Associate Director, Engineering Projects

Novo Nordisk•Lexington, MA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director (US R&D Operations) will be a key contributor to (1) delivery of the IPG (Investment Portfolio Group) CAPEX program currently in execution and (2) ongoing Operations portfolio leadership. The role will initially be predominantly dedicated to the IPG program (approximately 60–80%), leading PMO and project execution controls (scope, schedule, cost, risk, change control and performance reporting). In parallel (approximately 20–40%), the role will support US R&D Operations as an engineering, project and strategy lead driving operational project planning, prioritization and portfolio execution. As the IPG program concludes, the role will transition to a primarily Operations-focused remit, owning Operations Engineering and planning strategy while maintaining strong governance and delivery discipline. As a member of the US R&D Facilities Leadership Team, the Associate Director is accountable for capital strategy, operations engineering governance and project oversight ensuring projects progress from concept through approval, execution and close-out while meeting business, regulatory, quality and operational requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited university and 9+ years of experience or a Master's degree and 7+ years of experience is required
Proven experience in operations leadership roles, preferably in a multi-site environment
Excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills, complemented by strong leadership abilities, strategic thinking and a results-oriented approach
Experience in project management & process improvement methodologies, change management and driving organizational transformation
Proven track record of delivering capital projects on time, within budget and to the required standard
Familiarity of building codes, life safety, health and safety regulations
Experience as owner’s rep for pharmaceutical or biotech R&D lab design & operations and lab/office space optimization preferred
Strong leadership and team management skills, among distributed teams in a dynamic environment
Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities

Responsibilities

Lead PMO and project controls for the IPG CAPEX program, including integrated scope, schedule, cost, risk, change control and performance reporting, supporting the Project Director
Establish and maintain effective delivery processes (planning cadence, forecasting, issue/risk escalation, corrective actions) to ensure predictable execution
Coordinate and integrate delivery across design, procurement, construction, commissioning and operational readiness to align dependencies, decisions and outcomes
Drive stakeholder engagement and communications across functions and regions; prepare concise, executive-level updates for governance and steering forums
Support the Project Director as needed through direct/indirect leadership of CAPEX workstreams/projects, including active construction activities
Contribute to continuous improvement of project management and controls practices, tools and templates
Provide engineering governance and project leadership for operations-driven initiatives (capital and non-capital) across sites, aligned to operational strategy and long-term infrastructure planning
Lead early project development: define business needs, develop concepts, perform feasibility/estimate work and build business justification to enable prioritization and approvals
Partner closely with Operations and the IPG program organization to align priorities, multi-year capital planning and execution strategy, including operational readiness
Manage strategic relationships with key design and construction partners (architecture, engineering, contractors/construction managers) to support safe, high-quality, compliant delivery
Manage and develop the engineering teams, ensuring necessary skillsets and training
Develop and maintain a capital project plan and execute capital projects, support capital process (IPG)
Ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget, scope and as designed
Develop and maintain relationships with contractors, vendors, NN customer base and other stakeholders
Provide technical expertise, strategic guidance and support to facility operations, R&D, EH&S as required
Drive Stakeholder Management and Communication
Manage budgets and expenses related to the engineering department and capital projects
Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities, manage changing requirements & adjusted priorities
Supervisory. Ensure that reporting personnel have individual development plans (IDP), with annual goals and measurements that are consistent with the priorities of the business and that interim reviews are held so that their work is focused on those priorities and they understand their level of accountability for results and the measurement process.
Ensure that the IDP forms include completed learning and aspiration plans and are in place for all reporting personnel to enable the achievement of goals and capability to assume increased levels of responsibility.
Manage the application and communication of all Novo Nordisk policies, procedures and Novo Nordisk Way.