Director, Head of Regulatory Science & Intelligence

Novo Nordisk A/S; Søborg; On-site; DKK 941,000 - 1,449,000; Full time

Job summary

Novo Nordisk A/S in Søborg seeks a Director, Head of Regulatory Science & Intelligence to lead the SPI function within RQC. You will set the strategic direction for regulatory science, build an integrated intelligence capability and translate signals into actionable insights for enterprise decision-making.

Reporting to the VP of SPI, you will drive AI-enabled solutions, data integration and governance, collaborating with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, and Policy to shape regulatory strategies and

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience across global, cross-functional or highly specialized teams.
• Significant experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech/healthcare sector, especially in regulatory affairs or regulatory science.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end R&D and regulatory value chain and how external developments affect portfolio decisions.
• Proven experience in scientific or regulatory intelligence, horizon scanning, impact assessment or strategic decision support.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and communicate complex topics with executive-level judgement.
• Experience building networks and partnerships across functions, geographies and external stakeholders.
• Minimum 15 years in pharma or academic pharma science; MD/PharmD with a PhD or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Regulatory Science & Intelligence function with clear priorities and performance culture.
• Set global strategy for scientific and regulatory intelligence aligned with priorities and enterprise strategy.
• Build a systematic approach to gather internal/external intelligence and identify trends.
• Translate complex regulatory developments into concise insights and actionable recommendations for senior leaders.
• Connect intelligence to portfolio and program decisions to accelerate development and reduce uncertainty.
• Drive innovation in regulatory science through AI, digitalisation and data integration.
• Collaborate with Regulatory Policy & Advocacy for timely handover of insights into policy and engagement plans.
• Strengthen scientific exchange with internal experts, external networks and authorities.

Skills

Leadership experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder influence

Global mindset

Regulatory science & intelligence

Education

MD/PhD/PharmD with advanced degree

Job description

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Director, Head of Regulatory Science & Intelligence

Category: Reg Affairs & Safety Pharmacovigilance

Location: Søborg, Capital Region of Denmark, DK

Are you passionate about turning emerging regulatory science and intelligence as well as translating external signals into strategic advantage to bring innovation to more people faster?If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to lead the Science & Intelligence function within RQC Science, Policy & Intelligence (SPI) at Novo Nordisk.

You will report to the Vice President of SPI and be a member of the RQC SPI Leadership Team.

You will also establish clear governance, quality standards and success measures of impact for intelligence activities, ensuring that insights are timely, trusted, globally connected and focused on the highest-value business questions.

The Position

As Regulatory Science & Intelligence Director you will set the strategic direction for how Novo Nordisk monitors, gathers, connects, interprets and applies internal and external regulatory science and intelligence. You will build an integrated capability that is forward looking, anticipates changes in the external environment, translates complex signals into actionable insights and strengthens portfolio, programme and enterprise decision-making.

Operating at both strategic and operational levels, you will act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and a connector across the enterprise such as R&D, Global Manufacturing Supply, Quality, Commercial, Competitive Intelligence, Corporate Affairs and the business. You will ensure that intelligence is converted into clear impact assessments, and actionable strategies, while strengthening the bridge from regulatory science and evidence to R&D, regulatory policy and advocacy.

