Are you passionate about transforming how global R&D organisations operate? Do you thrive at the intersection of strategy, operational excellence, digital transformation, and cross-functional leadership?
If so, this is a unique opportunity to shape the future of R&D at Novo Nordisk.
The Position
As Associate Vice President, R&D Process Orchestration, you will play a pivotal role in accelerating the way Novo Nordisk develops medicines by improving how the work flows across the entire R&D value chain; from early development strategy through protocol development, clinical studies, and submission.
Reporting to the Group Vice President of Portfolio Strategy & Project Leadership, you will lead the newly established R&D Process Orchestration function and act as a strategic partner to the R&D Leadership Team. Your mission is to simplify complexity, improve speed, strengthen collaboration, and enable data-driven decision-making across R&D.
You will work across organisational boundaries to redesign workflows, optimise processes, and introduce digital and AI-enabled solutions that improve productivity and reduce time to market.
Position to be based in Søborg, Denmark.
Your Key Responsibilities
You will:
• Define the strategic direction for process orchestration area across R&D.
• Own and continuously improve key portfolio management processes and optimise the Global Project Framework.
• Drive and facilitate process excellence by redesigning workflows, simplifying handovers, manage interdependencies, and improving end-to-end process efficiency.
• Partner with senior leaders and subject matter experts across R&D, Quality, CMC, Digital, and other business areas to drive enterprise-wide alignment and change to accelerate development of asset strategy, clinical trial planning, execution and submission.
• Work with our AI and Digital area to accelerate digital transformation of how we set asset strategy and enable seamless and fast downstream execution
• Build organisational capability by developing a high-performing team and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Represent Novo Nordisk externally in relevant industry forums and benchmark emerging best practices in R&D operations.
Qualifications
To succeed in this role, you are likely to bring:
• A master's degree or other advanced degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, Business, or related discipline, preferred.
• Senior leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
• A strong track record of leading enterprise-wide transformation and operational excellence initiatives across a complex pharmaceutical organisation
• Demonstrated success delivering cross-functional transformation across complex value chains, aligning teams, processes, and outcomes.
• Experience redesigning operating models, workflows, or business processes with measurable business impact for R&D functions of a pharmaceutical company
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead cross-functional initiatives without direct authority.
• Experience implementing digital solutions such as AI, automation, process mining, or advanced analytics to improve business performance.
• Strong program and portfolio management capabilities.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.
About You
We imagine that you:
• Are a strong communicator with excellent collaboration skills.
• Think strategically while remaining highly execution oriented.
• Are naturally curious, and challenge established ways of working.
• Enjoy solving complex organisational challenges through collaboration and influence.
• Build trust quickly and create alignment across diverse stakeholders.
• Lead change with confidence and inspire others to embrace new ways of working.
• Have a passion for continuous improvement, innovation, and creating lasting organisational impact.
Deadline
Sunday 17 September 2026.
You do not need to attach a cover letter to your application, but please include a few sentences about why you are applying in your CV. To ensure an efficient and fair recruitment process, please refrain from adding a photo in your CV.
We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equal opportunity for all our job applicants.
Working at Novo Nordisk
At Novo Nordisk, you will join a company driven by purpose and a commitment to improving the lives of millions of people living with serious chronic diseases. We offer an opportunity to influence one of the world's leading R&D organisations and help shape how future medicines are developed through innovation, collaboration, and operational excellence.