Digital Platform Leader

Director P&O Platforms Job Description: Job Summary We are seeking a seasoned professional to lead our P&O platforms, overseeing their lifecycle management and ensuring operational excellence. Main Responsibilities Develop and execute short- and long-term product strategies for P&O platforms in collaboration with domain leaders and business owners. Evaluate platform strategy alignment with broader P&O transformation requirements, including SOX, IT GxP rules, and Novartis digital aspirations. Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence through visionary leadership. Align DDI initiatives with business goals, supporting the overall strategy and objectives of the organization. Solution Delivery Manage the lifecycle of P&O platforms, including Workday, Workforce Cornerstone, ServiceNow, HRS, Talent Marketplace, and Learning Experience Platforms. Maintain operational excellence and compliance, 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 using 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, such as 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, building strong partnerships with other DDI teams. Financial Management Manage product budgets for areas within 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, including SOX, IT GxP requirements, and standards relevant to the pharmaceutical industry. Implement robust security measures to protect data and IT assets. Required Skills and Qualifications Minimum 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 similar LMS, ServiceNow, HRS, and Workday, and emerging platforms like Talent Marketplaces and LXP. Proven ability to manage platform strategies, product roadmaps, and third-party vendor performance. Experience in governance audits and compliance, including SOX, IT GxP rules. Demonstrated experience in strategic planning and managing large-scale IT projects and programs. Benefits 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. Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing platform operations across multiple technologies. Ability to balance operational excellence and innovation when building platform strategies. Experience working with IT services in a product-centric ecosystem.