Director - External Project Collaboration - Digital Science External Partnerships

About the Department
The Digital Science External Partnerships (DSEP) is seeking a motivated candidate for the role of Director of External Digital Partnerships. DSEP is anchored in Data & Knowledge Discovery (DKD) in Digital Science & Innovation (DSI) area at Novo Nordisk Research & Early Development (R&ED).
At DSEP, we are dedicated to formulating the digital external innovation strategy and driving its execution in close collaboration with stakeholders across R&ED. Our role encompasses identifying, prioritizing, and project managing strategic digital partnerships. We are committed to delivering value and ensuring access to cutting-edge technologies, such as AI/ML and LLM based methodologies, as well as human cohort data, all of which are instrumental for target/biomarker discovery, computational biology and drug design in early research and drug discovery. Together with DKD, we evolve approaches for using AI and develop advanced information retrieval, enable comprehensive utilization of external and internal scientific data with advanced analytics for to gain key insights and intelligence from a comprehensive hub of scientific knowledge in the early research and drug discovery space.
As part of the DSI SVP area, DKD plays a vital role in driving digital transformation across Novo Nordisk R&ED. DSI participates in drug development projects across the value chain, from early discovery to pre-clinical development, with objective of enhancing the lives of individuals living with serious chronic conditions.
The Position
In this key position, you will be instrumental in shaping scientific innovation in early research and drug discovery. As Director of External Digital Partnerships, you will join a dynamic team driven to lead the digital transformation of early research and drug discovery.
Your responsibilities include identifying and maturing digital opportunities and ensuring that projects with external partners address strategic problems, aligning with the overall Novo Nordisk R&ED strategy and goals. You deliver strong scientific project management for established partnerships to benefit from complementing internal efforts with new digital technologies and approaches.
You provide and grow a strong network of relevant external companies and institutions in digital space of drug discovery.
The role offers significant exposure to the Leadership Teams in R&ED and insights across the Novo Nordisk value chain.
Relationships
Report to: Corporate Vice President, Digital & Research Intelligence (DRI).
Lead multifunctional work groups with both specialists and managers from DSI and the rest of R&ED created to carry out strategic projects.
Essential Functions

• As Senior Project Leader:
  • Organize and lead Project teams to drive execution of major digital partnerships with companies and academic institutions by providing project management, strategic direction, ensure, scientific relevance and high quality of project deliverables
  • Provide strong internal and external stakeholders management to ensure continues alignment on scientific and business value
  • Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, guidelines, and ethical standards in all external partnership activities
• As Business Development and Scientific Leader:
  • Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand business needs and develop partnership opportunities with strategic fit
  • Lead and guide identification, evaluation, due diligence, and contracting of new digital opportunities (eg. AI driven companies, large tech, in-silico driven companies, Research Informatics, lab automations companies), together with subject matter experts, Search & Evaluation, and supporting functions colleagues
  • Ensure opportunities strategic fit, complementarity to internal efforts and clear value proposition
  • Effectively communicate with senior executives through compelling presentations and clear, concise messaging to secure sponsorships from SVP areas of R&ED
  • Driver of technological external innovation e.g., within AI and ML, LLM for target/biomarker discovery and/or computational drug design
  • Represent Novo Nordisk as ambassador for Digitalization in key conferences, consortia etc, to secure and expand the network of relevant players in digital space of drug discovery
  • Develops long- and short-term business strategies and plans on engagement with the key external digital partners and oversees implementation

Physical Requirements
The job is mainly performed in Boston and East Coast area, but travels abroad is to be expected to meetings, conferences, and stakeholders interactions e.g., NNRCO, NNRCC and NN DK. Approximately 15 % overnight travel.
Qualifications

• Master's degree required. PhD preferred. Degree in computational science, data science or Biopharma related discipline preferred
• Typically requires 8+ years of relevant experience. Advanced degree may be substituted for experience as deemed appropriate
• Relevant experience includes:
  • Experience from either biotech/pharmaceutical industry, larger tech companies or start-up tech companies with proven experience in collaboration with external partners in the digital space of drug discovery
  • Knowledgeable about in-silico/AI driven drug discovery (eg. target/biomarker discovery, computational drug design, computational biology, etc) and/or early pharmaceutical research
  • Business Development and/or External Collaboration Manager/Project Manager experience

Successful candidates will be a highly proactive team player with strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, capable of collaborating with global stakeholders in complex research environments and organizations. Must possess strong strategy, innovation, and analytical skills, with demonstrated technical capability, a business mindset, and the ability to drive processes and motivate colleagues. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and adaptability skills are essential.
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.