Assoc Director, Global Physical Security

Associate Director, Global Physical Security

Global Security

What if your expertise in security could protect life-saving medicines reaching millions of patients worldwide? As our Associate Director, Global Physical Security, you'll architect the physical security strategy for one of the world's fastest-growing healthcare companies—spanning 194+ countries, cutting-edge production facilities, and breakthrough research sites. This isn't about guarding buildings; it's about enabling smart risk-taking in service of defeating serious chronic diseases. Are you ready to build something that matters? Can you influence without authority in a complex, global matrix? Will you help us protect what protects patients?

Your new role

In this global position, you'll be the architect and orchestrator of Novo Nordisk's physical security framework—from manned guarding strategies to cutting-edge security technology deployment across our worldwide operations.

Your responsibilities will include:

- Designing and establishing an enterprise-wide, forward-looking physical security strategy that enables smart risk-taking while protecting people, assets, and operations across 194 countries

- Developing multi-year strategic roadmaps, written standards, and guidance documentation that drive standardization while allowing proportionality to local needs

- Leading the deployment of global contracts for manned guarding and technological solutions, building relationships with key suppliers and influencing their development roadmaps

- Partnering with Lines of Business to ensure proportionate, risk-based physical security approaches are implemented, including overseeing site security profiles and survey programmes for Novo Nordisk and third-party sites (CMOs, CROs)

- Acting as trusted advisor to the Head of Global Security on all physical security matters, providing subject matter expertise to Senior Regional Security Managers across the globe

- Developing capability-building frameworks, training materials, and tools for Regional Security Advisors and Security Champions throughout the organisation

- Creating key performance indicators, dashboards, and consolidated global cost pictures to track progress and inform senior leadership decision-making

Your new department

In Finance, Legal & Global Solutions, we enable Novo Nordisk to fulfil our purpose by safeguarding the business, providing corporate infrastructure, and driving value creation. We are a team of 2,300 colleagues primarily based at our headquarters in Denmark and our Global Business Services centres in India and Mexico.

Within this business area sits Global Security—a function undergoing significant transformation and evolution. As a strategic, value-adding team, we protect people, patients, products and assets while enabling the business to operate confidently in an increasingly complex risk environment. Our work is deeply aligned with Novo Nordisk's values and purpose, ensuring that security becomes an enabler of innovation and growth rather than a barrier.

Your skills & qualifications

We're looking for a strategic security leader who thrives in complexity and can drive change through influence and partnership. You'll bring:

- Master's degree in engineering, security risk management, programme management, or a related field (or equivalent experience demonstrating comparable expertise)

- 10+ years of professional experience, ideally including security experience within a corporate security function building or leading a physical security practice (technology expertise particularly valued)

- Proven track record delivering global programmes in highly matrixed and fluid organisations, with experience in physical security integration or engineering consulting being a strong asset

- Exceptional business partnering skills with genuine interest in the commercial side of security, able to communicate effectively and build credibility at all levels of the organisation

- Strong third-party and vendor management capabilities, with experience establishing and maintaining relationships with global suppliers

- Entrepreneurial spirit and can-do attitude—self-driven, results-oriented, and able to deliver in ambiguous, fast-changing environments with strong prioritisation skills

- Unquestionable ethics, strong team spirit, and the ability to operate effectively under pressure

Working at Novo Nordisk

Every day we seek the solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. To do this, we approach our work with determination, constant curiosity and a commitment to finding better ways forward. For over 100 years, this dedication has driven us to build a company focused on lasting change for long-term health. One where diverse thinking, shared purpose and mutual respect come together to create extraordinary results. When you join us, you're not just starting a job – you're becoming part of a story that spans generations. In Global Security, this means your work directly enables researchers, manufacturers, and commercial teams to focus on innovation and patient impact—knowing that the foundations of safety and security are expertly managed.

What we offer

There is, of course, more on offer here than the uniqueness of our culture and the extraordinary results we produce. Being part of a global healthcare company means opportunities to learn and develop are all around us, while our benefits are designed with your career and life stage in mind. This role offers the chance to shape security strategy at an enterprise level, work with cutting-edge technology, and build a global network of peers and partners in one of healthcare's most dynamic periods of growth.

Contact

You are welcome to contact Antoine Minot (Senior Director) on +45 30 79 07 20 if you have questions about the role. Be advised Antoine will not support queries about your recruitment status.

Deadline

3rd March 2026. Applications will be assessed on an ongoing basis, so please apply as soon as you can.

Please apply in English and refrain from adding a photo to your CV to ensure fair and efficient processing. We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all applicants.

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 preventing 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.