Senior Programme Manager (12 month temporary position)

Novo Nordisk Foundation; Gentofte Kommune; On-site; DKK 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Novo Nordisk Foundation is seeking a Senior Programme Manager to advance equity in health by improving access to NCD commodities and innovative treatments. The role leads portfolio development, partnership building, and cross-functional collaboration on global health initiatives from our Hellerup offices.

The position emphasizes strategic input, international collaboration, and capacity building across Global Development and related functions, with travel and a one-year term.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant field with substantial experience.
• Extensive health equity work and access to affordable medicines in LMICs.
• Strong knowledge of global health actors and health systems.
• Experience leading multi-country projects and consortia.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English.
• Philanthropy/funding experience is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop principled, evidence-based approaches to improving access to essential NCD commodities.
• Identify and scope strategic partnerships to advance access in LMICs.
• Provide strategic input to projects aligned with NCD/CMD supply chain priorities.
• Leverage regulatory strengthening and health system readiness to enable access.
• Build capacity and align cross-functional teams across Global Health and other functions.

Skills

Global health

Strategic thinking

Partnership development

Stakeholder management

English fluency

Program management

Education

Master’s or PhD in relevant field

Job description

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Senior Programme Manager to join our Global Development team at the Novo Nordisk Foundation for a one-year temporary position.

The ideal candidate is strategic, broadly experienced from different sectors, and forward thinking with a solid track record within Global Health and specifically within access to medical commodities in low-and-middle-income contexts.

Our Global Development team consists of six dedicated colleagues from diverse professional backgrounds and nationalities. Joining our team and NNF means being part of a dynamic and collaborative community where your expertise and individuality contribute to the collective pursuit of impact in low- and middle-income countries.

In the team we act as close sparring partners, and we value creativity, integrity, and good collegial relationships. We have a strong collaborative focus in our ways of working both within our team, area and across the NNF as well as with external partners and stakeholders in global development and global health.

Global Development is part of the Health Area which consists of approximately 60 dedicated colleagues placed in six different departments who are passionate about promoting and improving equity in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic & infectious diseases.

The job

As a Senior Programme Manager, you will report to the Director of Global Development. In this role, you will be supporting the development of a principled, evidence-based, and ethically grounded NNF approach to improving access to essential NCD commodities and innovative treatments. Your responsibilities will be broad and varied, encompassing the development, scoping and support of a portfolio of initiatives and activities supporting equity in health.

Your specific tasks will include (among others):

• Support the development of a principled, evidence-based, and ethically grounded NNF approach to improving access to essential NCD commodities and innovative treatments, including refinement of associated risks, opportunities, and operating guardrails
• Develop and cultivate partnerships that advance access to affordable NCD commodities in LMICs, including the identification, scoping, assessment, and qualification of strategically relevant initiatives and collaborations
• Provide strategic input to existing projects to ensure strong alignment with NCD/CMD supply chain priorities, including forecasting, procurement, availability, and distribution of essential commodities
• Assess opportunities to leverage NNF’s work on regulatory strengthening and health system readiness to support sustainable access to high-quality, affordable NCD commodities in LMICs
• Drive internal capacity building and cross-functional alignment by providing technical expertise and onboarding support to colleagues across Global Health, Innovation, Infectious Diseases, Legal (including Compliance), Corporate Affairs, and other relevant functions

We welcome candidates with a strong programme background in global health, with relevant experience from sectors such as industry, NGO, philanthropy or scientific environments.

Furthermore, we expect you to have:

• A master’s degree/PhD within the expert field with relevance to the programme area and minimum +12 years of experience
• Considerable experience and network within health equity projects related to access to affordable medical commodities and treatments, here under procurement and supply chain management in LMIC contexts, market shaping/access strategies, forecasting and distribution systems
• Strong understanding of actors working within the field of access to affordable medicines, their different roles and functions
• Experience from working globally across stakeholder levels incl. with global organisations and with local implementation partners
• Experience in developing multi-country projects and consortia including implementation in an LMIC context
• Strong communication and presentation skills including fluency in English both oral and written
• Experience from philanthropy/funding agency is a clear advantage

We believe you will thrive in this role if you are

• Professional, purpose-driven, quality-conscious, and impact-oriented
• Independent and able to make decisions and provide strategic input
• Analytical, ambitious, proactive, and with a structured approach to problem-solving
• Intellectually quick, curious, disciplined, resourceful, and resilient
• Able to build strong relationships with good interpersonal skills and a team player

The primary workplace is onsite at the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s offices in Hellerup, Denmark. You should expect international travel approximately four times/weeks per year as well as occasional meetings outside normal working hours, due to global partners in different time-zones.

Working at the Novo Nordisk Foundation

We offer a committed and professional workplace in which we emphasize ensuring that our colleagues thrive, are challenged, and have opportunity to develop their potential. A career at the Novo Nordisk Foundation gives you the opportunity to work:

• on important projects that improves people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet;
• with key actors within research and development in Denmark and internationally;
• and as part of a dedicated team that is passionate about creating impact.

Next step

For more information, please contact Anette Egknud (PA and Team Coordinator) by email [e-mail].

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.