Novartis Posted June 22, 2026

Director Oncology Data Science LMW

Cambridge (USA), United States Regular
Data & Digital Oncology Director

Novartis is the source of truth for this posting and owns the application process. We surface normalized context and market comparison you won't find on the original listing.

About this opportunity

About the role:#LI:OnsiteThe Oncology Data Science team in Biomedical Research supports the Oncology Disease Area with computational biology, Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI/ML), and data engineering for novel therapeutics across multiple drug modalities. As integrated scientists and engineers, we apply advanced analytics to pre-clinical and clinical projects, enabling progress in target discovery, drug development, and translational and clinical science.We seek a Director of Data Science to lead our global team of US and Europe-based data scientists specializing in Low Molecular Weight (LMW) drug development who will guide the LMW data science team, collaborate closely with Oncology stakeholders and Biomedical Research, and introduce innovative data-driven solutions to enhance our LMW portfolio and benefit patients.

Key Responsibilities: Lead and develop a global team of US and Europe-based data scientists, driving high-quality data science that is grounded in deep understanding of biology and applicable data science methodologies and approaches.Co-develop and execute a data science strategy to enable and enhance innovation in the LMW drug development space.Closely align with the Oncology Drug Development teams to represent the low molecular weight data science function and ensure effective embedding of data science in drug development teams and alignment on scientific direction.Regularly interface with Oncology Disease Area leaders to align priorities and to effectively deploy resources.Collaborate closely with the Oncology Data Science AI team and other teams such as generative chemistry teams on the development and implementation of innovative machine learning algorithms, AI models, and platforms to enable the delivery of predictive and prescriptive insights.Actively engage with stakeholders within partner functions, such as IT, Chemistry and Technology departments and build strong partnerships and shared projects.As a member of the Oncology Data Science Leadership team, contribute to Oncology Data Science overall direction and management, represent the low molecular weight portfolio as a function.Closely collaborate with Oncology Data Science engineering teams to ensure team adherence to data standards, data governance and data strategy and ensure the application of best practices in analytics and high standards of reproducibility in research across the team.Play a leading role in matrix teams such as Translational Data Science Clusters around disease areas or teams centered around key technologies such as genomics, proteomics, spatial technologies etc.Present and externalize work of the team in conferences, abstracts and scientific journals.Essential Requirements: This position will be located at the Cambridge, MA site and will not have the ability to be located remotely. This position will require 10% travel as defined by the business (domestic and/ or international).Ph.D. in data science, computational biology or related fields, strong scientific mindset, with a deep understanding of biology, oncology and low molecular weight drug development process.10+ years of experience in a data science role in oncology drug development.Excellent leadership and management skills, with 5+ years of people management experience in the data science space.Experience with Quality Control (QC) and data analysis for common assays, such as bulk RNA-seq, scRNA-seq and/or chromatin-based assays (ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, Hi-C).Strong expertise in quantitative and computational biology approaches, general AI/machine learning and statistical modeling techniques and a proven track record of delivering data-driven insights and solutions.Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex data insights and recommendations to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.Proven history of contributions to the scientific community in the form of papers and/or conference presentations.Preferred Requirements: Experience with AI/ML approaches specific to the low molecular weight field including computational chemistry and application of generative AI in chemistry.Experience with cell line profiling, shRNA or CRISPR perturbation screens, high content cell imaging, proteomics or in vivo efficacy analysis.The salary for this position is expected to range between $194,600 and $361,400 per year.The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

Job details

Seniority
Director
Function
Data & Digital
Therapeutic area
Oncology
Location
Cambridge (USA), United States
Employment type
Regular

How this role compares

Computed from every other active Data & Digital role in our database, not just this employer's listings.

We currently track 34 comparable Director Data & Digital roles across 15 biopharma companies.

34Comparable roles tracked
32Currently active
15Companies hiring similar roles
5Countries represented

Salary context

15 of 34 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)

Peers share this role's job function and a matching or adjacent seniority level -- not necessarily the same therapeutic area or country.

This roleSubject $194,600/yr – $361,400/yr
Lowest disclosed · Principal Statistical Programmer · Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc (USA) $109,900/yr – $179,300/yr
Peer group range $144,600 – $322,650 (median $244,150)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 34 comparable roles

United States17
India9
Switzerland3
United Kingdom3
Ireland2

Seniority mix

34 of 34 peers have a known seniority level

Principal16
Director15
Senior Director3

Therapeutic area mix

2 of 34 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Oncology1
Immunology1

Similar opportunities

The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.

90%similar
GlaxoSmithKline LLC Upper Providence, United States Principal
Same function Same therapeutic area Adjacent seniority Same country
60%similar
Gilead Sciences, Inc. Foster City, United States Director
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Novartis Remote Position (USA), United States Director
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc (USA) Sleepy Hollow, United States Director
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc (USA) Warren, United States Director
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Sanofi Vaccines US Inc. Waltham, United States Director
Same function Same seniority Same country

How we calculate "similar"

No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.

Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.

90%
Principal Scientist, Oncology Data Science (Translational Science)
GlaxoSmithKline LLC · Upper Providence, United States · Principal
Function Therapeutic area Adjacent seniority Country
60%
Director, Market Access Analytics
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc (USA) · Sleepy Hollow, United States · Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Director, AI Foundations Engineer- Remote
Novartis · Remote, United States · Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Director and Group Head, Applied AI
Novartis · Cambridge (USA), United States · Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
Unmatched or unknown dimensions score exactly the same: 0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.