Job Description Summary

#LI-Hybrid

Location: Hyderabad, India

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

Join Novartis and help shape the financial foundation of groundbreaking clinical research. As a Study Grants Manager, you will translate complex study protocols into grant plans and fair market value assessments that support faster site activation and better forecasting across global, regional and local clinical trials. This is an opportunity to collaborate with global teams, influence study design decisions, drive operational efficiency, and contribute to advancing innovative medicines that improve and extend people’s lives.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Translate clinical protocol schedules of assessment into accurate grant plans and Fair Market Value cost estimates.
• Lead grant plan development with study teams to support timely site contracting.
• Partner with Study Leaders to evaluate protocol design impacts on trial costs and operations.
• Contribute to forecasting accuracy through collaboration with study leads, start-up, and budgeting teams.
• Provide operational insights on study procedures, visit design, and cost drivers.
• Build strong partnerships with country organizations to support timely site selection and site contract negotiation.
• Prepare Fair Market Value assessments supporting investigator initiated and local studies.
• Partner with GrantPlan and FMV tool vendors to ensure assessment accuracy and continuous cost model improvements.
• Identify opportunities for productivity and operational efficiency, cost avoidance, and forecasting accuracy .
• Analyze protocol amendments and provide detailed comparisons of budget and cost impacts.

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or business, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience in drug development within the pharmaceutical industry or vendor/provider from Pharma.
• Strong understanding of clinical development and global clinical trial processes.
• Demonstrated expertise in clinical trial budgeting, forecasting, and site cost drivers.
• Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice and clinical trial start-up activities.
• Experience using GrantPlan or similar costing tool, clinical databases, and clinical project management systems.
• Proven ability to deliver projects on time and within budget expectations.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Advanced knowledge and usage of MS Excel

Desirable Requirements

• Demonstrated experience driving clinical trial process improvements and adoption of innovative technologies.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve. We are dedicated to creating a workplace where all employees can bring their authentic selves to work and where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and grow.

Skills Desired

Budget Management, Clinical Trials, People Management, Project Planning, Vendor Management, Waterfall Model