Principal, Media Affairs & Employer Reputation

Novo Nordisk; Clayton (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Paid holidays

Health insurance

401K match

Parental leave

Tuition assistance

Life insurance

Referral program

Job summary

Novo Nordisk is seeking a senior communications leader to shape and drive US Global Manufacturing & Supply media relations and employer branding across states with manufacturing sites. You will manage issues/crisis communications, train senior leaders, and influence external storytelling to support recruitment and company reputation.

The role requires a decade in public affairs, strong media relationships, and the ability to navigate cross-functional teams in a global healthcare context.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communications, Public Relations, or related field is required.
• Ten years of public affairs/media relations and external communications experience.
• Experience in crisis management and strategic planning is essential.
• Pharmaceutical industry experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead US GMS local media relations and employer brand strategy.
• Manage issues and crisis communications, advising site leaders.
• Prepare spokespeople for media interviews and external events.
• Build relationships with local journalists and influencers.
• Oversee agency of record and budget for PR initiatives.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis communications

Issues management

Spokesperson coaching

Stakeholder relations

Brand messaging

Risk communication

Education

Bachelor's in Communications

Master's 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

This position is responsible for shaping and leading the US Global Manufacturing & Supply (GMS) local media relations, employer brand and reputation activities, communications issues management, external stakeholder relations with media and social influencers in each state and local media market where Novo Nordisk operates a manufacturing facility. This position works collaboratively with communication colleagues at USO and Global on a variety of integrated communications activities and programs across corporate channels to support and demonstrate the broader manufacturing and local business leader reputation of the company, including the company's Sustainable Business model. This position plays a key role in establishing and positively positioning the company’s Social License to Operate among key external audiences to ensure public understanding of the company's purpose, mission, business goals, recruiting and company workplace culture while serving as a liaison and communication resource for employer brand and talent attraction teams across Novo Nordisk's US GMS sites. This position builds and maintains trusted relationships with local business and healthcare media, plus other external influencers and offers deep expertise on media relations issues management and crisis communications. The position is responsible for preparing and media training key company spokespeople, and serves as a critical communications advisor and counsellor to US GMS Senior Leaders on high-stakes media and reputational matters. The position also serves as the US GMS Lead for cross-functional Crisis Response Teams, ensuring preparedness and coordinated response for all US manufacturing sites.

Relationships

Reports to Director.

Essential Functions

• Sets & leads the development and implementation of the US Global Manufacturing & Supply’s local media relations and Employer Brand and Reputation Strategy; assesses related branding opportunities and strategies and advances recommendations designed to inform the business of reputational implications
• Partners with internal stakeholders to ensure key NN brand messages are fully and appropriately leveraged and consistent across all US GMS sites and aligned and complimentary with USO’s Corporate Brand strategy, as well as Global Corporate Affairs communication targets
• Responsible for US GMS’ strategic approach to issues management, embedding and continuously improving crisis communications protocols, ensuring readiness and resilience and counselling US GMS site leaders on business-critical issues and reputational risks, when necessary
• Shapes and protects one integrated US GMS narrative consistently across all aspects of media, issues and crisis communications which resonates across key audiences as validated through testing
• Develops, manages, and drives a proactive media relations program to generate positive coverage for US GMS in local business and industry press
• Builds relationships and leverages new media as a key channel to build awareness and shape the reputation of the company’s manufacturing and local employer reputation, in line with the USO’s broader corporate brand strategy
• Conducts assessment of potential issues facing the US GMS; develops, manages, and drives reactive media relations program to anticipate and mitigate issues; and counsels all US GMS leaders on response strategy and public responses; Serves as key member of each GMS site’s Crisis Response Team
• Prepares/coaches chief GMS spokesperson and other senior management for media interviews and external speaking opportunities; and works with reporters to shape/influence story coverage
• Key external relationships include local journalists (print and broadcast; trade; business and consumer media; bloggers); local and regional community leaders; select professional, business, and industry third party groups; and public relations agencies
• Identifies, sets strategic direction for and manages Agency of Record for media relations and issues/crisis communications management; Oversees agency resourcing, RFPs, sets spend for team projects and oversees budget planning to ensure alignment with business priorities and value creation
• Follow all safety and 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 up to 10% of the time. (% can change on a case-by-case basis based on the role.)

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communications, Public Relations, Organizational development, or related field of study from an accredited university required
• Master’s degree in related field of study preferred
• Minimum of ten (10) years of public affairs/media relations and internal and external communication experience required
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in strategic planning and implementation of external media relations and organizational communication activities, to include issue/crisis management required
• Experience in a public relations agency environment and/or the pharmaceutical industry preferred
• Demonstrated success in creating strategic direction, plans and proven ability to drive and sustain business improvement and results required
• Proven ability to handle unforeseen changes in a fast-paced working environment required
• Proven ability to demonstrate business acumen and work across all levels of the business required
• Proven ability to effectively manage projects and influence individuals, teams, and stakeholders required
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional, collaborative environment with global as well as regional considerations and sometimes political implications

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.