Team Lead IT Operations - parental cover

Novo Nordisk Foundation; Gentofte Kommune; Hybrid; DKK 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Novo Nordisk Foundation seeks a Team Lead for IT Operations to shape global IT services across Denmark, Europe, the US and Asia. The role focuses on sourcing strategy, vendor negotiations and building a support model for the new headquarters.

The position reports to the Head of Corporate IT, involves travel, and allows flexible working arrangements. It is a one-year parental cover with a strong emphasis on leadership and collaboration with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Solid experience from IT operations or service delivery including managing suppliers, services and people.
• Ability to set direction, create structure and follow through, with clear communication to vendors and stakeholders.
• Experience from an international organisation with an outsourced IT environment is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the future sourcing strategy, including vendor negotiations with stakeholders.
• Establish the IT support model for the new headquarters and prepare for its inauguration.
• Define scope and roadmap for the shared ITSM platform (ServiceNow) and implement the plan.
• Own service quality across locations, ensuring stable, secure IT support and tracking SLAs with partners.
• Manage day-to-day vendor relationships and contribute to budget follow-up and cost allocation.
• Lead and develop the Operations team, set priorities, and foster accountability and knowledge sharing.
• Act as the escalation point for major incidents, coordinating with internal and external partners.

Skills

IT operations

Vendor management

People management

Service delivery

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder communication

ServiceNow knowledge

Danish & English fluency

Education

Relevant education preferred

Tools

ServiceNow

Job description

Do you want to shape how a global organisation sources, supports and governs its IT, and make sure colleagues can rely on it wherever they sit?

Corporate IT serves the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF), Novo Holdings and affiliated organisations. As Team Lead for IT Operations, you will be accountable for stable, secure IT services across Denmark, Europe, the US and Asia, delivered by a core team of four employees and a strong set of external partners. 2027 is a defining year: you will be developing a sourcing strategy and participate in negotiations with potential vendors, build the support model for the new NNF headquarters, and set the scope and roadmap for our shared ITSM platform.

This is a one-year parental cover. You report to the Head of Corporate IT, join the Corporate IT leadership team, and work closely with business stakeholders. The position is based in Hellerup, Denmark, with some travel. NNF is an office-based organisation; however, flexible working, including working from home, can occasionally be agreed with your manager.

In 2027, you will be responsible for:

• Developing our future sourcing strategy. Lead the development of our future sourcing strategy and participate in the negotiations with potential vendors, together with the Head of Corporate IT and business stakeholders.

• Establishing the support model for the new NNF headquarters. Define and put in place the IT support model in preparation for the inauguration of the new headquarters in 2028.

• Determining the scope and aspirations for the shared ITSM platform, ServiceNow. Assess the scope and potential of the shared platform and implement roadmap accordingly.

• Owning service quality across our locations. Be accountable for stable, secure IT support in Denmark and internationally, and follow up on agreed service levels through our partners and local contacts.

• Managing vendors and costs. Own day-to-day vendor relationships and contracts, and contribute to budget follow-up, invoice control and allocation of global IT costs.

• Leading and developing the Operations team. Set priorities, create clear ownership and build a culture of accountability, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

• Being the escalation point. Coordinate timely resolution of major operational issues with internal and external partners, including IT Architecture and Cyber Security. This requires flexibility if a major incident occurs.

What you bring

You have solid experience from IT operations or service delivery, with responsibility for managing suppliers, services and people. You set direction, create structure and follow through, and you communicate clearly with vendors, business stakeholders, leaders and your team. A relevant education is preferred, although substantial relevant experience may also be considered.

• Experience from an international organisation with an outsourced IT environment.

• Documented experience negotiating and managing complex IT-vendor or sourcing agreements, ideally including a renegotiation or re-sourcing.

• Experience setting up or changing IT-support or service models, for example for new offices or sites.

• Practical understanding of IT service management and ITSM platforms, including scope and roadmap decisions. Experience with ServiceNow, our ITSM platform, is an advantage.

• Ability to work with business stakeholders and leadership on strategy and priorities.

• Fluent in Danish and English, spoken and written.

We believe that you will thrive in this role if you have a strong personal drive and a curious mind. You are known for taking ownership and going the extra mile to ensure the right solutions are implemented and followed through. You bring positive energy and are not afraid to roll up your sleeves to get the job done.

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 supports research and innovation in cardiometabolic and infectious diseases, as well as green transformation and food systems. With a growing portfolio and global reach, the Foundation is a key driver of scientific and societal progress.