Chief of Staff

Mariana Oncology•Watertown, MA

11d

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Chief of Staff to join Mariana’s Leadership Team, advancing personalized medicine and radiopharmaceuticals. This person will play a pivotal role in supporting the CSO & Site Head in all strategic and operational initiatives, and will be the lynchpin between Mariana, Novartis Biomedical Research (NIBRI), Technical Research & Development (TRD), Translational Clinical Oncology (TCO), Strategy & Growth (S&G), and other key stakeholders. S/he will focus on leadership engagement, portfolio strategy, facilitating smooth advancement of pipeline programs, be the Point-of-Contact for enterprise integration activities, and provide leadership on strategic initiatives. This person will be an effective relationship-builder and possess the ability to selectively debate decisions and/or offer alternative solutions in a productive manner and with respect.

Requirements

Advanced degree in relevant scientific discipline (PhD strongly preferred); other advanced degrees may also be considered
15+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry; experience in both large, complex, multinational pharmaceutical organizations and emerging biotech environments is strongly preferred; experience leading operational projects in a consulting environment will also be considered
Experience in oncology is strongly preferred
Work collaboratively and proactively, maintaining a high degree of planning, coordination & project management skills; demonstrated ability to problem solve & resolve conflict with diplomacy
Effective financial mindset; solid fiscal discipline and adherence to budgets, coupled with an understanding of how to prioritize investments and maximize return on investments
Highly polished communication skills, both written and verbal; ability to influence in a highly matrixed environment
Exhibit strong emotional intelligence, confidentiality, maturity, and organizational savvy
Must be discreet, action-oriented, mission-driven, strategic, proactive, highly organized, and committed to the vision and values of Mariana Oncology and Novartis
Execute highly effective working team meetings with internal and external partners; be visibly inclusive and transparent
Strong problem solving and strategic skills; demonstrated learning agility

Nice To Haves

experience in Radioligand Therapy (RLT) is preferred but not required

Responsibilities

Overall accountability for setting the portfolio vision, strategy, and goals in the context of the Mariana RLT portfolio
Ensure optimal and timely portfolio & program execution, proactively identifying portfolio & program risks and challenges; develop contingency plans as necessary and apply the right pressure where needed to drive results
Serve as a member of the Joint Steering Committee, with accountability as Committee Secretary for facilitation, agenda setting, documentation, and follow-up to ensure robust governance, compliance, strategic alignment, and timely decision-making
Champion and lead change management, balancing integration with autonomy to enable sustainable performance, cultural cohesion, and long‑term value creation
Chair the Portfolio Review Group, with accountability for oversight of Mariana Oncology programs
Incorporate commercial landscape, competitive intelligence, and KOL engagement into portfolio & program strategy and deliverables via collaboration with Novartis S&G function
Influence the creation of shared objectives across Mariana and key stakeholders from NIBRI, TRD, TCO, and elsewhere
Define a comprehensive publication strategy for program-related findings and developments
Lead strategic working groups that span cross-Novartis functions (e.g. TRD) to enable Mariana portfolio planning and delivery
Serve as a confidential thought partner to the Mariana Site Head and Leadership Team, ensuring functional connectivity across Mariana and Novartis
Define operational benchmarks, resource requirements, and resource allocation in partnership with People & Organization (P&O) and Finance, ensuring alignment with strategic vision and operational priorities
Lead integration activities across Legal, Ethics, Risk and Compliance, Procurement, and Science Enablement to support scientific focus and maintain compliance with biotech agility
Lead internal and external communications, including strategies and policies on behalf of the Site Head and LT