Associate Director, Global Search & Evaluation

Novo Nordisk•Cambridge, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Novo Nordisk Cambridge location serves as the headquarters for Global Business Development, encompassing all therapeutic and technology areas. We foster innovation within a major life sciences ecosystem by engaging with scientists to identify scientific breakthroughs that can lead to transformative patient treatments. Our work involves collaborating with start-ups, established companies, venture capitalists, teaching hospitals, and academic institutions to advance innovation for mutual benefit and to support patients across our current therapy areas. Through various partnership models, we accelerate the progression of ideas from the lab to the clinic, thereby enhancing our product portfolio and improving patient outcomes. Within Corporate Development, Search & Evaluation (S&E) functions as the primary gateway for external drug and technology opportunities relevant to Novo Nordisk at the Global Drug Discovery, Global Technology Research, Global Development, and Corporate levels. S&E actively conducts scouting campaigns to identify opportunities by targeting universities, biotechnology companies, and venture capital firms through partnering events, road shows, and commissioned meetings. Our search for novel therapeutics focuses on core areas such as diabetes, obesity, MASH, CVD, CKD, and rare blood and endocrine disorders. Additionally, S&E supports the identification of cutting-edge enabling technologies in areas like oligonucleotides, protein and peptide engineering, and gene editing/therapy. Working cross-functionally, S&E supports the assessment of these external opportunities through due diligence and contractual negotiation. This role is instrumental in driving change by executing Novo Nordisk's strategy and global business development activities. The position is part of the global S&E team, with members primarily located in Denmark and Cambridge, MA, US. The role reports to the Head of Regional Scouts and is responsible for building networks and engaging with external stakeholders, including biotech companies, venture capital firms, and large-cap pharma communities, to establish Novo Nordisk as a preferred partner in its areas of interest. This position does not have direct or indirect reports.

Requirements

Master’s degree in business or life sciences is required; a medical degree is preferred.
8+ years of experience in a consultancy, R&D Business development, or equivalent role.
Research, medical training and experience are preferably within the metabolic space.
Proven track-record of project management, search and evaluation, business development or an equivalent role in R&D.
Ability to network across the pharma/biotech ecosystem including VC/investor communities, particularly related to (insert specific TAs here).
Experience in business development and licensing, covering aspects of pharmaceutical drug discovery and development.
Ability to identify opportunities not previously identified for various therapeutic areas leading to collaboration.
Proven record of strong stakeholder management towards senior stakeholders and external parties and networking skills.
Ability to link innovation, science and strategy, as well as the ability to communicate issues.
Outgoing, analytical and a good communicator who functions well in a dynamic environment.

Nice To Haves

The search for novel therapeutics focuses on our core areas: diabetes, obesity, as well as MASH, CVD CKD and rare blood and endocrine disorders.
S&E supports the identification of cutting-edge enabling technologies within oligonucleotides, protein and peptide engineering and gene editing/therapy.

Responsibilities

Identification of novel pipeline assets and enabling technologies.
Strategic overview of internal, as well as BD, pipeline assets.
Evaluation of novel pipeline assets and enabling technologies.
Lead scouting activities by independently identifying early and academic opportunities and engagement models to expand and transform Novo Nordisk’s pipeline.
Assists in building and maintaining professional networks across the pharma/biotech ecosystem including within academic, biotech, venture capital (VC)/investors and pharma communities by contacting and meeting with university technology transfer/licensing offices, key opinion leaders and university researchers.
Proactively share and describe Novo Nordisk business development and scouting priorities to external stakeholders.
Assist in arranging and participate in university- or Novo Nordisk-sponsored events and meetings and participate in external scientific congresses or symposia.
Meet biotech, pharma companies and investors at biotech/pharma/investors partnering events; visit and share Novo Nordisk business development and scouting priorities to accelerators, incubators and the like.
Meet VC firms and participate in VC conferences and events.
Systematically scout for opportunities through professional networks, literature searches, databases and patent searches within relevant therapy areas; track and report opportunities according to established internal procedures.
Systematically report scouting and assist in the initial evaluation of identified opportunities in close collaboration with the S&E evaluator teams and other relevant stakeholders globally.
Occasionally supports the further evaluation process according to established procedures up to and including due diligence occasionally to secure proposed collaborations and licenses for products and technology opportunities.
Presents opportunities to therapy area delegates and may support the presentation of selected opportunities to relevant governance boards by providing additional data and information as needed.
Assists in providing support to transaction colleagues during negotiation of licenses, collaborations agreements, sponsored research agreements and feasibility studies.