Director Internal Audit, Operational Excellence & Quality

Job Description Summary

Shape the quality, credibility, and future of Internal Audit at enterprise scale. As the Director of Operational Excellence & Quality, you will own how audit excellence is defined, measured, and continuously strengthened across a global Internal Audit function. You will lead on establishing standards defining what “good” looks like - governing methodology, quality assurance, and ways of working - while translating professional standards into pragmatic, adoptable practices that teams consistently use. Partnering closely with senior leadership, you will turn insight into action, embed consistency without bureaucracy, and ensure Internal Audit operates with rigor, confidence, and relevance in a constantly evolving risk landscape. Based in Hyderabad, you will also serve as the senior Internal Audit leader onsite, helping build a connected, forward-looking community shaping assurance of the future.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Own and govern the Internal Audit Quality Assurance and Improvement Program, ensuring sustained conformance with global standards

  
  
  

• Manage objective, risk-based quality reviews across the audit lifecycle, identifying root causes and systemic patterns, turning findings into prioritized improvement actions.

  
  
  

• Define and maintain the Internal Audit methodology and playbook, embedding consistent audit execution globally

  
  
  

• Establish quality governance, metrics, and dashboards that provide transparent performance insight for senior leaders

  
  
  

• Own audit tools and workflow requirements, ensuring complete audit trails, data quality, and consistent reporting

  
  
  

• Drive continuous improvement of audit ways of working, reducing rework while protecting rigor and independence

  
  
  

• Partner with leaders and learning teams to embed capability, coach teams, and sustain adoption of improvements

  
  
  

• Serve as the senior Internal Audit leader in Hyderabad, fostering strong site leadership and community engagement

  
  
  

• Own the playbook and process over the reliance of second line assurance activities, including maturity assessments performed.

  
  
  

Willingness to travel for this role: 5%

Essential Requirements

• Extensive experience across Internal Audit, Accounting, Finance, Risk, Compliance, or closely related disciplines

  
  
  

• Demonstrated ownership of quality assurance programs or conformance assessments against global internal audit standards

  
  
  

• Proven ability to define and operationalize Internal Audit methodologies, playbooks, procedures, templates, and guidance

  
  
  

• Strong judgment on audit quality and consistency across the full audit lifecycle, from planning through reporting

  
  
  

• Experience partnering with senior leaders and influencing adoption across a global Internal Audit organization

  
  
  

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of clear, executive-level materials

  
  
  

• Experience managing audit tools including system requirements and governance.

  
  
  

• Professional certification such as Certified Internal Auditor or equivalent audit, accounting, or risk qualification

  
  
  

Desirable Requirements

• Experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or other highly regulated industries

  
  
  

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

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to diversityandincl.india@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

Building Effective Teams, Compliance And Controls, Critical Thinking, E2E Process View, Effective Communications, Financial Accounting, Financial And Management Reporting, People Development, Process Optimization, Rapid Problem Solving