Associate Director - Execution Management Program Lead

BioSpace; Plainsboro Township (NJ); On-site; USD 152,700 - 267,300; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) savings plan

Flexible spending accounts

Tuition reimbursement program

Job summary

A global healthcare company seeks an experienced Associate Director to lead strategic initiatives within their Finance & Supply Chain department. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical and project management skills and a background in the pharmaceutical industry. Responsibilities include managing enterprise projects, translating strategic visions into action, and fostering cross-functional collaboration. The position requires a Master's degree, with 8 years of experience in related fields. Competitive salary and benefits included.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 8 years of experience including pharmaceutical industry.
• Significant project management experience with a focus on pharma transformations.
• Thrives in ambiguity and fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of critical enterprise projects.
• Translate strategic vision into executable roadmaps.
• Manage program risk and complexity.

Skills

Analytical skills

Project management

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, Data Science, Engineering or similar

Master's Degree

Tools

Project management tools

Job description

About The Department

The Finance & Operations department brings insights and intelligence to inform decision making & drives digitalization and business solutions to attain NNI goals. Finance & Operations works closely across the organization to guide enterprise-wide resource allocations, investment choices, drive core operations and develop insights to drive growth and operational excellence across the value chain while innovating for future capabilities. Our focus on innovation ensures we're constantly building future capabilities. We're responsible for regulating accounting, upholding workplace safety, managing our supply chain and sampling, supporting technological and data innovation, maintaining our facilities and assuring the integrity and completeness of all business transactions. At Novo Nordisk, you will have the opportunity to build a career in a global business environment. We encourage our employees to make the most of their talent, and we reward hard work and dedication with opportunities for continuous learning and personal development. Are you ready to maximize your potential with us?

The Position

The Alternative Model Execution Management team operationalizes new business models in support of our company and in service to our patients. This involves executing strategic initiatives across the company, collaborating with senior leaders (e.g., Executive Team, ET-1, ET-2) and partnering closely with initiative leads. This Associate Director role will be responsible for strategic program management, enterprise strategic planning, risk management, as well as change management as part of our Finance & Supply Chain (F&SC) department. The role requires strong analytical skills, the ability to translate strategic vision into tactical action, identify the highest impact solutions and focus efforts to work well in a cross‑functional team. The successful candidate will be a driven, strategic thinker who thrives in ambiguity with a focus on executional excellence, adept at navigating complex environments, and experienced in driving large‑scale organizational change.

Relationships

Reports to a Director in Finance & Supply Chain. The role has significant exposure to stakeholders across the entire organization and at a senior level (Executive Team and local and global leadership). This position works closely with all members of the Finance & Operations Leadership Team and with key senior leaders and stakeholders across NNI. This position requires frequent senior management interaction, leadership, and cross‑functional collaboration. Works with related functions at NNA/S to ensure strategic coordination across the organization. The role may either provide oversight of/or work directly alongside cross‑organizational working groups to ensure initiative alignment and supports related governance committees.

Essential Functions

• Lead Cross‑Functional Program Execution of Strategic Initiatives: Own the end‑to‑end execution of critical enterprise projects within the Alternative Models portfolio, from initial scoping and stakeholder alignment through implementation and handoff. Navigate ambiguity and complexity to ensure initiatives move with speed and precision.
• Translate Vision into Executable Roadmaps: Partner with the Director of the team to refine strategic intent into clear, actionable plans. Develop and maintain program charters, milestones, resource strategies, and delivery timelines that are aligned with enterprise objectives and partner expectations.
• Deliver Tangible Business Value Through Executional Excellence: Ensure that performance metrics are in place to measure outcomes (e.g., customer acquisition, engagement, access). Track and report on benefits realization, making data‑informed decisions to adjust course as needed to maximize impact.
• Mobilize and Influence Project Teams: Lead high‑performing cross‑functional teams by building alignment and momentum across stakeholders with competing priorities. Apply advanced influence skills to remove roadblocks, maintain progress, and elevate urgent decision points to leadership when necessary.
• Manage Program Risk, Complexity, and Change: Proactively assess and mitigate risks across operational, regulatory, reputational, and commercial dimensions. Ensure delivery is compliant and aligned with evolving enterprise policies and external guidelines.
• Be the Visible Owner of Progress and Accountability: Serve as the connective tissue across teams and functions. Provide regular, executive‑level updates to senior leadership on program status, learnings, and escalations, presenting with clarity, transparency, and business relevance.
• Champion a Culture of Agile Learning and Iteration: Foster a learning mindset across pilot and implementation teams. Rapidly capture insights from early efforts and translate them into improvements in model design and go‑to‑market strategy.

Physical Requirements

0‑10% overnight travel required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Data Science, Engineering or similar required; Master’s Degree preferred.
• A minimum of 8 years of experience across diverse roles including pharmaceutical industry, enterprise strategy, R&D, manufacturing, business and/or management consulting experience with strong focus on pharma transformations, startups, innovation and enterprise business transformations.
• Minimum 2 years of enterprise program management, strategy execution, leading large organizational change and providing oversight to transformation.
• Thrives in ambiguity, fast paced environments, and managing changing priorities; excels at problem‑solving, and makes rapid, disciplined, data‑driven decisions focused on value delivery.
• Significant and robust project management and organizational skills, with proficiency in project management tools and software.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential to convey complex ideas clearly, motivate behavioral changes, and gain buy‑in from diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Effective problem‑solving and analytical skills, successfully navigating matrixed organizations, building consensus and influencing decision‑making; ability to secure timely execution of agreed actions.
• Excellent business acumen, including subject matter expertise in areas such as Marketing, Finance, Commercial, Supply Chain, Data, Access, Policy, and Contracting.
• Possesses emotional intelligence, growth mindset, curiosity, drive, teamwork, organization, and coachability.

The base compensation range for this position is $152,700 to $267,300. Base compensation is determined based on a number of factors. This position is also eligible for a company bonus based on individual and company performance.

Novo Nordisk offers long‑term incentive compensation and/or company vehicles depending on the position’s level or other company factors.

Employees are also eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs including medical, dental and vision coverage; life insurance; disability insurance; 401(k) savings plan; flexible spending accounts; employee assistance program; tuition reimbursement program; and voluntary benefits such as group legal, critical illness, identity theft protection, pet insurance and auto/home insurance. The Company also offers time off pursuant to its sick time policy, flex‑able vacation policy, and parental leave policy.

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 defeating 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.

Novo Nordisk is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations.

If you are interested in applying to Novo Nordisk and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply, please call us at 1‑855‑411‑5290. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.