Associate Vice President, R&D Process Orchestration (Denmark, Søborg)

Novo Nordisk A/S; Søborg; On-site; DKK 1,500,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Job summary

Novo Nordisk A/S in Søborg, Denmark, seeks an executive to lead R&D Process Orchestration. The Associate Vice President will accelerate medicines development by redesigning workflows across the R&D value chain and partnering with senior leaders to drive data-driven decisions.

The role requires a proven track record in enterprise-wide transformation within pharma, strong stakeholder management, and hands-on experience with AI, automation, and process mining to improve productivity and

Qualifications

• Master’s or higher degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, Business or related field.
• Proven leadership in enterprise-wide transformation within pharma.
• Experience redesigning operating models and cross-functional processes.
• Strong ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive change.

Responsibilities

• Define strategic direction for R&D process orchestration across R&D.
• Lead portfolio management processes and drive end-to-end efficiency.
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality, CMC, Digital to accelerate asset development.
• Partner with AI and Digital teams to enable data-driven decisions.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing team.
• Represent Novo Nordisk in industry forums and benchmark best practices.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Execution oriented

Stakeholder management

Collaborative leadership

Change management

Continuous improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Master's degree or higher in Life Sciences, Engineering, or Business

Tools

AI

Automation

Process mining

Advanced analytics

Job description

Jobbeskrivelse

Placering

Søborg, Denmark

Jobkategori

Project Management & Agile

Are you passionate about transforming how global R&D organisations operate? Do you thrive at the intersection of strategy, operational excellence, digital transformation, and cross-functional leadership?

If so, this is a unique opportunity to shape the future of R&D at Novo Nordisk.

The Position

As Associate Vice President, R&D Process Orchestration, you will play a pivotal role in accelerating the way Novo Nordisk develops medicines by improving how the work flows across the entire R&D value chain; from early development strategy through protocol development, clinical studies, and submission.

Reporting to the Group Vice President of Portfolio Strategy & Project Leadership, you will lead the newly established R&D Process Orchestration function and act as a strategic partner to the R&D Leadership Team. Your mission is to simplify complexity, improve speed, strengthen collaboration, and enable data-driven decision-making across R&D.

You will work across organisational boundaries to redesign workflows, optimise processes, and introduce digital and AI-enabled solutions that improve productivity and reduce time to market.

Position to be based in Søborg, Denmark.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Define the strategic direction for process orchestration area across R&D.
• Own and continuously improve key portfolio management processes and optimise the Global Project Framework.
• Drive and facilitate process excellence by redesigning workflows, simplifying handovers, manage interdependencies, and improving end-to-end process efficiency.
• Partner with senior leaders and subject matter experts across R&D, Quality, CMC, Digital, and other business areas to drive enterprise-wide alignment and change to accelerate development of asset strategy, clinical trial planning, execution and submission.
• Work with our AI and Digital area to accelerate digital transformation of how we set asset strategy and enable seamless and fast downstream execution
• Build organisational capability by developing a high-performing team and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Represent Novo Nordisk externally in relevant industry forums and benchmark emerging best practices in R&D operations.

Qualifications

• A master's degree or other advanced degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, Business, or related discipline, preferred.
• Senior leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
• A strong track record of leading enterprise-wide transformation and operational excellence initiatives across a complex pharmaceutical organisation
• Demonstrated success delivering cross-functional transformation across complex value chains, aligning teams, processes, and outcomes.
• Experience redesigning operating models, workflows, or business processes with measurable business impact for R&D functions of a pharmaceutical company
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead cross-functional initiatives without direct authority.
• Experience implementing digital solutions such as AI, automation, process mining, or advanced analytics to improve business performance.
• Strong program and portfolio management capabilities.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.

About You

• Are a strong communicator with excellent collaboration skills.
• Think strategically while remaining highly execution oriented.
• Are naturally curious, and challenge established ways of working.
• Enjoy solving complex organisational challenges through collaboration and influence.
• Build trust quickly and create alignment across diverse stakeholders.
• Lead change with confidence and inspire others to embrace new ways of working.
• Have a passion for continuous improvement, innovation, and creating lasting organisational impact.

Deadline

Sunday 17 September 2026.

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

Working at Novo Nordisk

At Novo Nordisk, you will join a company driven by purpose and a commitment to improving the lives of millions of people living with serious chronic diseases. We offer an opportunity to influence one of the world's leading R&D organisations and help shape how future medicines are developed through innovation, collaboration, and operational excellence.