Head of Phenomics

Location: Dublin, Ireland; Hybrid 3 days/week in office.

Title: Head of Phenomics (Internal job title).

About the Role

The Head of Phenomics will lead strategy and execution for phenomics initiatives that integrate Data42 enabled real world data and human genetics to accelerate target identification, patient stratification, and translational evidence generation across the Novartis portfolio. The leader will build high impact partnerships across research, development, and BR Data & Digital, delivering scalable analytics products, robust scientific insights, and measurable decision impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Set phenomics strategy leveraging Data42 capabilities to connect real world data and human genetics to clinical phenotypes to support therapeutic area programs across drug development stages.
• Define where and how human genetics and RWD are most impactful across the portfolio.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams of data scientists, statisticians, computational biologists, and data engineers to deliver end to end analyses from question framing to validated outputs.
• Develop and operationalize pipelines for phenotype curation, cohort construction, feature engineering, and multimodal modeling across structured and unstructured real world data sources.
• Integrate human genetics evidence (GWAS, rare variant analyses, PRS, eQTL and colocalization where applicable) with real world phenotyping to support target discovery and prioritization, causal inference, biomarker discovery, patient segmentation, repurposing, and indication expansion.
• Drive cross functional decision support by translating analytic results into clear program recommendations, assumptions, limitations, and impact on go/no go decisions.
• Partner within Data42 to define requirements for data assets, metadata, governance, scalable compute, and tooling; influence the roadmap based on scientific needs.
• Ensure scientific rigor and reproducibility through strong study design, validation approaches, documentation, and standards for analytic code and model lifecycle management.
• Champion responsible use of data and AI aligned with privacy, compliance, and ethical expectations; contribute to governance forums and risk reviews as needed.
• Engage externally through collaborations, publications, conference presentations, and thought leadership in phenomics, real world evidence, and genetics.
• Develop talent through hiring, mentoring, performance management, and building an inclusive culture that values scientific excellence and collaboration in a global team.

Essential Requirements

• Education: PhD or MSc in Statistical Genetics, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, or a related quantitative discipline.
• Experience: 10+ years (or equivalent) in human genetics, real world data analytics, phenomics, translational data science, or related domains, including people leadership.
• Genetics expertise: variant annotation and QC concepts; association testing frameworks; integration of functional genomics evidence; interpretation of genetic effect sizes in clinical context.
• Demonstrated application of human genetics to translational questions (target validation, causal inference, biomarker discovery, patient stratification).
• Strong hands on familiarity with real world data (claims, EHR, registries, lab, imaging derived variables, clinical notes derived phenotypes) and awareness of biases and limitations of observational data.
• Proven track record building scalable analytics and delivering decision impacting insights in a matrixed R&D environment.
• Strong quantitative toolkit: statistical modelling, machine learning, study design, confounding control, validation, and sensitivity analyses tailored to the question.
• Excellent communication skills and exceptional ability to manage stakeholders and influence decision making at the executive level.
• Business acumen and focus on value creation, ensuring technology serves as a lever for business growth.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Benefits & Rewards

Expected annual base salary range for the role: €102,200 to €189,800. Base salary is determined on gender neutral objectives such as relevant skills, competencies, and experience in accordance with Novartis pay setting policy and will be reviewed periodically. In addition to base salary, you may be eligible for a performance based bonus and, at group level, long term equity awards. Other benefits include insurance plans, retirement plans, wellbeing resources, global recognition programs, flexible and hybrid working options, and a minimum 14 weeks paid parental leave.