Your key responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing the Regulatory Science & Intelligence function, creating clear priorities, an effective operating model and a culture of high performance, curiosity and collaboration
• Setting the global strategy for scientific and regulatory intelligence, aligned with RQC SPI priorities, portfolio needs and enterprise strategy
• Building a systematic approach to gather internal and external intelligence, identify emerging trends and assess their opportunities for Novo Nordisk
• Translating complex scientific, regulatory, policy and competitor developments into concise insights, impact assessments, scenarios and actionable recommendations for senior decision-makers
• Connecting intelligence to portfolio and programme decisions, including opportunities to accelerate development, strengthen regulatory strategies and reduce regulatory uncertainty
• Driving innovation in regulatory science and intelligence capabilities through AI, digitalisation, data integration and fit-for-purpose knowledge platforms such as AI-enabled regulatory intelligence tool, regulatory intelligence newsletter.
• Partnering closely with Regulatory Policy & Advocacy to ensure timely handover of prioritised insights into policy positions, advocacy strategies and external regulatory engagement plans
• Strengthening scsientific exchange and foresight through internal subject-matter experts, external expert networks, academia, health authorities and relevant industry ecosystems
• Responsible to drive regulatory scientific thought leadership activities and scientific publications to establish NN pioneering regulatory efforts
• Exploring new regulatory scientific solutions of avenues in line with the portfolio, business priorities and the respective Global. Regulatory expertise areas namely RA Clinical and RA CMC & Devices and support
• Leading a team of highly specialized regulatory specialists and scientists and set direction for key strategic regulatory scientific priorities, future / forward looking novel regulatory pathways and solutions.
• Proactively contribute as SPI Leadership Team member by advancing the strategy, governance, talent agenda and collective delivery of SPI and create high performance SPI team

Your new department

You will join SPI, part of RQ&C. SPI brings together Regulatory Science & Intelligence, R&D and Regulatory Policy & Advocacy, Medicines Availability & Supply, Public-Private Partnerships and Business Development to transform external complexity into business advantage and create opportunities to bring innovation to more people faster.

The Regulatory Science & Intelligence function serves as an enterprise-facing intelligence hub. The team gathers internal and external intelligence, translates and assesses signals, forecasts developments in the regulatory and scientific landscape and provides actionable guidance to drive portfolio innovation. The function works closely with global and regional colleagues, senior scientific regulatory experts and external experts across clinical, CMC, quality and regulatory science.

Your skills and qualifications

To thrive in this role, you bring an enterprise global mindset, scientific credibility and a strong record of converting complexity into clear strategic opportunities. You are an inclusive leader who builds trust, connects perspectives and creates momentum across organisational boundaries.

We expect you to have:

• Extensive leadership experience, including leading global, cross-functional or highly specialised teams and developing strong talent and capabilities
• Significant experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology or healthcare sector, ideally across regulatory affairs, drug development, regulatory science, intelligence, portfolio strategy or a closely related field
• A strong understanding of the end-to-end R&D and regulatory value chain and the ability to connect external developments to portfolio, programme and business implications
• Demonstrated experience in scientific or regulatory intelligence, horizon scanning, impact assessment, scenario development or strategic decision support
• A proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and communicate complex scientific and regulatory topics with clarity, relevance and executive-level judgement
• Experience building networks and productive partnerships across functions, geographies and external stakeholders
• Required experience (minimum 15 years in pharma or academic pharmaceutical science), background should include MD, PharmD and an advanced degree (PhD), in life and health.

In addition, you are recognised for strategic thinking, sound judgement, intellectual curiosity and strong business acumen. You combine analytical depth with a pragmatic delivery focus and foster an environment where diverse expertise is converted into shared insight and action.

Working at Novo Nordisk

Every day we seek the solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. To do this, we approach our work with determination, constant curiosity and a commitment to finding better ways forward. For over 100 years, this dedication has driven us to build a company focused on lasting change for long-term health. One where diverse thinking, shared purpose and mutual respect come together to create extraordinary results. When you join us, you are not just starting a job, you are becoming part of a story that spans generations.

What we offer

Salary: For this role, the Annual Base Salary ranges from 940,800 to 1,448,700 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.

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

At Novo Nordisk, we're not chasing quick fixes – we're creating lasting change for long-term health. For over 100 years, we've been driven by a single purpose: to defeat serious chronic diseases and help millions of people live healthier lives. This dedication fuels our constant curiosity and inspires us to push the boundaries of what's possible in healthcare. We embrace diverse perspectives, seek out bold ideas, and build partnerships rooted in shared purpose. Together, we're making healthcare more accessible, treating and preventing diseases, and pioneering solutions that create change spanning generations. When you join us, you become part of something bigger – a legacy of impact that reaches far beyond today.