Associate Contract Director, CMC Outsourcing

Associate Contract Director, CMC Outsourcing
CMC Product & Process Development
Bagsværd, Denmark

Leading complex and high‑stakes negotiations that define future partnerships and commercial outcomes.

Step into a high‑impact role where strategic negotiation shapes new business models, drives complex senior‑level stakeholder alignment, and powers innovation in a fast‑growing environment of global supplier. If you are an experienced negotiator with a strong business mindset ready to drive high‑impact contract negotiations, then this is your opportunity to join us as Associate Contract Director in Chemistry, Manufacturing & Control (CMC) Outsourcing.

In this role, you will work closely with safeguarding business aspects of outsourcing deliverables for Novo Nordisk development projects and take on a central position in handling innovation‑related contracts that directly influence the development of new products. You will become a key focal point in the interaction with senior stakeholders, where your insights and recommendations will have real impact on the company’s strategic decisions. Apply today!

Your new role

As Associate Contract Director, you will step into a pivotal role designed to close a gap in handling high‑complexity CMC Outsourcing contracts - often tied to new technologies, unordinary business models, and negotiations with intense senior management attention. You will be the strategic driver who brings clarity, structure, and long‑term thinking to agreements that may define the business years down the line.

The contract and negotiation process will be carried out in close collaboration with the team’s outsourcing lead and scientific responsible, ensuring alignment across all stakeholders. Beyond leading negotiations, you will also use your natural managerial mindset to help shaping ways of working, guiding colleagues, and supporting continuous improvement across the team. Your key responsibilities will be:

Drive High‑Impact Deliverables:

• Lead high‑visibility negotiations with senior stakeholders, combining independent negotiation responsibilities with collaborative efforts alongside the Contract Manager.
• Structure complex business models and new technology agreements.
• Steer project/stakeholder management in negotiations with shifting or unclear stakeholder landscapes.
• Support development of innovative pricing models and embed a strong business‑development mindset in CMC Outsourcing.

Support CMC Outsourcing Management:

• Challenge and contribute to early exploration of AI‑driven initiatives.
• Strengthen cross‑organizational contract partnerships, including with Global Legal and Business Development Legal.

Be a Strategic Sparring Partner for Contract Managers:

• Provide daily sparring on contract strategy and negotiation matters.
• Challenge and contribute to the development of new and updated contract templates.

To succeed, you must be able to combine strong business acumen with solid contractual expertise. You will be a key player in navigating across specialists, legal experts, and the business – ensuring that complex considerations are translated into clear and robust agreements.

Your skills and qualifications

We expect you to have a Commercial or Legal Master’s degree in combination with +8-10 years of experience leading complex negotiations and business development, preferably from the pharma industry. You also bring:

• Ability to handle complex contracts, understand legal aspects, and navigate negotiations with multiple stakeholders
• Strong project management skills, preferably knowledge of agile methods such as scrum.
• A natural managerial mindset, balancing leadership influence with hands‑on execution.
• Excellent communication skills, translating business needs into contractual solutions.
• Fluency in both oral and written English.

To succeed in this role, you bring a resilient and robust personality that excel in a fast-moving environment, manages multiple priorities with composure, and delivers results under tight deadlines and intense stakeholder attention. You remain calm and rational in challenging situations, demonstrating professionalism and alignment with organisational priorities, and a commitment to collective goals. Finally, you bring a ‘can-do attitude’ and a healthy sense of humour to your work – also when the pressure is on.

Your new area 

The CMC Outsourcing team supports the Novo Nordisk development pipeline. Comprising of approximately 30 dedicated and experienced employees, the department is responsible for executing sourcing and outsourcing activities. This includes selecting competent collaboration partners, negotiating contractual frameworks, and project management until all deliverables are completed. The department is a part of CMC Product & Process Development and plays a significant role in bringing new medicinal products to the market.

Working at Novo Nordisk

Every day we seek the solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. To do this, we approach our work with an unconventional spirit, a rare determination and a constant curiosity. For over 100 years this unordinary mindset has seen us build a company unlike any other. One where a collective passion for our purpose, mutual respect and a willingness to go beyond what we know delivers extraordinary results.

More information

For further information, please contact, Laust Andrés: +45 3079 6935.

Deadline

18 March 2026.

You don’t need to attach a cover letter, but please include a few lines about your motivation for the role as Associate Contract Director in your CV. Please refrain from adding a photo to your CV to ensure fair and efficient processing.

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.