Associate Director, Portfolio Pathology

Novartis•Cambridge, MA

3d•$185,500 - $344,500•Hybrid

About The Position

Novartis is seeking an experienced toxicologic pathologist to join its Global Portfolio Pathology team. The role supports pathology, nonclinical safety, and drug development strategies across neuroscience, oncology, immunology, cardiovascular and metabolic medicine, global health, and regenerative medicine. It applies pathology, toxicology, investigative sciences, and regulatory pathology to drug development and regulatory submissions, turning complex data into clear narratives that inform patient impact, program strategy, scientific standards, and medicine development. The Associate Director will work across small molecules, complex biologics, and emerging modalities, including cell and gene therapy, sxRNA, and radioligands. The position is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is identified as hybrid. It provides scientific leadership in pathology and biodistribution, advances investigative pathology approaches, and contributes to portfolio governance and development decisions.

Requirements

DVM or equivalent degree, such as BVSc.
Graduate training in pathology.
Pathology board certification, such as DACVP or equivalent.
At least 5 years of experience in toxicologic pathology.
Demonstrated team leadership, collaboration, and strong written and oral communication skills.
Ability to supervise direct and indirect team members and coach and develop others.
Experience leading programs, platforms, or initiatives.
Strong interpretive capability across toxicologic pathology, molecular pathology, and biodistribution.
Track record of translating findings into high-quality reports and regulatory documentation.
Scientific credibility demonstrated through publications and/or presentations.

Nice To Haves

PhD in a relevant biological or toxicologic field.
Rodent carcinogenicity safety assessment experience, including protocol development, primary or peer-review evaluation, and regulatory document preparation for traditional 104-week carcinogenicity studies and transgenic Hras mouse studies.
Pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience across discovery through development, from early phase to registration.
Deep expertise in a pathology subspecialty, such as a business-relevant organ system, investigative techniques (including immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, digital pathology, or ultrastructural pathology), regulatory writing, or submissions.
Strong cross-functional influence and comfort operating in governance forums and matrixed teams.
Commitment to professional ethics, scientific rigor, clear data storytelling, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Build and inspire multidisciplinary teams across pathology, investigative/molecular pathology, and biodistribution, fostering scientific excellence, collaboration, and talent growth.
Establish scientific standards for non-GLP and GLP execution, reporting, and data integrity, producing consistent, decision-grade, inspection-ready outputs.
Serve as the site scientific authority for pathology and biodistribution; anticipate and define target-organ liabilities, develop pathogenesis and mechanism-of-action narratives, and provide clear, risk-based recommendations.
Develop investigative pathology strategy involving IHC, ISH/RNAscope, digital and spatial pathology, and -omics to connect tissue biology with target engagement, safety signals, and translational relevance.
Shape portfolio decisions through governance and matrix leadership, using evidence-based scientific narratives to guide go/no-go decisions, mitigation strategies, and development plans.
Lead innovation and set a vision for how pathology can accelerate insight generation and enable modern drug development.
Supervise and develop direct and indirect team members, and coach others.
Lead programs, platforms, or initiatives.