Overall employee rating

3.2
Based on 27 reviews
Rating distribution: 0 reviews rated 5 out of 5 stars. 0 reviews rated 4 out of 5 stars. 26 reviews rated 3 out of 5 stars. 1 reviews rated 2 out of 5 stars. 0 reviews rated 1 out of 5 stars.
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4
3
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Detail Ratings
Work life balance
3.0
Career Growth
3.0
Work flexibility
3.0
Job Security
4.0
Pay and benefits
4.0
Leadership
3.0
Company Culture
3.0
Disclaimer: Reviews on Jobstore are independently submitted by users; we do not guarantee the accuracy or truth of any individual submission. Read more
Research Associate (Onsite)
3.7
16 July 2026

A Stable Path in Pharmaceutical Research

Working at Novartis as a Research Associate has been a really positive experience for me. It's a stable company in the pharmaceutical industry with good career development prospects and a supportive environment. While some processes can be slow, the overall experience and impact of the work are very rewarding.


Pros

I've really enjoyed my time as a Research Associate at Novartis in East Hanover, NJ. It's a global pharmaceutical company with a strong mission, and you feel that in the work. The team I'm on is super supportive, and there are tons of learning opportunities. If you're looking to build a career in the healthcare industry, this place offers great stability and a chance to work on important projects. Benefits are competitive, which is a plus.


Cons

The biggest drawback for me has been the pace of promotions; it can feel a bit slow compared to smaller companies. Also, getting approvals for new ideas or projects sometimes takes longer than you'd expect, which can be a little frustrating. There's definitely some bureaucracy typical of a large global organization, but nothing unmanageable. It's just part of working here.


Advice to Management

Focus on streamlining some of the internal approval processes to speed up innovation. Also, consider clearer pathways for promotion for high-performing individual contributors.


Ratings by topic
4.0
Work life balance
4.0
Career Growth
3.0
Work flexibility
3.0
Job Security
4.0
Pay and benefits
4.0
Leadership
4.0
Company Culture

Similar reviews
Research Scientist
3.0
5 April 2026
Solid pay, but culture feels a bit stale
Pros: The pay and benefits are really solid for pharmaceuticals jobs. You get good health insurance and a decent 401k match. There's also job stability, which is nice in a corporate environment. The hybrid arrangement (3 days in office) offers good work flexibility.
Cons: The company culture can feel a bit fragmented. Teams are often siloed, so collaboration across different research groups isn't always easy for a Research Scientist. It can be tough to feel like one big unit, and internal politics sometimes get in the way.
Advice to Management: Management should really work on fostering more cross-functional collaboration. Break down those silos. Also, recognizing individual contributions more often would boost morale and make the culture feel more positive. Make it clear how our research impacts the bigger picture.
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Clinical Research Associate
2.9
7 March 2026
Big pharma culture, some good people
Pros: I met some truly great colleagues in the Cambridge, MA office. The work itself in clinical trials is impactful. You get solid exposure to the pharmaceutical industry, especially as a Clinical Research Associate, and benefits are decent.
Cons: The corporate culture feels really rigid sometimes. There's a lot of red tape and slow decision-making, which can be frustrating. Management could be better about supporting teams, it sometimes feels like micromanagement with our onsite work expectations.
Advice to Management: Work on empowering teams more. Trust employees to get things done without so many layers of approval. Try to streamline some processes to reduce frustration for those of us in Clinical Research Associate roles.
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Regulatory Affairs Specialist
3.4
5 March 2026
Hybrid Work is Decent, But Can Be Stiff
Pros: The hybrid model (3 days onsite) for us in the pharmaceutical industry is better than full office. You get some work-from-home time, which helps avoid that brutal New Jersey commute. It's a solid setup if you like some office presence for collaboration.
Cons: The 'flexibility' often feels forced. Even for a Regulatory Affairs Specialist, those mandated onsite days are non-negotiable, even if you don't have meetings. It can be tough to juggle personal appointments when you're stuck to the office schedule. True WFH for more than 2 days a week is rare.
Advice to Management: Consider more true work_flexibility, especially for roles like Regulatory Affairs that often don't need constant in-person supervision. Trust your employees more with their schedules, especially after proving themselves during the pandemic.
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