Manager for CMC Mammalian Cultivation team

Ready to join a department within pilot production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) ranging from cultivation to recovery to purification activities? Motivated by working with processes surrounding a complex API production, where strong collaboration and active stakeholder management are key to our success? Are you an authentic and empathetic people leader, eager to manage and ensure strong operation through a team of dedicated scientists and technicians?

If you are passionate about leading, as well as focus on the development and well-being of your team members as one of your core values, then you might be our new Team Leader (Manager) to join our Mammalian Pilot Plants (MPP) Cultivation team within Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control (CMC) API Pilots at Novo Nordisk. Take the next step in your life-changing career and apply today!

For an introduction to our business area - CMC API Pilots - please visit our career page.

The Position

As Manager for the mammalian cultivation team, you will lead a team responsible for the daily operations in our cultivation facility. You will be responsible for the cultivation of API for phase 1, 2 and 3 studies, ensuring high quality and compliance. Your team consists of 15 employees (scientists and technicians) who are preparing, conducting, and reporting API production campaigns in close collaboration with the development and production areas of Novo Nordisk.

The key part of your success will be your ability to coordinate and engage in prioritization with your manager colleagues across the department to ensure high quality, production activities and team engagement. You will set and meet ambitious goals on the premise that success is achieved through collaboration and sharing key observations early to accelerate delivery. Hence, you are motivated by being on shopfloor daily, visible to your employees and engaging in problem solving. Furthermore, you will join a growing area preparing for taking in more exciting development projects and expanding capacity for the supply of our portfolio.

Your main tasks will be to:

• Ensure delivery according to ambitious production plans with a high level of quality
• Coordinate and engage in prioritization with your manager colleagues across the department to ensure high quality level, production activities and team engagement
• Continuously ensure high level of psychological safety, motivation and engagement in your team
• Day-to-day visible on shopfloor, engaging with your employees, in problem solving and identifying opportunities to optimize our workflow and processes through a structured approach

As Manager you will be part of the leadership team in CMC MPP, which is composed of 1 Director, 4 Managers and an administrative coordinator that meets frequently, help and support each other, and routinely use each other as sparring partners.

Qualifications

To succeed in this role, you will need a technical background, master’s degree or PhD in science/technology, biochemical/chemical engineering, pharmacy, or other relevant fields. Furthermore, you will need:

• Experience in the pharma industry and knowledge of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) is preferred.
• Leadership experience and a natural desire to engage, develop and empower people.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with both internal and external collaboration partners.
• The ability to challenge status quo and see LEAN as a natural part of your daily work.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

As a person you possess strong interpersonal skills, which enables you to build trust within your team. You like to develop, involve, and motivate your team members and can communicate and collaborate effectively across disciplines. You thrive in a dynamic environment where sharp priorities are part of everyday life, as well as support to employees.

About the Department

As part of CMC product & Process Development, CMC API Pilots is the preferred partner for API production supporting clinical trials and ensuring process transfer to commercial production.

The CMC Mammalian Pilot Plant department is organised within CMC API Pilots. We are 75 employees divided into four teams, three facilities, and two locations. Our primary task is to produce API for clinical studies supporting Novo Nordisk’s important strategic projects within our mammalian platform. 

Working at Novo Nordisk

At Novo Nordisk, we don’t wait for change. We drive it. We’re a dynamic company in an even more dynamic industry, and we know that what got us to where we are today is not necessarily what will make us successful in the future. We embrace the spirit of experimentation, striving for excellence without fixating on perfection. We never shy away from opportunities to develop, we seize them. From research and development, through to manufacturing, marketing and sales – we’re all working to move the needle on patient care.

Contact

If you have any questions about the job, you are welcome to contact Director, Anette Sikjær Jørgensen at +45 3079 5903.

Deadline

June 20, 2025

Please note that we will review applications and call in for interviews continuously. So please apply as soon as possible.

You do not need to attach a cover letter to your application, but please include a few sentences about why you are applying in your resume or CV. To ensure an efficient and fair recruitment process, please refrain from adding a photo in your CV.

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.