Director of Business Development

Novo Nordisk A/S; Cambridge (NJ); On-site; USD 187,000 - 279,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

Long-term incentives

Company vehicles

Job summary

Novo Nordisk Cambridge serves as the hub for Global Business Development, partnering with leading scientists and institutions to advance transformative therapies.

The Director of Business Development will evaluate external growth opportunities, lead cross‑functional deal diligence, and negotiate transactions with senior management oversight, reporting to the global Transactions team in a matrix organisation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of relevant pharmaceutical or biotech experience.
• Experience presenting to senior management of partnership opportunities.
• Proven ability to lead all elements of due diligence and deal negotiations.
• Ability to navigate a matrix organization and align cross-functional stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Partners with Search & Evaluation team and therapeutic area heads to identify deal opportunities.
• Leads cross-functional evaluations of therapeutic programs from preclinical through clinical stages.
• Participates in and ideally leads negotiations in business transactions.
• Works with legal, finance, commercial, clinical and scientific teams to propose BD strategies.
• Aligns corporate priorities with financial investment trade-offs for senior management.

Skills

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Due diligence

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree

Job description

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Facility: Business Development & Strategy

Location: Cambridge, NJ, US

About the Department

The Novo Nordisk Cambridge location is the headquarters for Global Business Development across all of our therapeutic and technology areas. We contribute to innovation in one of the world's largest life sciences ecosystems by participating in events and discussions with renowned and upcoming scientists looking for the next scientific breakthrough to bring transformative treatments to patients. We work with start‑ups, established companies, venture capitalists, teaching hospitals, and academic institutions to support the development of innovation for mutual benefit, and to help patients in all of our current therapy areas. Through a variety of partnership models, we accelerate ideas from the lab and clinic to advance and expand our product portfolio and to improve outcomes for the patients we serve

The Position

Corporate Development contributes to innovation in one of the world's largest life sciences ecosystems by participating in events and discussions with renowned and upcoming scientists looking for the next scientific breakthrough to bring transformative treatments to patients. We work with start‑ups, established companies, venture capitalists, teaching hospitals, and academic institutions to support the development of innovation for mutual benefit, and to help patients in all of our current therapy areas. Through a variety of partnership models, we accelerate ideas from the lab and clinic to advance and expand our product portfolio and to improve outcomes for the patients we serve.

The Director of Business Development (BD) will have responsibility for evaluating external growth opportunities and, where appropriate, executing transactions to access the assets of interest. The Director BD regularly interfaces with therapeutic area heads, search and evaluation, alliance management, and senior management. This position is at the epicenter of the evolving landscape and is critical in helping identify, evaluate, and weigh‑in on opportunities in the marketplace.

Relationships

The Director of Business Development is a member of the global transactions group and reports to the Senior Director, Business Development. The Director works with colleagues through a matrix organization. Key stakeholders include members of executive management and global members of management in Research and Development and Commercial organizations. External collaborators include, industry peers and executives, and academic researchers. External collaborators include, industry peers and executives, and academic researchers.

Essential Functions

• Partners with Search & Evaluation team and the therapeutic area heads to improve identification of deals of interest and drive diligence to quickly come to “go” or “no go” decisions
• Leads cross-functional evaluations of all aspects of therapeutic drug programs from preclinical through clinical stages across the relevant assessment areas: proposed clinical benefit, mechanism, preclinical data, manufacturing, regulatory strategy, clinical development path, intellectual property and commercial potential
• Participates in and, ideally leads negotiations in business transactions
• Works effectively with legal, finance, commercial, clinical and scientific teams and make business development proposals to senior management
• Considers broad corporate priorities and participate in strategy planning for financial investment trade-off decisions required

Physical Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• Experience Level: 8+ years of relevant experience required. Experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology organizations preferred. Advanced degree may be substituted for experience as appropriate
• Demonstrated record of presenting to senior management of partnership opportunities
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport with therapeutic and functional area leader
• Strong analytical skills required to provide sound inputs into financial evaluations
• Proven ability to lead all elements of due diligence and deal negotiation
• Ability to identify and prioritize risks across functional areas, weigh those appropriately with benefits of investment, and effectively frame business decisions for senior management
• Ability to successfully navigate internal dynamics, experience working in a matrix organization preferred

The base compensation range for this position is $187,000 to $279,000. 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.