Head of International Communications & Patient Advocacy

05 March 2026
100%
Basel (City)

Job summary

Join Novartis as the Head of International Communications & Patient Advocacy in Basel. Shape impactful strategies that elevate patient voices and brand reputation.

Tasks

Lead integrated communications to support business goals and product launches.
Collaborate with teams for global brand awareness and patient advocacy campaigns.
Provide strategic counsel to leaders and enhance executive visibility through media.

Skills

Extensive leadership experience in communications and patient advocacy.
Strong marketing skills with multi-channel campaign experience.
Understanding of geopolitics and ability to apply insights to strategies.

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About the job

Summary

Head of International Communications & Patient Advocacy
#LI-Hybrid
Location: Basel, Switzerland

This is a rare opportunity to shape how Novartis shows up on the world stage and how patients’ voices influence decisions that matter. As Head of International Communications & Patient Advocacy, you will lead and execute bold, integrated communications strategies that elevate therapeutic leadership, power successful product launches, and strengthen trust with patients, partners, and society. Operating at the intersection of communications, marketing, public affairs, and advocacy, you will work with global, regional, and country corporate affairs teams to tell compelling stories, navigate complexity, and align employees behind a shared purpose. Your leadership will help ensure patient insights guide action, reputations are protected and enhanced, and access to medicines continues to expand worldwide.

About the Role

Key Responsibilities:

Develop and lead execution of commercial communications and advocacy strategies to support the achievement of the Novartis International Business Unit’s strategic business goals and growth agenda and further enhance and protect product brands and reputation.

Partner with global franchises, regions, and countries to drive brand and disease awareness through fully integrated communications campaigns, patient advocacy and social media and PR strategies aligned with business and market needs.

Provide strategic counsel to the International Leadership team and lead executive communications to enhance effectiveness of International Leadership.

Elevate executive visibility through thought leadership and media engagement

Shape and deploy enterprise corporate communications and marketing campaigns.

Align employees behind strategy through compelling internal communications that strengthen engagement and culture.

Set global patient advocacy strategy and embed patient insights into decision-making and business priorities.

Build trusted partnerships with patient organizations, non-governmental organizations, and external stakeholders worldwide.

Apply geopolitical and policy insight to communications strategies that support reputation and patient access.

Lead, develop, and inspire diverse global teams while advancing data-driven and artificial intelligence-enabled communications.

Essential Requirements:

Extensive senior leadership experience across communications, corporate affairs, marketing, public affairs, or patient advocacy in global environments.

Demonstrated success leading global product launches and enterprise-level communications initiatives.

Strong understanding of geopolitics and global policy environments, with ability to apply insight to communications strategy.

Proven experience leading and developing large, geographically dispersed, and culturally diverse teams.

Strong marketing capability with experience delivering fully integrated, multi-channel campaigns.

Working understanding of artificial intelligence and data-driven communications approaches.

Strong international experience with deep appreciation of cultural differences and global stakeholder dynamics.

Commitment to Diversity and 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

Switzerland

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 E-Mail schreiben and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

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: Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.
Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)