About the Department                                                                                                                                             

The Data Science organization within Novo Nordisk's global Development organization is responsible for clinical data capture, storage, analysis, modeling and simulation as well as the application of artificial intelligence/machine learning.
The team is comprised of approximately 1000 collaborative, diverse and passionate people who have a true sense of pride in their work and are committed to helping others grow and develop their careers. You’ll also have a platform to engage with key stakeholders on a global scale throughout the entire pipeline process. And while changing the future of diabetes and obesity treatment is no easy task, we also recognize the importance of an enjoyable workplace, which is why we’ve cultivated a culture of fun, ingenuity and innovation. And our competitive compensation package and support of a healthy work-life balance all add to a best-in-class employee experience. We are changing lives for a living. Are you ready to make a difference?

The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated and visionary Director of Partnership Strategy to lead the development of innovative data science partnerships with industry partners, academics, and regulators. In this role, you will be responsible for furthering our Data Science organization's commitment to integrating emerging capabilities and platforms into our clinical development processes, with an emphasis on AI/ML, GenAI, RWD, personalized medicine, quantum computing, clinical trial enablement, decentralized trials, trial data linkage, and digital therapeutics.

As the Director of Partnership Strategy, you will work closely with our Data Science and Development teams to prioritize business needs and implement innovative solutions with external partners. You will build and maintain strong relationships with these partners, drive strategy alignment and innovation across internal and external stakeholders and generate full-scale impact across our portfolio. To be successful in this role, you should have a deep understanding of clinical development processes and needs and be able to leverage this knowledge to drive the development of innovative data science partnerships that deliver meaningful impact. You should have a proven track record of success in developing and executing innovative partnership strategies and be able to demonstrate a strong ability to generate new ideas and initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience conceptualizing, developing, and managing large-scale digital, data, AI, and platform partnerships within a pharmaceutical company and across industry, academics, and regulators. You should be a visionary leader with excellent communication skills, capable of building and leading a high-performing team of partnership experts. If you are passionate about driving innovation in data science and have a proven track record of developing successful partnerships, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity to shape the future of clinical development.

Relationships

This position reports to the Vice President, Data Science External Affairs in Novo Nordisk’s Data Science Development organization. The Director, Data Science Partnership Strategy is a key senior expert in the Data Science External Affairs group, leading and coordinating all Data Science partnerships across various stakeholders in the value chain.

As Data Science Partnerships is a new function, you will play a key role in helping build this area for both the Data Science team, but also to Global Development and the company more broadly. Therefore, the position will have multiple touchpoints both within Data Science and critical Novo Nordisk stakeholders. The role will also be responsible for identifying external strategic partners to support our studies and business needs.

Essential Functions

• Develop and implement a comprehensive partnership strategy that algins with the company’s business goals and supports the objectives of the Development Data Science leadership team
• Identify and prioritize potential partners in AI/ML, RWD, quantum computing, clinical trial enablement, wearables, and other emerging areas to for Data Science to better serve our patients
• Lead the process of evaluating potential partners, including conducting due diligence and assessing their technology capabilities
• Build and maintain lasting relationships with industry partners, academics, and regulators to establish mutually beneficial partnerships that drive progress for both the company and the pharmaceutical industry
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure that partnerships align with the company’s overall strategy, objectives, and provide thought leadership on how partnerships can drive innovative in the industry
• Negotiate and finalize partnership agreements, including IP and commercial terms, with a keen eye for detail and commitment to fairness and transparency
• Provide leadership and mentorship to a team of external partnership managers, empowering them to further the partnerships strategy and ensuring efficient implementation
• Stay up-to-date on emerging technologies and trends in the pharmaceutical industry, with a focus on identifying new partnership opportunities and driving innovation across the company
• Monitor and report on partnership performance, including tracking metrics and identifying areas for improvement

Physical Requirements

Ability to travel occasionally – both domestically in the US and internationally to Denmark

Development of People

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 a relevant field, such as data science, life sciences, business administration, or a related discipline required. Master’s degree or higher is preferred
• 12+ years of relevant work experience in forming partnerships in the pharmaceutical industry, with a focus on data science and emerging technologies supporting use cases in clinical development. Relevant advanced degrees may be substituted for experience as deemed appropriate
• Strong knowledge of AI/ML, RWD, quantum computing, clinical trial technology, wearables, and other emerging technologies. Established track record of identifying and executing on successful partnerships in these areas
• Strong communication and negotiation skills, including the ability to establish and maintain relationships with external partners, as well as monitor partnership performance and provide feedback as necessary.
• Understanding of contract management principles, including drafting and negotiating contracts, managing vendor relationships, and assessing contractual risks. Experience with high-complexity engagements and negotiating business terms and budgets. Strong attention to detail and ability to work through highly detailed contracting language
• Demonstrate an ability and willingness to quickly learn new areas of data science and stay up-to-date on new capabilities, trends, regulations, and best practices, with a genuine passion to stay current on developments in data science focus areas.

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.

At Novo Nordisk we recognize that it is no longer good enough to aspire to be the best company in the world. We need to aspire to be the best company for the world and we know that this is only possible with talented employees with diverse perspectives, backgrounds and cultures. We are therefore committed to creating an inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity of our employees, the patients we serve and communities we operate in. Together, we’re life changing.

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.