Corporate Vice President of Sustainability

Are you ambitious about driving sustainability and achieving global impact on an unprecedented scale? Do you possess the vision and executive leadership skills required to fully integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs into a complex, multinational core strategy?  

If you are a proven strategic executive ready to lead a critical transformation function at a company defining the future of global health, we invite you to join Novo Nordisk as our new Corporate Vice President of Sustainability. Read on and apply today to be part of the team shaping for a truly sustainable future.  

The Position  

As the Corporate Vice President of Sustainability, you will hold a mandate to drive the strategic integration and global execution of the sustainability agenda across Novo Nordisk. You will act as spokesperson and represent Novo Nordisk in external Sustainability assemblies, and report to the SVP of the CEO Office, influencing decisions at the highest levels of the organization. The position will be based in Denmark.

In this pivotal executive role, you will: 

• Own, develop and implement the Novo Nordisk Sustainability Strategy. As lead for the area, you oversee execution across all social, environmental and ESG agendas through your functional leadership, in close collaboration with the business. 
• Drive Cross-Functional Integration. Lead complex, cross-functional collaboration efforts to embed sustainability directly into core business operations and corporate strategy. 
• Oversee Global ESG Risks. Proactively assess, identify, and manage ESG risks together with sub-unit Heads, simultaneously ensuring stringent compliance with global regulations and reporting standards. 
• Establish measurable, high-impact sustainability goals, track progress, and communicate achievements to both internal executive stakeholders and external investor communities. 
• Strategically engage with investors, partners, regulators, and community groups to build trust, enhance reputation, and advocate for best-in-class sustainability practices globally. 
• Pioneer Data-Driven decision making. Drive innovative frameworks and leverage data-driven approaches to accurately measure, validate, and report enterprise sustainability performance. 
• Ongoingly be the face of the Novo Nordisk Sustainability agenda with and towards key external stakeholders, partners and in various assemblies. 

Qualifications  

We are seeking a seasoned executive accustomed to managing strategic complexity and driving large-scale change. 

We are looking for a professional with: 

• An advanced degree (master's or PhD) in Sustainability, Environmental Science, Business Administration, Corporate Governance or related field. 
• 10+ years of experience in sustainability or ESG-related roles. 
• Executive Experience: Significant experience in senior leadership, strategy development, and implementation, preferably with prior experience in management or sustainability consulting. 
• Knowledge and tangible experience of best-in-class sustainability practices. 
• Global Acumen: Proven ability to manage a global portfolio of initiatives, demonstrating cultural sensitivity and a profound global perspective on complex sustainability challenges. 
• Technological Vision: Familiarity with leveraging emerging technologies to enhance and scale sustainability practices across a multinational value chain. 
• A holistic view on Sustainability and the intersection of climate & health (beyond strategy & agendas of single units). 
• A growth mindset and a track record of creating strong followship due to your exceptional leadership skills and experience of leading senior leaders.  

About the Department  

You will lead the Global Sustainability department, which is strategically positioned within the CEO Office and focuses on driving Novo Nordisk’s sustainability agenda. Our department, which fosters a collaborative and innovative atmosphere, is currently structured into three key areas, Social Responsibility, Environmental Sustainability, & ESG Strategy & Intelligence. 

With a team of more than 50 talented professionals, the position is based at our headquarters in Denmark, where you will operate in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. 

Working at Novo Nordisk  

Every day, we seek solutions that will defeat serious chronic diseases. To achieve this, we approach our work with an unconventional spirit, rare determination, and constant curiosity. For over 100 years, this unordinary mindset has helped 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. 

Contact and Deadline  

For further information regarding this exciting opportunity, please contact Senior Executive Search Partner Anette Schmidt Jepsen atjp@novonordisk.com or get to know us better by visiting www.novonordisk.com/careers. 

Apply by Sunday 7 December 2025. Interviews will be conducted in January 2026. 

You do not need to attach a cover letter to your application, but please include a few lines about your motivation in your resume. Please assist us in maintaining a fair and inclusive selection process by not attaching a photo to your application. 

"Novo Nordisk is currently in the process of adjusting job titles globally. Please note that the job title listed in this advertisement may be subject to change. More detailed information will be provided during the recruitment process.” 

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

We’re not your typical healthcare company. In a modern world of quick fixes, we focus on solutions to defeat serious chronic diseases and promote long-term health. Our unordinary mindset is at the heart of everything we do. We seek out new ideas and put people first as we push the boundaries of science, make healthcare more accessible, and treat, prevent, and even cure diseases that affect millions of lives. Because it takes an unordinary approach to drive real, lasting change in health.