Director - Digital Science External Project Collaboration at Novo Nordisk

About the Department                                                                                                                                               

The Digital Science External Partnerships (DSEP) is seeking a motivated candidate for the role of Director of External Digital Partnerships in drug discovery. DSEP is anchored in Data & Knowledge Discovery (DKD) in Digital Science & Innovation (DSI) area at Novo Nordisk Research & Early Development (R&ED). 
 
At DSEP, we are dedicated to formulating the digital external innovation strategy and driving its execution in close collaboration with stakeholders across R&ED. We are committed to fuel drug discovery through external innovation and collaboration to unleash the power of data and digital technologies​. We aim to deliver value and ensure access to cutting-edge technologies, such as AI/ML and LLM based methodologies, as well as access to human cohort data, all of which are instrumental for scientific insight generation to accelerate innovation for target/biomarker discovery, computational biology-based disease understanding and computational drug design in early research and drug discovery. Together with DSI we drive digital transformation across Novo Nordisk R&ED. DSI participates in drug development projects across the value chain, from early discovery to pre-clinical development, with objective of enhancing the lives of individuals living with serious chronic conditions.

The Position

In this key position, you will be instrumental in shaping scientific innovation in early research and drug discovery. As Director of External Digital Partnerships, you will be working closely with internal and external stakeholders to contribute towards advancing our pipeline and increasing probability of success of our drug development research projects.  

The role provides unique opportunity to drive end-to end engagement in digital external innovation. We strongly believe that the success of external partnership is driven by both carefully matched partners and well scoped and execute projects. Hence, your responsibilities include not only identifying and maturing external opportunities, but importantly also project managing established digital partnerships. You ensure smooth collaboration between internal and external team members across the partnership value chain to benefit from complementing internal efforts with new digital technologies and approaches.  

The role offers significant exposure to the Leadership Teams in R&ED and insights across the Novo Nordisk value chain. To succeed you provide and grow a strong network of relevant external companies and institutions in digital space of drug discovery (eg. AI or in slilco driven companies, biotechs, large tech, lab automations companies and major academic organizations).

Relationships

Report to: Senior Director.

No direct manager responsiblities  
Lead multifunctional work groups with both scientific specialists and managers and supporting functions from DSI and the rest of R&ED created to carry out external collaboration projects.

Essential Functions

• As Senior Project Leader: 
• Organize and lead cross functional project teams to drive execution of major digital partnerships with companies and academic institutions by providing project management, strategic direction, ensure, scientific relevance and high quality of project deliverables on time and on budget  
• Provide strong internal and external stakeholders management to ensure continues alignment on scientific and business value  
• Actively seek for opportunities for partnership grow  
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, guidelines, and ethical standards in all external partnership activities  
• As Business Development and Scientific Leader: 
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand business needs and develop partnership opportunities with strategic fit  
• Lead and guide identification, evaluation, due diligence, and contracting of new digital opportunities together with subject matter experts, Search & Evaluation, and supporting functions colleagues  
• Ensure opportunities strategic fit, complementarity to internal efforts and clear value proposition  
• Effectively communicate with senior executives through compelling presentations and clear, concise messaging to secure sponsorships from SVP areas of R&ED  
• Driver of technological external innovation e.g., within AI and ML, LLM for computational drug design  
• Represent Novo Nordisk as ambassador for Digitalization in key conferences, consortia etc, to secure and expand the network of relevant players in digital space of drug discovery  
• Develop long- and short-term business strategies and plans on engagement with the key external digital partners and oversees implementation  

Physical Requirements

The job is mainly performed in Boston and East Coast area, but travels abroad is to be expected to meetings, conferences, and stakeholders interactions e.g., NNRCO, NNRCC and NN DK. Approximately 15 % overnight travel

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required. PhD preferred. Degree in computational science, data science or data science related discipline required
• Typically requires 8+ years of relevant experience. Advanced degree may be substituted for experience as deemed appropriate
• Relevant experience includes:
  • 5 years of experience in drug discovery research is required, computational peptide/protein design experience is preferred.
  • Project management experience in complex programs/projects is required, preferably including several parties  
  • Experience from either biotech/pharmaceutical industry, larger tech companies or start-up tech companies with proven experience in collaboration with external partners in the digital space of drug discovery is required 
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, with an emphasis on presentation abilities
  • Knowledgeable about in-silico/AI driven drug discovery is required (eg. target/biomarker discovery, computational drug design, computational biology, etc)  
• Business Development or Digital Accelerator experience is an asset

Successful candidates will be a highly proactive, self-starter and team player with strong project management, stakeholder management and influencing skills, capable of collaborating with global stakeholders in complex research environments and organizations. Must possess strong innovation, and analytical skills, with demonstrated technical capability, a business mindset, and the ability to drive processes and motivate colleagues. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and adaptability skills are essential.

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.

At Novo Nordisk we recognize that it is no longer good enough to aspire to be the best company in the world. We need to aspire to be the best company for the world and we know that this is only possible with talented employees with diverse perspectives, backgrounds and cultures. We are therefore committed to creating an inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity of our employees, the patients we serve and communities we operate in. Together, we’re life changing.

Novo Nordisk is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations.

If you are interested in applying to Novo Nordisk and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply, please call us at 1-855-411-5290. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.