Associate Director, Centre for Functional Assays & Screening Therapeutics Discovery

Novo Nordisk; Måløv; On-site; DKK 847,000 - 1,245,000; Full time

Job summary

Novo Nordisk in Måløv, Denmark, is seeking an Associate Director to lead the Centre for Functional Assay & Screening (CFAS). You will manage a team of 12, directing cell line development and functional assays to enable high-throughput drug screening.

You will shape laboratory operations, drive automation, and collaborate with Molecular Biology partners to set priorities and deliver high-quality results.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated people leadership experience, including team development and delivery
• PhD in life sciences or equivalent with relevant research experience
• Strong understanding of molecular biology, cell line development or related biology
• Customer-oriented mindset with stakeholder engagement experience
• Proven ability to improve workflows and lead automation initiatives in the lab

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of scientists and technicians with accountability
• Lead Molecular Biology & Cell Line Development to deliver cell lines for assays
• Build partnerships with internal stakeholders to set priorities
• Oversee CFAS lab facilities, driving automation and efficient workflows
• Ensure delivery of two high-priority commitments: in vitro immunogenicity and transfer of potency assays

Skills

People leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Team development

Laboratory operations

Scientific direction

Education

PhD in life sciences

Tools

Automation platforms

Job description

Your impact begins here

Lead the people and capabilities that make functional assays possible across our early drug discovery portfolio. As Associate Director in the Centre for Functional Assays & Screening (CFAS), you will lead a department of 12 scientists and technicians, with responsibility for delivering the cell lines that enable high-quality and high-throughput drug candidate screening.

Your impact will extend beyond your own team. You will bring together our Molecular Biology & Cell Line Development community, shape laboratory operations and automation, and work closely with scientific partners to turn research needs into clear priorities. As part of CFAS's shared co-leadership model, you will also help set the direction of the centre and take joint responsibility for its success.

What You’ll Bring

You are an experienced research people leader who can combine scientific understanding with clear priorities and thoughtful decision-making. You build trust, listen to different perspectives and are comfortable sharing responsibility with peer leaders.

• Demonstrated people leadership experience, preferably at least two years, including responsibility for team development, priorities and delivery
• A PhD in life sciences or equivalent scientific qualifications and relevant experience
• Scientific expertise relevant to molecular biology, cell line development or cell-based research, with an understanding of functional assay requirements
• A customer-oriented mindset and strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to understand scientific needs
• Proven track record of improving research workflows and laboratory operations, with demonstrated experience leading laboratory automation initiatives.
• Ability to set clear direction and expectations while collaborating with peer leaders to make joint decisions and share accountability for CFAS.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and develop a team of scientists and technicians, creating an environment built on trust, psychological safety and clear accountability
• Lead the Molecular Biology & Cell Line Development community, developing capabilities and ensuring timely delivery of cell lines that meet functional assay needs
• Build strong partnerships with internal stakeholders, translating scientific needs into priorities and balancing project commitments with team capacity
• Take operational leadership of CFAS laboratory facilities, setting direction for laboratory automation and improving workflows, facility use and efficiency
• Ensure scientific quality and timely delivery of two high-priority CFAS commitments: in vitro immunogenicity assessment of early candidates and transfer of robust cell-based potency assays to CMC
• Share leadership with your two fellow CFAS leaders, jointly setting priorities, developing capabilities and coordinating resources across the centre

Who You’ll Work With

You will join CFAS within Drug Function & Screening, part of Therapeutics Discovery. The centre consists of three teams working together to enable functional assay development, screening and characterisation in early drug discovery. You will work side by side with your two fellow CFAS leaders. Through this shared co-leadership model, you will make joint decisions, coordinate resources and build capabilities that support the centre as a whole. It is a collaborative research environment where colleagues work across disciplines and therapeutic areas to help progress novel therapeutics from research ideas towards lead candidate selection.

What You Can Expect Here

You will have the opportunity to combine people leadership, scientific direction and operational responsibility in a role with impact across early drug discovery. You will shape cell line capabilities and laboratory operations while developing a skilled team and building strong partnerships across research.

The environment calls for open collaboration and shared leadership. You will have the scope to improve how the centre works while ensuring that scientific quality and reliable delivery remain at the heart of its contribution.

Salary:

For this role, the Annual Base Salary ranges from 847,000 to 1,245,100 DKK (DK), 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:

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.

Associate Director, Centre for Functional Assay & Screening

Måløv, Denmark

Application Deadline

4th November 2026

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.