development Business Unit objectives.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Develop and execute Franchise Medical Strategy aligned with global and regional strategies including integrated planning for launch readiness, lifecycle management, patient access initiatives, and therapeutic franchise objectives
- Translate strategic direction into operational medical plans for country or cluster while ensuring alignment with business objectives, commercial strategies, regulatory requirements, and market access priorities
- Lead and develop Franchise Medical team including Medical Leads, Medical Science Liaisons, and other Medical Affairs personnel while providing leadership, coaching, and performance management
- Ensure alignment with cross-functional stakeholders including commercial, regulatory, market access, and research teams to drive integrated medical strategy and franchise success
- Oversee medical information, evidence generation, and scientific exchange activities while maintaining high standards of scientific credibility and compliance
- Ensure compliance with pharmacovigilance requirements, regulatory standards, and company policies across all medical activities and stakeholder interactions
- Support and oversee clinical trials Phase I-IV, Investigator-initiated studies (IITs), and Non-interventional studies (NIS) including study planning, execution, and stakeholder collaboration
- Provide strategic medical insights to shape clinical practice, healthcare policy, and treatment guidelines while representing Medical Affairs within franchise leadership structure
Experience & skills
- Hold MD, MBBS, PharmD, or PhD in Life Sciences with MBA considered an advantage for strategic leadership and business alignment
- Possess more than 10 years experience in Medical Affairs within pharmaceutical industry including leadership responsibility
- Demonstrate experience managing specialty products and therapeutic franchise portfolios within pharmaceutical environment
- Maintain strong familiarity with healthcare landscape in Saudi Arabia including regulatory, payer, and clinical environment
- Exhibit significant leadership experience with proven ability to manage and motivate diverse teams including Medical Leads and Medical Science Liaisons
- Demonstrate experience in clinical trials Phase I-IV, investigator initiated studies, non-interventional studies, and evidence generation activities
- Show expertise in pharmacovigilance, regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, and medical information management
- Demonstrate strategic thinking capability, cross-functional collaboration, and ability to align global, regional, and local medical strategies