Manager – Planning Lead

Job Description Summary

#LI-Hybrid
Location: Mexico City, Insurgentes
Relocation Support: This role is based in Mexico City, Insurgentes. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.

Reimagining Medicine Starts With Our People

The Manager, Planning Lead plays a critical role in enabling strategic execution across the US Strategy & Execution portfolio. Reporting to the Executive Director, Strategy Prioritization & Governance, this position is responsible for building and maintaining the planning infrastructure that supports enterprise strategic initiatives, including integrated roadmaps, planning calendars, milestone tracking, capacity planning, and executive planning deliverables.
This role ensures alignment across multiple workstreams, promotes planning discipline, and provides visibility into priorities, dependencies, and execution readiness across the organization.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain integrated portfolio roadmaps, milestone plans, quarterly planning calendars, and executive review schedules.
• Coordinate annual strategic planning and quarterly prioritization processes across multiple stakeholders.
• Manage initiative sequencing, dependencies, capacity assumptions, and critical path planning to support successful execution.
• Prepare leadership planning materials, portfolio updates, and executive-ready presentations.
• Identify risks, scheduling conflicts, and resource constraints, recommending solutions to maintain delivery momentum.
• Ensure planning artifacts remain accurate, current, and aligned across governance forums and leadership teams.
• Monitor project and portfolio progress, providing transparency into milestones, risks, and delivery status.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve planning processes, governance standards, and portfolio visibility.

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA or Master’s degree) preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in project management, PMO, business operations, portfolio management, commercial operations, planning, or strategy support.
• Strong experience managing complex portfolios, executive deliverables, and cross-functional planning cycles.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.
• Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, project management tools, and planning methodologies.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and executive presentation skills.
• Fluency in English required.
• Pharmaceutical, healthcare, enterprise transformation, or consulting experience preferred.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Accessibility and accommodation

Novartis is committed to work with and provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Novartis tiene el compromiso de trabajar y proporcionar adaptaciones razonables para personas con discapacidad. Si, debido a una condición médica o discapacidad, necesita una adaptación razonable para cualquier parte del proceso de contratación, o para desempeñar las funciones esenciales de un puesto, envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected] y permítanos conocer la naturaleza de su solicitud y su información de contacto. Incluya el número de posición en su mensaje.

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture  

 Benefits and Rewards: Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards   

Skills Desired

Change Management, Communication, Problem Solving, Project Management, Project Planning, Project Risk Management, Project Team Management, Stakeholder Engagement