Sourcing Director, China External Innovation

Novo Nordisk; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Novo Nordisk is seeking a Sourcing Director for China External Innovation to drive biotech collaboration deals and enhance pipeline value. Based in Shanghai, the role requires a PhD in related fields and 8+ years of experience in drug development and biotech collaborations. Responsibilities include coordinating gap analysis, evaluating scientific opportunities, and managing collaborations. Strong scientific evaluation and proactivity are essential, with occasional travel required within China.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in small-molecule drug development.
• Experience in biotech collaborations or external innovation.
• Experience evaluating early biotech pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate structured gap analysis with internal stakeholders.
• Identify biology and chemistry gaps in the internal pipeline.
• Source and triage biotech opportunities across the China ecosystem.

Skills

Scientific rigor

Ability to influence

Proactivity

Assessment of chemistry-driven programs

Education

PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Computational Chemistry, Life Sciences, or related discipline

Job description

Role Purpose

The Sourcing Director of China External Innovation (EI) is accountable for originating, evaluating, and driving biotech collaboration deals that create pipeline value for Novo Nordisk through biotech partnership and co-development. Operating as a senior contributor, the role focuses on biotech engagement, scientific evaluation, and deal shaping within the China biotech ecosystem, progressing opportunities toward internal decision milestones and integration into R&D Lines of Business (LoB), in alignment with Global R&D External Innovation processes.

Key Accountabilities

• Coordinate structured gap analysis with internal stakeholders, including:
  • Therapeutic Areas
  • Target Discovery
  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • Computational Chemistry
  • Other relevant functions
• Identify biology, chemistry, capability, or capacity gaps in the internal pipeline
• Translate those gaps into clear sourcing hypotheses and partnership requirements
• Proactively source and triage biotech opportunities across the China ecosystem based on the gap analysis outcome
• Lead deep scientific evaluation covering:
  • Medicinal Chemistry quality and design hypotheses
  • CADD/AIDD drug design maturity and real‑world impact
  • Translational relevance and execution risk
• Drive opportunities through EI pipeline‑filling processes, including:
  • Internal alignment and framing
  • Pre‑due diligence and due diligence input
  • Preparation of decision materials for EI and LoB forums
• Actively shape the scientific and structural aspects of deals, partnering with alliance management and BD on contracting and execution

Pipeline integration & value realization

• Ensure collaborations generate outputs aligned with global pipeline needs
• Enable smooth handover and absorption of externally generated assets into Novo Nordisk programs

Qualifications

• PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Computational Chemistry, Life Sciences, or related discipline
• 8+ years of experience in:
  • Small‑molecule drug development
  • Biotech collaborations or external innovation
  • Medicinal Chemistry and CADD/AIDD‑enabled programs
• Demonstrated experience evaluating and advancing deals involving:
  • Early biotech pipelines
  • Platform‑based drug development collaborations
• Strong ability to assess chemistry‑driven programs and AI‑enabled design claims with scientific rigor
• High personal motivation, proactivity, ability to influence without authority, and comfort operating in ambiguity

Working conditions

• Based in Shanghai
• Up to ~20% travel, primarily within China, as required for partner and project engagement

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