API Manufacturing Director

Novo Nordisk A/S; Gentofte Kommune; On-site; DKK 941,000 - 1,280,000; Full time

Job summary

Novo Nordisk A/S in Gentofte, Denmark seeks an API Manufacturing Director to lead API production and supply for multiple products, ensuring GMP/cGDP compliance and safety. You will manage a ~150-person org, restart a NN product, optimise cost bases, and drive cross-functional, continuous improvement across the value chain.

The role emphasizes leadership, Lean mindset, and delivering scalable manufacturing excellence in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in API manufacturing operations.
• Proven track record of leading multifunctional teams and managing organizational development.
• 7+ years of direct people management and 3+ years as leader of leaders.
• Solid understanding of Novo Nordisk value chain and ability to create business impact.
• LEAN mindset with continuous improvement and cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to build strong teams and prioritize across competing demands.

Responsibilities

• Hold decision-making authority over the full API planning and production process across several products from cultivation to final API product.
• Secure manufacturing operations for several products and lead restart of a NN product.
• Meet department targets, own the budget and optimise the cost base with safety focus.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, cGMP and cGDP.
• Lead process improvement projects to enhance quality, cost efficiency and scheduling.

Skills

People leadership

Lean mindset

Cross‑functional collaboration

Quality mindset

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Biochemistry or Chemical Engineering

Job description

Your impact begins here

As API Manufacturing Director, you will lead the manufacture and reliable supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients that reach people living with serious Rare Diseases. You will secure operations for a number of products, lead the restart of a NN product, and guide a large team to perform safely and to GMP standard. Your leadership will turn scientific work into treatments people can count on.

What you'll bring

You lead with clarity, care and a strong quality mindset, and you set clear expectations for yourself and your organisation. To do this role well, you bring:

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in API manufacturing operations.
• A proven track record of leading multifunctional teams and managing organisational development and design.
• Years of People Leadership: At least 7+ years of direct people management experience and 3+ year experience with leader of leaders
• A solid understanding of the Novo Nordisk value chain and the ability to create functional business impact.
• A LEAN mindset, with a drive for performance culture, continuous improvement and problem solving with cross‑functional collaboration.
• The ability to build strong teams, prioritise across competing demands and stay curious about how other parts of the organisation work.

Useful, but not essential

• Experience restarting or scaling up biopharmaceutical production processes.

What you'll do

You will hold decision‑making authority over the full API planning and production process across several products, from cultivation, recovery through purification to final API product.

• Secure manufacturing operations for several products and lead the restart of a NN product, producing and releasing according to agreements.
• Meet the department's business targets, own the budget and optimise the cost base while keeping a continuous, high focus on safety.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, cGMP and cGDP, monitoring adherence and addressing any abnormal events promptly.
• Lead process improvement projects that enhance quality, cost efficiency and scheduling, and champion sustainable, environmentally friendly practices.
• Shape the structure, development and training of the sub‑function so the teams can scale and deliver against strategic goals.
• Build effective relationships across the value chain and align decisions with broader organisational objectives.

Who you'll work with

In Global Manufacturing & Supply, colleagues work across the value chain to scale molecules, processes, devices and products for the people who need them. You will be responsible for API IO M4 in Gentofte and report to the VP for the area API IO M4, leading a team of around 10-15 direct reports and an organisation of approximately 150 people.

You will collaborate closely with QA, QC, MSAT and, alongside your API IO M4 management team, Production Groups and API peers. Working across Gentofte, Hillerød and Kalundborg, you will bring the right expertise together, create clarity when things stall, and keep production moving for our customers.

What you can expect here

You will lead a critical part of Novo Nordisk's supply, trusted to take ownership and make decisions that matter. You will develop your leadership through complex, cross‑functional work and gain broad exposure across the value chain, while being supported to perform at your best. The work moves at pace and combines curiosity, collaboration and ambition to create meaningful progress.

Salary

Salary: For this role, the Annual Base Salary ranges from 940,800 to 1,280,00 DKK, corresponding to the level of the position. The placement within the salary range will be assessed during the recruitment process based on the candidate’s skills, competencies, knowledge, and relevant experience.

Incentives and Benefits

Incentives and Benefits: The salary package may include short‑term and/or long‑term incentives as well as other employee benefits based on position level, location, functional area and relevant market benchmarks. Learn more about our Reward Philosophy here.

Start now

Your impact begins today.

Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.