Technical Manager, External Supply Operations (MSAT)
ROLE OVERVIEW
The Technical Manager, External Supply Operations at Novartis is a senior Manufacturing Science & Technology (MSAT) leadership role based at the company's Mumbai head office, sitting at the intersection of external partner management and patient-centric product supply. Novartis increasingly relies on a network of Contract Manufacturing Organizations to deliver Oral Solid Dosage (OSD) products, and this position owns the technical success of those relationships — from technology transfer and process validation through commercial launch readiness. The role directly protects supply continuity for a portfolio of established and pipeline tablets, making it strategically critical to the company's global supply chain. For an experienced MSAT, technical operations or validation professional, it offers enterprise-scale CMO governance exposure, cross-functional global stakeholder engagement, and genuine ownership of manufacturing technology decisions.
ROLE DEFINITION & RESPONSIBILITIES
- •Lead end-to-end technology transfers of Oral Solid Dosage (OSD) products from Novartis sites to Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), covering process, packaging and analytical alignment.
- •Assess CMO manufacturing capabilities, identify technical gaps, and build remediation plans that bring partners to transfer readiness.
- •Author and review validation protocols, acceptance criteria and timelines for manufacturing and packaging processes.
- •Monitor validation batches on site and provide hands-on technical troubleshooting during execution and deviation resolution.
- •Review manufacturing, validation and stability data to confirm product quality, GMP and regulatory compliance.
- •Investigate technical issues at external partners and drive robust, CAPA-linked corrective solutions.
- •Partner with Supplier Relationship Teams, Lifecycle Managers and Quality to align technical and commercial priorities.
- •Manage multiple concurrent transfer projects, reporting milestones, risk assessments and technical recommendations to stakeholders.
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree or postgraduate qualification in Pharmacy (M.Pharm, PharmD or equivalent).
- Minimum 10 years in pharmaceutical manufacturing, including at least 7 years in Technology Transfer, MSAT or Technical Operations.
- Demonstrated depth in Oral Solid Dosage manufacturing, especially tablet processes such as granulation, compression and coating.
- Proven track record leading technology transfers to CMOs or external manufacturing partners.
- Hands-on experience with manufacturing and packaging validation — protocol development, execution oversight and validation report review.
- Strong working knowledge of GMP, pharmaceutical quality systems and regulatory requirements.
- Excellent English communication, local-language proficiency, and the ability to independently manage technical stakeholders.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- •Applied Statistics & Statistical Process Control
- •Operational Excellence / Lean Six Sigma
- •Process Control & PAT Implementation
- •New Product Launch and Scale-Up Experience
- •Project Management Certification (PMP or equivalent)
REQUIRED VERIFIED SKILLS
COMPENSATION & REWARDS
ORGANIZATION CONTEXT & CULTURE
Novartis AG is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical corporation, one of the largest in the world. It focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative medicines to address significant health needs. The company's portfolio spans various therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular diseases.
EXPECTED CAREER ROADMAP
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