Senior Lead, Core Partnerships

Novo Nordisk Fonden; Gentofte Kommune; On-site; DKK 900,000 - 1,350,000; Full time

Job summary

Novo Nordisk Foundation is seeking a Senior Lead, Core Partnerships to strengthen the core partnerships function and standardise lifecycle management across the Foundation. The role leads a cross‑functional team, reporting to the Director of Global Partnerships & Events, and focuses on strategic partner governance and value creation.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in project planning, stakeholder management and people leadership, with a track record of translating complex

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. international relations, public policy, business, or life sciences).
• Strong capability in shaping and structuring partnerships that align to strategy and deliver measurable impact.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear direction, priorities, coaching and performance management for the Core Partnerships team.
• Support Executive Management in prioritising partners by designing a partner prioritisation framework.
• Build and maintain a shared overview of key partners and engagements.
• Coordinate internal stakeholders to ensure consistent messaging and joint planning.

Skills

Project planning

Stakeholder management

People leadership

Communication

Analytical

Organisational skills

Education

Master's degree in a relevant field

Job description

Senior Lead, Core Partnerships

Description

We are looking for a Senior Lead to strengthen our core partnership function and help ensure that our most strategic collaborations are prioritised, structured and managed consistently across the Foundation. If you thrive in a cross‑functional role, have strong stakeholder management skills, and are an experienced people leader, this might be the right role for you.

The Core Partnerships team consists of 8 dedicated professionals and is anchored in our Global Partnerships & Events department, which includes 22 colleagues across Denmark, Kenya, India, and the US. Our department is integrated and collaborative, bringing together colleagues from diverse backgrounds who work together to achieve shared goals. You will join a group that values inclusivity, teamwork, and the exchange of ideas. The department is responsible for strategy implementation through integrating strategic events and supporting key partnerships.

Within the context of increasing pressure through climate change, global food shortages and public health crises, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is aiming to increase its global reach and impact. There is a growing need to forge strategic partnerships with international actors, to achieve the Foundation’s ambitions of its Strategy 2030. This role is a unique opportunity to work in a purpose‑driven, private foundation alongside passionate and talented colleagues, who are committed to our vision to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet.

The Job

As Senior Lead, Core Partnerships, you will lead the Core Partnerships team, which is primarily based in Denmark, and establish a Partnership Centre of Excellence that provides standards, tools and ways of working to support high‑quality partnership set‑up, governance and lifecycle management. You will report directly to the Director of Global Partnerships & Events.

This is a highly cross‑functional role requiring strong stakeholder management, structured project leadership and the ability to translate complex landscapes into clear frameworks and decision‑ready materials for senior leadership.

Your tasks will include:

• Providing clear direction, priorities, coaching and performance management for the Core Partnerships team
• Supporting Executive Management in the prioritisation of partners by designing and operationalising a partner prioritisation framework
• Building and maintaining a shared overview of key partners and engagements
• Acting as NNF’s central interface for high‑stakes or complex partners by coordinating internal stakeholders, ensuring consistent messaging and supporting joint planning and value creation
• Building trusted relationships with senior internal stakeholders across programme areas and support function
• Applying strong project‑centric working methods to deliver high‑quality outputs on time and with visible organisational value

You will join the GP&E leadership team, working closely with the team leads for our Regional Offices and Events team to ensure effective collaboration and information flow across the department.

Requirements

The ideal candidate has a minimum of 15 years’ experience working with project planning, designing operational/partnership frameworks and stakeholder management. Ideally, you have experience in Europe and familiarity with relevant partners and ecosystems. You have at least five years of formal people leadership and are passionate about motivating and developing your team.

Professionally, you have:

• A master’s degree in a relevant field, e.g. international relations, public policy, business, or within the life sciences
• Ability to shape and structure partnerships that align to strategy and deliver measurable impact
• Strong capability in synthesising complexity into clear options, recommendations and decision‑ready briefings for senior leadership
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and organisational skills

As a person, you are:

• Values‑driven and inclusive in your leadership
• Curious with strong listening skills
• Collaborative and service‑oriented
• Resilient and calm under pressure
• A natural relationship builder, with strong interpersonal skills
• Adaptable and open to feedback

Working at the Novo Nordisk Foundation

We offer a committed and professional workplace where colleagues thrive, are challenged, and have opportunities to develop their potential. At the Novo Nordisk Foundation, you will work on important projects that improve health and sustainability, collaborate with key actors in research and development, and be part of a dedicated team passionate about creating impact.

At the Novo Nordisk Foundation, we are committed to a transparent and inclusive selection and recruitment process. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are closely linked to our core values. We invite everybody to apply to our roles, regardless of background, orientation, and identity.

This position is based in our headquarters in Hellerup, Denmark. Visa support is provided should the successful candidate need to relocate.

About the Novo Nordisk Foundation

Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation's mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society.

Hellerup