Director - Global Rare Disease Project at Novo Nordisk

About the Department                                                                                                                                               

Our Research & Development organization brings together the best minds in life science innovation. The teams located in facilities in Lexington, Watertown, Cambridge and Seattle reflect the full R&D continuum, from early research through late-stage clinical development. Here, we are building for the future, creating a distinct R&D community based on collaboration, partnerships, and cutting-edge research across multiple modalities and therapeutic areas. We recognize that improving human health starts here and that patients rely on us. Our R&D hub merges biotech speed and agility with large pharmaceutical company quality, resources, and stability, uniting the best of both worlds to develop new medicines for patients.

The Position

The position is a key role in Rare Disease Research (RDR) organization to assist in the development and integration of portfolio strategy across rare bleeding disorders, rare endocrine disorders and haemoglobinopathies areas in Denmark and USA. The role also helps develop and execute an external innovation and partnership strategy to expand and accelerate Rare Disease Research portfolio within sustainable growth model, maintaining a balance of internal resources (FTE and finances) with external resources (CRO’s and academic/industry collaborators).

Scope and responsibilities:

Relationship

Reports to the CVP Rare Disease Research. Develops and maintains an organizational network to drive RDR impact. Interacts and collaborates across all levels in GDD, Rare Disease organization including ROLT, Development, Commercial, Medical Affairs, CMC/PSQIT and insights and portfolio strategy teams. External interactions with CRO’s academic and industry collaborators.

This is an individual contributor role but leads and executes on RDR organization’s mission and vision via influence and leadership and via clear communication of the RDR portfolio strategy across the organization. The role reports directly into the TA head and works closely with RDR LT.

Essential Functions

• Project Portfolio responsibilities
• Ensure efficient project execution
• Promote to the point research plans including killer experiment in projects
• Contribute to development of and execution of research strategy
• Securing global scientific cross-organizational collaboration
• Ensure seamless collaboration with other areas, e.g. GNAT, GRT and the Pre-Project Portfolio Team

• Expert participation in evaluation of BD opportunities
• Coordinates scientific evaluation of external assets within field of expertise
• Coordinates research Due Diligence of external assets within field of expertise

• Participate in RDR activities
• Ensure and maintain high standard in RDR governance interactions
• Optimize our external collaborations for focus, outcome and professionalism
• Participate in additional household activities, e.g. organize science meetings, align with working groups, Evolve performance talks

• Scope
• Sets objectives and deliver results that have a major impact on the functions results and some impact on the CVP area results
• Participate in development and execution of Strategy for own area as well as influence functional strategy
• Proactively anticipates potential conflicts with minimum supervision from management level
• Full knowledge about the CVP area strategy and cross-functional knowledge about roles and responsibilities of each area within the CVP area

Physical Requirements

Approximately 10% domestic and international travel required.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field is required
• A minimum of 8+ years relevant experience is required
• A subject matter expert in rare diseases, with knowledge in early research and drug development in rare disease, with a high level of creativity & curiosity with a strong innovative mindset
• Communication
• Ability to communicate at all levels across NN and convince/challenge internal stakeholders up to EVP mgmt. team level
• Ability to find agreements through flexibility and compromise or convincing others of new concepts, practices and ideas
• Might often be required to convince external parties who are skeptical or unwilling to accept new concepts, practices, and approaches
• Ability to present NN in interactions with KOLs, with external assets etc. in a proactive and critical, yet friendly manner

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.