Associate Director, US Local Public Affairs

Novo Nordisk; Clayton (NC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Performance bonus

Paid holidays

Health insurance

401K with company match

Parental & family leave

Tuition assistance

Life & disability insurance

Referral program

Job summary

Novo Nordisk in Clayton, NC seeks an Associate Director of US Local Public Affairs to lead the local public affairs function for manufacturing priorities. You will protect operations, build government relationships, and drive strategies with state and local officials, while guiding the team and coordinating with enterprise partners.

You’ll oversee external affairs, manage budgets and KPIs, and ensure compliant advocacy across multiple jurisdictions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years in local/state/federal government affairs or public affairs.
• At least 5 years of direct people leadership experience.
• Experience with site operations issues (permits, zoning, incentives).
• Strong analytical judgment and regulatory know-how.
• Knowledge of legislative/public affairs processes.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and govern governance.
• Experience in external issues management and incident response.
• Coalition-building across business, industry, education, and community.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills.

Responsibilities

• Set strategy and execute local gov't affairs priorities across US sites.
• Lead and develop the local public affairs team and succession plans.
• Manage external affairs model: priorities, KPIs, budget, vendors.
• Monitor policy developments and align actions and messaging.
• Lead alliance-building with partners to support workforce and infra goals.
• Engage government stakeholders to explain manufacturing priorities.
• Maintain relationships with local officials and decision-makers.
• Oversee external issues management with planned response paths.
• Mitigate construction permitting, zoning, and infrastructure delays.
• Set community investment strategy to boost site reputation.
• Drive economic development and incentives for site expansion.
• Coordinate with USO Public Affairs for aligned messaging.

Skills

Public affairs leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Policy analysis

Strategic planning

Executive communication

Coalition building

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications/public affairs/political science/public administration

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

About The Department

At Novo Nordisk, we want to make a difference. For more than 100 years, we have led the way in diabetes care. Being part of Novo Nordisk allows our employees to embark on the opportunity to help improve the quality of life for millions of people around the world.

About The Department

At Novo Nordisk, we want to make a difference. For more than 100 years, we have led the way in diabetes care. Being part of Novo Nordisk allows our employees to embark on the opportunity to help improve the quality of life for millions of people around the world.
In NC, we operate three pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities that are responsible for fulfilling different steps in our injectable and oral treatment supply chains. Our Product Supply Aseptic Manufacturing (PS AM) facility in Clayton, NC is a 457,000 square foot aseptic "fill and finish" site that is responsible for producing innovative, injectable diabetes and obesity treatments. At PS AM, you’ll join a global network of manufacturing professionals who are passionate about what they do.

What We Offer You

• Leading pay and annual performance bonus for all positions
• All employees enjoy generous paid time off including 14 paid holidays
• Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance – effective day one
• Guaranteed 8% 401K contribution plus individual company match option
• Family Focused Benefits including 14 weeks paid parental & 6 weeks paid family medical leave
• Free access to Novo Nordisk-marketed pharmaceutical products
• Tuition Assistance
• Life & Disability Insurance
• Employee Referral Awards

At Novo Nordisk, you will find opportunities, resources, and mentorship to help grow and build your career. Are you ready to realize your potential? Join Team Novo Nordisk and help us make what matters.

The Position

The Associate Director, US Local Public Affairs leads the Local Public Affairs team in advancing Novo Nordisk's US manufacturing priorities by protecting current operations and enabling future site growth. The role collaborates with the USO Public Affairs team to develop and execute proactive local and state government affairs strategies focused on protecting manufacturing facilities and operations, which includes infrastructure, utilities, permitting, zoning, construction impacts, expansion incentive negotiations, and relevant regulations. It also leads external issues management in partnership with site leadership and internal functions to anticipate risks, support incident response, and ensure consistent stakeholder engagement. In addition, the position oversees relationships with state and local elected officials, community and industry partners, and broader alliance-building efforts that strengthen workforce readiness, community reputation, and social license to operate. The role serves as a key advocate for Novo Nordisk's manufacturing interests and ensures compliance with lobbying and reporting requirements.

Relationships

Reports to the Director of DPM-US Public Affairs & Communications

Essential Functions

• Set strategy and execute local government affairs priorities across US GMS sites to reduce risk and support operations and business growth
• Lead and develop the local public affairs team by setting expectations, managing performance, and building succession strength
• Manage the site external affairs operating model, including planning, priorities, KPIs, and budget/vendor oversight
• Monitor policy and regulatory developments affecting site operations and align internal stakeholders on actions and messaging
• Guide alliance-building with business, industry, education, and community partners to support workforce, infrastructure, and reputation goals
• Lead engagement with government stakeholders to build understanding of Novo Nordisk’s manufacturing priorities and community impact
• Own the stakeholder engagement model and maintain senior relationships with key local county and town officials and decision-makers
• Lead external issues management by setting response plans, escalation paths, and stakeholder strategies for site-related issues
• Mitigate issues that delay, prevent, or stop construction permitting, zoning, infrastructure planning, and other construction-related engagement with local authorities and internal teams
• Set community engagement and investment strategy to strengthen the sites’ reputation and social license to operate
• Lead economic development and incentives efforts that support site expansion, sustainability, and cross-functional execution
• Provide stakeholder intelligence and risk/opportunity insights to help leadership prioritize decisions and engagement
• Coordinate with USO Public Affairs and enterprise partners to ensure aligned messaging and a consistent, responsible state public affairs approach
• Oversee lobbying and advocacy on manufacturing priorities while ensuring compliance with ethics, registration, and reporting requirements
• Follow all safety & environmental requirements in the performance of duties
• Other accountabilities as assigned

Physical Requirements

Ability to work in an open office environment with the possibility of frequent distraction. Ability to travel 20-30% of the time. (% can change on a case‑by‑case basis based on the role.)

Development Of People

Supervisory. Ensure that reporting personnel have individual development plans (IDP), with annual goals and measurements that are consistent with the priorities of the business, and that interim reviews are held so that their work is focused on those priorities, and they understand their level of accountability for results and the measurement process. Ensure that the IDP forms include completed learning and aspiration plans and are in place for all reporting personnel to enable the achievement of goals and capability to assume increased levels of responsibility. Manage the application and communication of all Novo Nordisk policies, procedures, and Novo Nordisk Way.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Government, Public Affairs, Political Science, Public Administration, or related field of study required; advanced degree preferred
• A minimum of twelve (12) years of progressive experience in local/state/federal government affairs, public affairs, external affairs, or related roles supporting large, complex operations required; manufacturing/industrial environment preferred
• A minimum of five (5) years of direct people leadership experience (or demonstrated success leading through a matrix), including setting priorities, coaching talent, and driving consistent execution across multiple stakeholders required
• Experience engaging agencies and officials on site operations issues (e.g., permitting, zoning, utilities, infrastructure, emergency services, construction impacts, and incentives) required
• Strong analytical judgment to assess developments and provide clear actions and leadership updates required
• Working knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes and how public affairs supports manufacturing operations and expansion required
• Ability to set strategy, establish governance, and lead cross-functional teams to deliver outcomes required
• Ability to lead external issues management, including scenario planning and incident response communications required
• Coalition-building and alliance development experience across business, industry, education, and community partners required
• Strong communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills with diverse stakeholders required
• Commitment to integrity and compliance, including lobbying and ethics requirements required
• Executive presence and strong advocacy and communication skills required
• Healthcare, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or other regulated industrial environment experience preferred required
• Action-oriented and resilient, with ability to manage ambiguity and competing priorities required
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build credibility and influence across audiences required

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.