Sr. Director, Expression Engineering, Bioanalysis & ADME

Novo Nordisk A/S; Måløv; Remote; DKK 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Novo Nordisk A/S in Måløv, Denmark, seeks a Sr. Director, Expression Engineering, Bioanalysis & ADME to lead two centres of excellence and shape strategy for molecular expression, PK and ADME.

You will manage a broad team and partner with RCE, CMC, GMS, CROs and academia to keep projects moving with speed and quality. You will recruit, mentor and empower department managers and teams, build a collaborative culture, and ensure regulatory compliance while advancing AI-enabled discovery across the

Qualifications

• PhD in Life Sciences, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical/biotech research, including drug discovery and preclinical development.
• Proven experience leading leaders and managing cross-functional, high-performing research teams and strategic tasks.
• Experience applying AI and machine learning to optimise discovery and development.

Responsibilities

• Set and implement the strategic and operational direction for EEBA so new lead drug candidates enter FHD with competitive, de-risked molecular expression, PK and ADME profiles.
• Oversee core deliverables in molecular microbial expression, bioanalysis, PK and ADME for the protein and peptide research portfolio and cross-area strategic projects.
• Own operational efficiency and capacity management, prioritising the FHD critical path activities and aligning mitigations with key stakeholders.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration across Research, CMC/GMS and external partners, acting as a key liaison to keep projects progressing.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and ethical standards and support the digital strategy through robust data management and AI applications.
• Drive the team to set benchmark for world-class expertise and operational excellence, building and sustaining the capabilities needed to deliver on portfolio ambitions and strategic priorities.
• Inspire and empower department managers and teams through visionary leadership and meaningful mentorship, nurturing talent and creating opportunities for people to grow, thrive and succeed together.
• Build a high-capability, high-performance, challenge-safe and collaborative culture through role-modelling, talent development, succession planning and continuous efficiency improvements.
• Identify and sponsor cross-organisational initiatives that improve business outcomes, collaboration and research impact.

Job description

Sr. Director, Expression Engineering, Bioanalysis & ADME

Category: Research

Location: Måløv, Capital Region of Denmark, DK

Are you ready to lead world-class expertise at the front of differentiating peptide and protein drug discovery? Do you want to impact the drug discovery strategy that helps new candidates move faster, more reliably and with stronger scientific confidence towards first human dose? If so, this is a unique opportunity to advance molecular expression, bioanalysis and ADME science, accelerate drug innovation for people living with serious chronic diseases, and champion technological innovation and collaboration across boundaries to deliver exceptional performance across discovery and development.

The Position

As Sr. Director for Expression Engineering, Bioanalysis & ADME, you will lead two centres of excellence and set the direction for the area that enables novel peptide and protein candidates to move quickly and reliably towards first human dose (FHD). Your leadership will enhance molecular expression, PK and ADME science, safeguard critical timelines and strengthen the competitiveness of the discovery portfolio.

You will provide senior leadership for the Centre for Expression Engineering and the Centre for Bioanalysis & ADME, shaping strategy and delivery across the area. You will partner closely with Research Centres of Excellence (RCE), Therapeutic Discovery, Chemistry Manufacturing and Control (CMC), Global Research, Global Manufacturing & Supply (GMS), CROs and academic and biotech collaborators to keep projects progressing with clarity, quality and speed.

You will lead a team of Department Managers and Scientific Directors and, together with them, guide a high-performing, purpose-driven team of around 80 colleagues in total. As a member of the RCE leadership team, you will help move decisions forward and shaping the culture, represent the area in steering committees and sponsor initiatives that improve business outcomes and collaboration.

Location: Måløv, Denmark.

What you’ll do

You will:

• Set and implement the strategic and operational direction for EEBA so new lead drug candidates enter FHD with competitive, de-risked molecular expression, PK and ADME profiles.
• Oversee core deliverables in molecular microbial expression, bioanalysis, PK and ADME for the protein and peptide research portfolio and cross-area strategic projects.
• Own operational efficiency and capacity management, prioritising the FHD critical path activities and aligning mitigations with key stakeholders.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration across Research, CMC/GMS and external partners, acting as a key liaison to keep projects progressing.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and ethical standards and support the digital strategy through robust data management and AI applications.
• Drive the team to set benchmark for world-class expertise and operational excellence, building and sustaining the capabilities needed to deliver on portfolio ambitions and strategic priorities.
• Inspire and empower department managers and teams through visionary leadership and meaningful mentorship, nurturing talent and creating opportunities for people to grow, thrive and succeed together.
• Build a high-capability, high-performance, challenge-safe and collaborative culture through role-modelling, talent development, succession planning and continuous efficiency improvements.
• Identify and sponsor cross-organisational initiatives that improve business outcomes, collaboration and research impact.

What you’ll bring

This is a senior leadership role in pharmaceutical drug discovery. To succeed, you will bring:

• A PhD in Life Sciences, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical and/or biotech research, including drug discovery and preclinical development.
• Proven experience leading leaders and managing cross-functional, high-performing research teams and strategic tasks.
• A track record of creating research and business results with impact at a senior level.
• Strong understanding of early drug research, complemented by broader knowledge of the drug development value chain, including clinical development, CMC and manufacturing methods
• Strong collaborative leadership, enterprise and pragmatic mindset and the ability to build partnerships across disciplines and with external partners.
• Decisiveness in complex, uncertain research settings, with clear communication to executives, teams and external partners.
• High ethical standards and a commitment to developing research talent and future leaders.
• Experience applying AI and machine learning to optimise discovery and development.

What you can expect here

You will lead outstanding scientific expertise at the front of peptide and protein drug discovery, with the trust to make decisions, set direction and shape how the area works. You will grow through cross-portfolio learning, senior collaboration and the chance to influence strategy across Research & Development. Given the strong scientific expertise already embedded across the organization, direct experience in all technical disciplines is not essential. Instead, we are seeking a leader who excels at leading and motivating people, collaborates across boundaries, and puts enterprise priorities first—with a solid understanding of the drug R&D value chain and significant leadership experience in early drug discovery, biotechnology, or the pharmaceutical industry.

The work moves at pace, combining scientific ambition with a strong performance culture where your contribution is recognised.

You will be part of a collaborative high-performing leadership team where people keep things informal, find creative solutions together and have fun along the way.

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