Associate Director - IT Project Manager, Protective Security

Job Description Summary

Location: Barcelona, Spain ; #LI-Hybrid 12 days/month in office

Internal Job title: Associate Director - IT Project Manager, Protective Security

Relocation Support: This role is based in Barcelona, Spain. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.

About the role:
The Associate Director – Project Manager (Protective Security) is responsible for the end-to-end delivery of complex, cross-regional security and technology initiatives across REFS. The role combines strong Protective Security domain expertise (physical security, access control, surveillance, risk & compliance) with senior IT project/program management capabilities.

This position acts as a senior delivery owner for security-critical programs (e.g., access control systems, video surveillance, identity/access platforms, digital security solutions), ensuring predictable delivery, regulatory compliance, and alignment between Protective Security, DDIT, Procurement, and external vendors.

 

Job Description

Key responsibilities:

• End-to-End Project & Program Delivery: Own full lifecycle delivery of Protective Security projects (from intake to handover), deliver projects on time, on scope, and on budget with clear accountability; manage complex delivery landscapes including security vendors, integrators, SaaS providers, and local partners; Lead global and regional rollouts of security platforms (e.g., access control, CCTV, mobile credentials).

• Protective Security Expertise & Integration: Act as a trusted partner to Protective Security teams, translating business security needs into IT delivery, eensure solutions comply with security standards, policies, and regulatory requirements, and drive alignment between physical security, cybersecurity, and enterprise IT architecture; Oversee implementation of security systems such as: access control (badge / mobile / biometric), video surveillance & monitoring platforms, identity & access integrations, Security operations & incident management tools.

• Governance, Risk & Compliance: Establish and enforce project governance aligned with DDIT standards; Identify, manage, and mitigate security, operational, and delivery risks; ensure adherence to compliance frameworks (e.g., audit, GRC, SoD where applicable); manage change control, approvals, and documentation rigor.

•  Stakeholder & Leadership Management: Act as the main interface between Protective Security leadership, Business, and IT delivery teams, drive alignment across global, regional, and site stakeholders; prepare executive-level status updates, decision papers, and escalations; influence decisions in a complex, matrixed organization

• Vendor & Financial Management: Manage security vendors against contractual deliverables and milestones; Drive performance, issue resolution, and escalation when needed; Partner with Procurement on SOWs and contracting models; Own project financials including forecast, tracking, and cost control.

• Portfolio & Continuous Improvement: Contribute to Protective Security IT roadmap and project portfolio planning; Standardize delivery approaches across sites and regions; Capture lessons learned and improve delivery frameworks.

Essential Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in IT project/program management in enterprise or regulated environments

• Proven experience delivering Protective Security or security-related IT programs, specifically in global, multi-country deployments

• Deep understanding of physical security systems and operations, experience with global security environments and regulatory expectations, ability to balance security effectiveness, operational needs, and cost constraints, and strong awareness of risk management and compliance requirements

• Strong exposure to Physical security systems (access control, surveillance, alarm systems) ND Enterprise platforms (e.g., SAP, ServiceNow, IWMS, security systems),

• Proven execution excellence capabilities, with deep expertise in project & program management methodologies (Waterfall, Agile, hybrid), with strong planning, dependency management, and critical‑path thinking skills

• Senior‑level project leadership in complex, matrix organizations, with strong decision‑making under ambiguity and delivery pressure, and ability to enforce standards without damaging stakeholder relationships

• Experience working in a global, multi-country delivery context, with proven experience managing large, interdependent delivery plans

• Demonstrated experience managing external vendors and complex contracts

• Excellent concise, executive‑ready communication skills, with fluency in English, with ability to translate complex technical and delivery topics into business impact

Desirable requirements:

• Degree in IT, Engineering, Security, or related discipline

• Certifications (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, Security certifications such as CPP, CISSP, etc.)

• Experience in pharma, regulated industries, or critical infrastructure environments

• Knowledge of GRC, identity and access management, and compliance frameworks

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.

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

Join our Novartis Network: Not the right Novartis role for you? Sign up to our talent community to stay connected and learn about suitable career opportunities as soon as they come up: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

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, Decision Making Skills, Leadership, Negotiation, Operational Excellence Projects, Problem Solving, Project Finance, Project Management, Project Planning, Project Risk Management, Project Team Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategy Development