Senior People & Organization Manager - DPM US DU

Novo Nordisk; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

As a key member of the Site Leadership Team, you will oversee communications, organizational development, and employee relations, while modeling Novo Nordisk values and ensuring regulatory compliance across the employee lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field with 7+ years HR experience.
• Alternative: Associate’s degree with 9+ years HR/generalist experience.
• Alternative: High School Diploma with 11+ years HR experience.
• Experience with organizational development programs including performance appraisal and development planning.
• Knowledge of HR policies, employment law, and best practices.
• Knowledge of HR IT systems and strong communication/analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Set HR strategy to drive site P&O success aligned with KPIs.
• Serve as strategic partner to site leadership on P&O processes and people impact of site strategy.
• Model, shape and assess organizational culture to meet business objectives.
• Lead staffing, performance reviews, development, onboarding, communications and training initiatives.
• Own training strategy and capability development at the Site; collaborate with regional teams.
• Ensure compliance with laws, policies, and programs to support employee relations.

Skills

HR generalist

Project management

Organizational development

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Employee relations

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Associate's degree + 9+ years HR/generalist experience

High School Diploma + 11+ years HR experience

PHR/SPHR certification (preferred)

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

HRIS

Performance management tools

Policy management systems

Job description

About The Department

Imagine being a part of a team committed to helping people defeat diabetes and other serious chronic conditions. Here at Novo Nordisk, we seek out opportunities to contribute to healthier communities and better lives for all people. And, that’s what you’ll gain by joining Novo Nordisk’s People & Organization team. Our P&O team is passionate about their purpose – enabling business success the Novo Nordisk Way by turning the Company’s business strategy into an actionable workforce strategy. A strategy which captures the entire employee life-cycle. At Novo Nordisk, you will join an inclusive team of diverse talent and benefit from a range of possibilities for professional and personal development. Are you ready?

About The Department

Imagine being a part of a team committed to helping people defeat diabetes and other serious chronic conditions. Here at Novo Nordisk, we seek out opportunities to contribute to healthier communities and better lives for all people. And, that’s what you’ll gain by joining Novo Nordisk’s People & Organization team. Our P&O team is passionate about their purpose – enabling business success the Novo Nordisk Way by turning the Company’s business strategy into an actionable workforce strategy. A strategy which captures the entire employee life-cycle. At Novo Nordisk, you will join an inclusive team of diverse talent and benefit from a range of possibilities for professional and personal development. Are you ready?

The Position

As a member of the Site Management team, the incumbent of the role will be setting the strategic direction and agenda of the local People & Organization (P&O) processes and organizational development to enable Site business priorities in alignment with regional P&O priorities. The incumbent will act as the trusted advisor for the Site Head and the Site Leadership team and ensure high-quality P&O initiatives, operations and processes locally that are "fit for purpose" at production sites. Lead, guide, facilitate & take ownership of the delivery of high quality and timely HR processes in alignment with regional and global guidance & standards.

Relationships

The incumbent reports to Senior Director P&O, with a matrixed reporting relationship to the head of the assigned site. Indirect leadership of local HR function(s). Interacts with all levels of the business. Partners heavily with assigned business unit management, Centers of Excellence and other HR Business Partners External relationships include vendors and HR organizations and associations/organizations. Close partnership and collaboration with Associate Director, Training in Regional P&O area and local training functions. As member of the Site Leadership team, the incumbent is overall accountable for training for the Site while the Associate Director, Training DPM US is responsible for the training (e.g., workforce planning, capability gaps and training-related deviations).

Essential Functions

• Set human resources strategy to drive site P&O success, including alignment with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Serve as the strategic and tactical site business partner as a member of the senior leadership team to set and achieve the P&O strategy in alignment with the business objectives, to include providing expert advice & counsel to site management for P&O processes & people impact of site strategy
• Partner with Senior management to model, shape and assess an organizational culture that supports the achievement of business objectives
• Lead & drive all P&O related activities including employee relations, staffing life cycle, annual performance review & compensation merit cycle, employee development, on-boarding, communications and training initiatives & completion status
• As member of the Site Leadership Team, formal owner of training strategy and capability development (i.e., planning and response strategic workforce planning, capability gaps and training-related DVs) at the Site, while GVP area Training organization is responsible for the execution and delivery of the training strategy, priorities and initiatives
• Partner with leadership to identify & develop organization and related capabilities through the Organizational Development Plan (ODP)
• Act as an employee and company advocate and protects the interests of employees and the company in accordance with the company’s human resources policies and appropriate governmental laws and regulations
• Oversee programs, policies, & practices to continuously improve the employee life cycle process through alignment with global guidance/standards, NNPILP sites and partnership with NA Talent & Rewards Operations: attraction, onboarding, development, performance, rewards & exit
• Communicate key processes and handle key communications across all client areas (e.g. merit increase, performance management, mid-year review, onboarding processes, etc.) to keep clients informed
• Drive internal & external communications aligned with the regional and global guidance/standards
• Serve as the P&O site spokesperson & representative to external groups including public sector (with review by local & global communications & public affairs guidance as required), volunteerism & other social responsibility calls to action, including alignment with NNPILP sites for consistency
• Establish, drive, & align master plan for P&O through discussion with site and NNPILP DPM US P&O leadership
• Plan & execute on-boarding plan aligned with recruitment activities
• Ambassador and role model of NNWay (modelling & teaching the values) company culture, capability development, training needs assessment, new employee orientation segments, meeting planning & facilitation
• Follow all safety & environmental requirements in the performance of duties
• Other duties, 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.).

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field from an accredited university with a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant HR generalist/project management experience required, preferably in a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment
• May consider an Associate’s degree in Human Resources or related field from an accredited university with a minimum of nine (9) years of relevant HR generalist/project management experience required, preferably in pharmaceutical manufacturing environment
• May consider a High School Diploma or equivalent with a minimum of eleven (11) years of relevant HR generalist/project management experience required, preferably in pharmaceutical manufacturing environment
• Experience with organizational development programs execution, including performance appraisal, individual development planning, staffing, problem resolution, future planning & organizational development, employee engagement surveys, etc. required
• Experience with development & implementation of policies & programs to support positive employee relations required
• Outstanding organization & planning skills for P&O leadership & development of meaningful objectives & action plans to support stakeholders required
• Knowledge of relevant employment law(s), employee policies & procedures best practices required
• Knowledge of and experience with HR IT System required
• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, presentation) required
• Strategic and business analytical skills required

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred
• PHR/SPHR certification preferred
• Experience with and knowledge of change management processes preferred

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.