Novartis Posted November 2, 2026

Associate Director, High-Throughput Biology and Automation

Cambridge (USA), United States FULL_TIME
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About this opportunity

Role Type: Onsite Working #LI-OnsiteLocation: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United StatesRelocation Support: This role is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.What if you could define the high-throughput biology and automation strategy that accelerates the next generation of oncology medicines? As Associate Director, High-Throughput Biology and Automation, you will lead a critical Oncology function at the intersection of biology, biochemistry, automation, and data science. You will set the strategic roadmap, align capabilities and portfolio priorities, translate complex portfolio questions into scalable experimental and data-enabled solutions, and proactively shape future platform and infrastructure needs. Leading a talented multidisciplinary team, you will deliver robust, decision-enabling science that advances the next generation of Oncology medicines.

Key ResponsibilitiesDefine and execute Oncology’s high-throughput biology, biochemistry, and automation strategy, translating portfolio questions into fit-for-purpose experimental, automation, and data solutions.Lead a team accountable for designing, executing, and delivering high-throughput profiling workflows that generate robust, decision-enabling data for the Oncology portfolio.Shape and scale profiling platforms spanning biochemical, cellular, phenotypic, mechanistic, imaging, and multimodal readouts to meet evolving Oncology portfolio needs.Lead automation strategy across liquid handling, robotics, automated cell culture and banking, workflow miniaturization, platform integration, and device lifecycle planning.Proactively define future capability needs across assays, technologies, and infrastructure to guide platform evolution and strategic investment decisions.Define and implement data strategies that ensure high-throughput biology datasets are high-quality, well-annotated, FAIR, integrated, and actionable for portfolio decision-making.Lead cross-functional alignment with internal and external stakeholders to ensure HTB capabilities are integrated with Oncology portfolio strategy.Lead, develop, and empower a high-performing multidisciplinary team of engineers, cell biologists, and automation scientists, fostering scientific excellence, accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement.Essential RequirementsPhD in a relevant scientific or technical field, or master’s degree with substantial relevant industry experience.At least 10 years of experience in biotech, biopharma, pharmaceutical research, or a related scientific environment.Track record defining high-throughput biology, automation, and platform strategy.Deep expertise in profiling, assay development, miniaturization, optimization, validation, and decision-enabling data generation.Experience with biochemical, cellular, phenotypic, functional, mechanistic, imaging, and sequencing-based readouts.Strong experience designing, implementing, and scaling laboratory automation and automated workflows.Strong data expertise across experimental design, QC, analysis, data standards, metadata, laboratory data systems, and informatics partnerships.Demonstrated people leadership, Oncology drug discovery expertise, and success working across cross-functional and external partner environments.Desirable RequirementExperience with in vivo-supporting workflows, single-cell technologies, multimodal omics, or cloud-based data platforms.What We OfferThe opportunity to lead a high-impact High-Throughput Biology and Automation function supporting Oncology discovery. Access to cutting-edge technologies and collaboration with scientific, automation, data, and translational experts.The opportunity to shape platform strategy, data workflows, automation capabilities, and the development of a scientific team. An environment focused on scientific innovation, inclusion, operational excellence, and professional growth.The salary for this position is expected to range between $145,600 and $270,400 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. To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click here. EEO Statement:The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We strive to create an inclusive workplace that cultivates bold innovation through collaboration and empowers our people to unleash their full potential. Accessibility and reasonable accommodationsThe Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to tas.nacomms@novartis.com call +1 (877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisitionnumber in your message. https://www.novartis.com/careers/careers-research/notice-all-applicants-us-job-openings

Job details

Seniority
Associate Director
Function
Manufacturing & CMC
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
Cambridge (USA), United States
Employment type
FULL_TIME

How this role compares

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

We currently track 857 comparable Associate Director Manufacturing & CMC roles across 113 biopharma companies.

857Comparable roles tracked
787Currently active
113Companies hiring similar roles
40Countries represented

Salary context

248 of 857 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 $145,600/yr – $270,400/yr
Lowest disclosed · Senior Technician Calibration - Maintenance · Mylan Technologies, Inc. $37,000/yr – $80,000/yr
Highest disclosed · Associate Director / Director - Biologics Drug Product Development · AbbVie $160,500/yr – $305,000/yr
Peer group range $58,500 – $232,750 (median $155,000)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 857 comparable roles

United States467
India81
Ireland42
China26
Japan24
Netherlands22

+ 34 more countries

Seniority mix

857 of 857 peers have a known seniority level

Senior403
Manager351
Associate Director103

Therapeutic area mix

6 of 857 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Rare Disease3
Dermatology & Aesthetics1
Immunology1
Vaccines & Infectious Disease1

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.

60%similar
AbbVie North Chicago, IL Associate Director
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Gilead Sciences, Inc. Foster City, United States Associate Director
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Amgen Inc. Remote, United States Associate Director
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Lilly Lebanon, Indiana, United States of America Associate Director
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Merck Wilmington, Delaware, United States Associate Director
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
AbbVie Associate Director
Same function Same seniority Same country

Open in 2 locations

North Chicago, United StatesWorcester, United States

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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.

60%
Associate Director, CMC Portfolio Management
AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Associate Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Associate Director – Biologics Process Engineering, Lilly Medicine Foundry
Lilly · Lebanon, Indiana, United States of America · Associate Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Associate Director, External Manufacturing - Small Molecule
AbbVie · Worcester, MA · Associate Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Associate Director, Supply Chain
AstraZeneca · Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America · Associate 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.