Senior Director, Global R&D External Innovation & Pipeline Filling and Sourcing

Novo Nordisk•Cambridge, MA

15d

About The Position

The Senior Director, Global R&D External Innovation & Pipeline Filling and Sourcing role is responsible for identifying, assessing and establishing pre-G1 and technology-focused partnerships to strengthen Novo Nordisk's R&D pipeline, through collaborations with external companies to deliver direct pipeline impact and through creating and deploying engagement models to capture early innovation and breakthrough science from startups, venture partners and incubators. The role is tasked with establishing partnerships that can deliver on the ambitious productivity targets set for the next 2-3 years with projects originating from External Innovation & Sourcing (EI&S) expected to contribute 20-30% of Novo Nordisk's preclinical pipeline. The Senior Director is leading a global team of Innovation Leads in US, UK and China, who do sourcing, assessment, and establishment of global strategic collaboration agreements with external partners to fill the pipeline through exploring novel biology or transformative technology. The Senior Director has direct report people leader in China (Director of External Innovation & Sourcing China), who has responsibility for coordination of Chinese external innovation activities across China. The Senior Director actively integrates and disseminates knowledge into the global Novo Nordisk R&D organization, focusing on diverse innovation approaches, lean project plan executions, new ways of working, and asset transitioning. The Senior Director, Global R&D External Innovation & Pipeline Filling and Sourcing serves as a critical interface between the R&D External Innovation (R&D EI) and organizational levels within the Global Research and Therapeutics Discovery organizations in Europe, China and US, as well as the wider R&D in Novo Nordisk. They support the scientific agenda developed as part of the collaborations to be established. Overall, the Sr. Director will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to support the pipeline development through external innovation. The role plays a critical role in fostering strong relationships internally and externally. Internal stakeholders include Global Research, Therapeutics Discovery, Medical and Translational Science and specialists across global R&D, R&D senior management, Corporate Patents, and Global Business Development to ensure alignment and collaboration across the organization. External partners include representatives of biotech, venture capital firms, and universities, including partners, biotech executives, and University principal investigators. The Senior EI&S Director will engage with these stakeholders to build and maintain relationships that support the development of a diversified external research pipeline. Entrusted with the critical role of securing idea inflow, prioritizing new ideas, and implementing the R&D plan with scientific expertise. Accountable for the interface to the global R&D organization and their allocation of resources to assessment of collaboration opportunities Fostering a high-performing team culture across multiple geographies (DK, US, China) in accordance with the NN way Entrusted with the authority to hire scientific/technical experts to the team (biology, technology, medicinal chemistry, translational medicine) Expected to independently drive the innovation agenda and constantly strive for higher performance, actively challenging ordinary processes and priorities External Engagement: Develop and maintain strong relationships with global biopharma companies, academic institutions, and venture partners to stay ahead of emerging opportunities Strategic Decision-Making: Provide expert insights to executive leadership on pipeline gaps and recommend high-impact opportunities to strengthen the preclinical development portfolio Responsible for sourcing, assessing and establishing collaborations to contribute 20-30% of the NN preclinical pipeline, at steady state corresponding to 5 G0/year and 2 G1s Responsible for securing inflow channels across the innovation ecosystem, ideating and prioritizing product concept ideas with partners, and developing collaboration frameworks Involves engaging in proactive dialogue with all levels of the organization to recommend and reach agreement on strategies, plans, and budgets for new initiatives Leadership & Influence: Represent the company at relevant meetings, and partnering events, positioning the organization as a preferred partner in therapeutic innovation Responsible to operate sourcing activities in the US, Europe and China under the strategic leadership of the Head of EI&A Provides scientific recommendations and leads the scientific agenda for pre-G1 partner engagements; final deal terms and approvals rest with the EI Decision Group/Deal Group

Requirements

MS degree with 14+ years of relevant experience or M.D./Ph.D. with 11+ years of relevant experience
A minimum of 15 years of pertinent experience, ideally within an R&D, External Innovation or BD function
Demonstrated leadership or people management experience in industry, biotech, or academic research settings, with a proven ability to inspire others to progress towards objectives
A track record of effectively managing multiple projects or roles in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
Adeptness in navigating scientific domains characterized by high uncertainty and the capacity to rapidly assimilate new knowledge
Comprehensive scientific knowledge within the metabolic disease space and/or drug discovery and technology development is essential
Robust understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and the ability to formulate and implement scientific strategies
Solid scientific and business acumen across Research & Development (R&D), with desirable experience in pre-clinical drug development
Demonstrated capabilities to formulate and execute strategies that align with the overarching R&D strategy
Proven experience in executing and managing R&D projects with external partners, utilizing a variety of partnership models, ideally on a global scale
Experience in working within cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment, with the ability to orchestrate mutually beneficial solutions in complex stakeholder landscapes and act as a strategic partner to senior management
Exceptional collaboration capabilities, both internally and externally
Excellent communication and leadership skills, capable of influencing both internal and external stakeholders

Responsibilities

Identifying, assessing and establishing pre-G1 and technology-focused partnerships to strengthen Novo Nordisk's R&D pipeline
Collaborating with external companies to deliver direct pipeline impact
Creating and deploying engagement models to capture early innovation and breakthrough science from startups, venture partners and incubators
Establishing partnerships that can deliver on the ambitious productivity targets set for the next 2-3 years
Leading a global team of Innovation Leads in US, UK and China, who do sourcing, assessment, and establishment of global strategic collaboration agreements with external partners to fill the pipeline through exploring novel biology or transformative technology
Integrating and disseminating knowledge into the global Novo Nordisk R&D organization, focusing on diverse innovation approaches, lean project plan executions, new ways of working, and asset transitioning
Building and maintaining relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to support the pipeline development through external innovation
Securing idea inflow, prioritizing new ideas, and implementing the R&D plan with scientific expertise
Accountable for the interface to the global R&D organization and their allocation of resources to assessment of collaboration opportunities
Fostering a high-performing team culture across multiple geographies (DK, US, China) in accordance with the NN way
Hiring scientific/technical experts to the team (biology, technology, medicinal chemistry, translational medicine)
Independently drive the innovation agenda and constantly strive for higher performance, actively challenging ordinary processes and priorities
Develop and maintain strong relationships with global biopharma companies, academic institutions, and venture partners to stay ahead of emerging opportunities
Provide expert insights to executive leadership on pipeline gaps and recommend high-impact opportunities to strengthen the preclinical development portfolio
Sourcing, assessing and establishing collaborations to contribute 20-30% of the NN preclinical pipeline, at steady state corresponding to 5 G0/year and 2 G1s
Securing inflow channels across the innovation ecosystem, ideating and prioritizing product concept ideas with partners, and developing collaboration frameworks
Engaging in proactive dialogue with all levels of the organization to recommend and reach agreement on strategies, plans, and budgets for new initiatives
Representing the company at relevant meetings, and partnering events, positioning the organization as a preferred partner in therapeutic innovation
Operating sourcing activities in the US, Europe and China under the strategic leadership of the Head of EI&A
Providing scientific recommendations and leads the scientific agenda for pre-G1 partner engagements

Benefits

medical
dental
vision coverage
life insurance
disability insurance
401(k) savings plan
flexible spending accounts
employee assistance program
tuition reimbursement program
voluntary benefits such as group legal, critical illness, identity theft protection, pet insurance and auto/home insurance
sick time policy
flex-able vacation policy
parental leave policy