Novartis

Job Description Summary

Job Title: Global Program Manager, REFS

#LI-Hybrid

Primary Location: Prague, Czech Republic

Other Locations: Barcelona, Spain; Hyderabad, India

As a Global Program Manager in REFS, you’ll transform Novartis’ Real Estate & Facilities Services (REFS) into a dynamic, managed operating model—delivering operational excellence, financial efficiency, and strategic control. This is your opportunity to lead complex, cross-functional programs with the ambitious goal to achieve excellence in customer experience and productivity. Ultimately strengthening Novartis’s control over supplier performance, cost transparency and compliance enabling a scalable, future ready REFS model aligned with enterprise digital maturity goals. If you’re passionate about creating value, driving change, and making a difference at scale, this role is for you.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Align project strategy with REFS and Novartis enterprise goals, adapting plans as needed
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, ensuring timely delivery of milestones
• Drive best practice program management to enhance workplace experience and operational success
• Engage senior leaders and stakeholders with transparent, timely communication and
• Drive the resource allocation of across global functions and regions, ensuring seamless transition and minimal disruption.
• Orchestrate cross-functional collaboration across Procurement, Finance, Legal, P&O and REFS teams to internalize key processes and roles.
• Oversee the implementation of new systems and ensure alignment with REFS’ data-centric vision.
• Identify and assign owners for managing P&O, Legal, Financial, and identify operational risks, including liabilities and contract transitions.
• Ensure timely execution of regional hiring plans and onboarding of new resources

Essential Requirements:

• MBA with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience PMP certification (or similar) preferred but not necessary.
• Proven success leading large-scale, complex international and multidisciplinary project teams
• Strong background in pharmaceutical industry operations, ideally in REFS/Facilities
• Advanced expertise in leadership, project management, and communication strategy
• Excellent written and spoken English; additional languages are a plus
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cross-functional alignment

You’ll receive:

Monthly pension contribution matching your individual contribution up to 3% of your gross monthly base salary; Risk Life Insurance (full cost covered by Novartis); 5-week holiday per year; (1 week above the Labour Law requirement); 4 paid sick days within one calendar year in case of absence due to sickness without a medical sickness report; Cafeteria employee benefit program – choice of benefits from Benefit Plus Cafeteria in the amount of 17,500 CZK per year; Meal vouchers in amount of 105 CZK for each working day (full tax covered by company); Company car / Car Allowance; MultiSport Card, Employee Share Purchase Plan. Find out more about Novartis Business Services: https://www.novartis.cz

Accessibility and accommodation

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to di.cz@novartis.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Skills Desired

Analytical Skill, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business Development, Business Partners, Business Strategy, Change Management, Data Analytics, Decision Tree (Forecasting Model), Finance, Go-To-Market Strategy, Influencing Skills, Leadership, Management Consulting, Pipeline (Software), Senior Management, Strategic Planning