Associate Director, Content Approval Operations

Job Description Summary #LI-Hybrid Novartis has an exciting opportunity for an Associate Director, Content Approval Operations, to lead the execution, and continuous improvement of Content Approval Services related to Core Claims, Reference Librarian resources, and Workflow Management Capabilities training Master Teams List. This role has shared accountability for functionally overseeing and setting priorities for the team and ensuring disciplined, compliant, and predictable execution of the Material Approval Process (MAP). The Associate Director acts as an operational anchor and escalation partner, translating strategy into execution, enabling foundational AI & Automation that will reduce risk, effort and unlock team performance, ensuring strong collaboration across Medical, Legal, Regulatory (MLR), Marketing, Agencies, and Operations partners. This position will be based in East Hanover, NJ and will not have the ability to be located remotely. Please note that this role would not provide relocation, and only local candidates will be considered. This position will require up to 5% travel as defined by the business (domestic and or international).   Job Description Key Responsibilities: Claims & Reference Operations Governance: • Partner with Core Claims and Medical teams to ensure compliant creation, governance, and maintenance of claims and reference content aligned to approved standards • Oversee end-to-end progression of claims through the Material Approval Process (MAP), ensuring quality, traceability, and metadata accuracy • Drive intake discipline, workload prioritization, and forecasting aligned to brand demand and enterprise priorities • Ensure claims libraries and approved reference repositories remain current, auditable, and enabled for reuse Material Approval Process (MAP) Execution & Optimization: • Support execution of MAP workflows across brands and functions, ensuring submission readiness, routing accuracy, and review efficiency while monitoring operational performance (throughput, cycle time, quality) and proactively address risks, bottlenecks, and rework drivers • Partner with the Director to implement process improvements, including AI-assisted capabilities and automation, to enhance compliance and efficiency People Leadership and Matrix Team Oversight: • Provide day-to-day functional oversight, prioritization, and coverage planning across Core Claims, References Operations, and Material Approval Enablement teams, including leading, coaching, and developing the teams and serving as a first‑line escalation point for people, delivery, and operational challenges • Serve as a first-line escalation point for operational, delivery, and team-related challenges, reinforcing governance and standardized ways of working. • Lead or co‑lead targeted improvement initiatives that enhance predictability, quality, and user experience Cross-Functional Partnership: • Act as a trusted partner across Medical, Legal, Regulatory (MLR), Marketing, Agencies, and Operations, communicating status, risks, and recommendations clearly and proactively Essential Requirements: • Bachelor’s degree required in Business, Marketing, Communications, Information Management, or related discipline; advanced degree preferred • 5+ years of experience in pharmaceutical marketing operations or pharmaceutical content approval with strong understanding of FDA promotional regulations and MAP/MLR review processes • At least one year of people leadership of direct reports or team lead experience • Experience with content approval and DAM platforms (e.g., Veeva, Aprimo) • Proven ability to work with operational metrics, dashboards, and performance data • Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills • Ability to tr