Head of Business Development Transactions

About the Department

The Novo Nordisk Cambridge location is the headquarters for Global Business Development across all of our therapeutic and technology areas. We contribute to innovation in one of the world's largest life sciences ecosystems by participating in events and discussions with renowned and upcoming scientists looking for the next scientific breakthrough to bring transformative treatments to patients. We work with start-ups, established companies, venture capitalists, teaching hospitals, and academic institutions to support the development of innovation for mutual benefit, and to help patients in all of our current therapy areas. Through a variety of partnership models, we accelerate ideas from the lab and clinic to advance and expand our product portfolio and to improve outcomes for the patients we serve

The Position

Global Business Development is responsible for Novo Nordisk’s corporate business development activities related to establishing external partnerships, collaborations and acquisitions, as well as integration and alliance management. The Group Vice President (GVP) area consists of units covering business development from end-to-end with Search, Evaluation & Intelligence, BD and M&A Transactions, Integration and Alliance Management.

The Head of Business Development (BD) and Transactions is crucial for securing external assets that augment and accelerate the Novo Nordisk pipeline. These can include drug candidate molecules, technology platforms, device and diagnostic platforms, production capacity, and commercial assets and capabilities – anything that supports the development and delivery of differentiated medicines to patients in the therapy areas that we serve.  The Head of BD Transactions works proactively and independently driving access to external innovation through assessment, negotiation and contracting with external parties. Given the external facing nature of the role, they are expected to nurture a strong network within relevant innovation ecosystems and have the ability to leverage this network to gain access to and come to mutually beneficial agreement terms on prioritized business development deals, including research collaborations, licenses, asset purchases, company acquisitions, mergers and other partnerships. The Head of BD Transactions should constantly raise the bar and strive for higher performance in the unit as well as across the organization.

Relationships

Reports to the GVP of Global Business Development and has responsibility for a team of transaction professionals and strategic deal leaders. The Head of BD Transactions has direct responsibility for mentoring and supporting their team members and is a member of the GBD leadership team. They are also accountable for mentorship and development of colleagues across GBD and the broader cross-functional organization in pursuit of external innovation and deal making.

The Head of BD Transactions interacts constantly with the Global Business Development Leadership Team, and regularly with members of executive and senior management across the organization, and cross-functional stakeholders within all EVP areas in all global Novo Nordisk locations. They are expected to build relationships, credibility, and trust with external parties including industry peers, collaborators and biotech and biopharma executives, investment bankers and external legal counsel.

The Head of BD Transactions must engage in proactive dialogue with the internal stakeholders at all levels of the organization, to recommend and reach agreement on priorities and activities to pursue specific external innovation opportunities. They will represent Novo Nordisk in outreach related activities and must be able to engage in proactive dialogue with all external stakeholders, represent Novo Nordisk’s interests and arrive at mutually beneficial business outcomes in a manner supporting ongoing and future collaboration, sustaining Novo Nordisk’s reputation across the sector.

Essential Functions

• Deliver business development transactions and contracts with favorable terms to Novo Nordisk
  • Develop transaction strategies and deal tactics in line with potential value and strategic importance of individual assets or companies
  • Complete contract negotiations, including driving discussions on investment mandates with internal governance, ensuring favorable contractual positions for NN and mitigating key risks
  • Lead strategic deals including diligence and deal execution across deal types e.g. mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, partnerships, and licensing opportunities aligned with corporate strategies and priorities
  • Within mandates, own and drive all assigned projects and processes; along with the GVP Global Business Development, advise and occasionally challenge senior management on decision making and facilitate proper anchoring and execution of conclusions reached
• Establish and maintain strong and trusted ecosystem networks
  • Maintain a strong network within the business development ecosystem; represent Novo Nordisk and communicate business development priorities, capture opportunities, and ensure strong collaboration
  • Interact professionally and credibly on behalf of Novo Nordisk’s business interests, leveraging relationships to ensure access to innovation and information that supports and advances the BD agenda
  • Stay abreast of industry trends, policies and emerging practices to identify innovative business opportunities, approaches and collaboration models that can be adopted or adapted, and/or emerging risks that must be mitigated in our business development activities

• Provide leadership, mentorship and functional oversight
  • Work collaboratively with GBD leadership to drive performance, development and advancement of the area
  • Set and clarify direction and strategy for the BD and M&A transactions team
  • Build capability across the function through mentoring and fostering a high-performance culture
  • Strive to eliminate bottlenecks and remove roadblocks to ensure progress at pace
  • Run activities that support the direction-setting for the area and contribute to fostering an engaged and high performing team, managed in accordance with the Novo Nordisk Way
  • Act as a thought leader, providing expertise and guidance in business development strategy and planning
  • Actively help develop and build succession within the team and the broader GBD area as a member of the leadership team

Physical Requirements

20-30% overnight travel required.

Development of People

Supervisory - direct team leadership, mentorship and facilitative leadership across organization. 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

• Minimum Qualification
  • Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in business, economics, finance, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biology, pharmacology or other related field is required
• Equivalent Degree & Years of Experience
  • Minimum 15 years’ industry relevant experience with focus on strategic business development and financial aspects is required

• General Qualifications
  • Creative and analytical problem solving: Given the high level of cross-organizational involvement and the criticality of strategic decisions at the corporate level, this position is required to have:
    • A very high capacity for problem solving
    • The ability to consolidate large amounts of complex information in a dynamic environment
    • To think outside the box to arrive at creative solutions
    • Strong analytical skills, and the ability to assess and credibly challenge data and concepts across a large span of content, often towards technical expert stakeholders, is critical
  • Strategic Vision: Proven ability to develop and communicate a clear strategic vision for the company, including identifying new business opportunities and assessing potential risks and developing convincing, clear and strategically aligned equity stories for individual deals that support the corporate strategy
  • Impact and Influence: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with stakeholders, present strategic recommendations, and drive alignment across the organization using reasoning, persuasive arguments to develop buy in and followership
  • Creative and analytical problem solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and derive insights that drive strategic decisions
  • Innovative Thinking: A mindset geared towards innovation and the ability to identify and capitalize on emerging approaches and industry shifts ahead of the curve
  • Global Perspective: Experience working in a global or multi-national company, with an understanding of global markets and the ability to develop strategies that consider international implications and capture opportunity in different market environments
  • Leading and managing change: Encouraging business improvement and growth by ensuring stakeholders embrace change and continuously look to improve themselves and their work methods
  • Self-awareness and maturity: Self-awareness of own strengths, limitations and development needs, applies this to optimize performance and relationships
  • Communication:
    • Highly effective written and verbal communication (memos, reports slides, presentations, facilitation)
    • Ability to tailor communication to different audiences and different levels
    • Convince others at all levels, with sometimes divergent views and interests, to accept new concepts, practices and approaches
    • Collaborate across the line of business to secure adequate understanding and implementation of corporate strategic initiatives
    • Effectively facilitate resolution of disagreements and conflict at all levels
  • Leading, coaching, and mentoring others: Ability to support individuals by improving performance and future potential through leadership, coaching, and mentorship

The base compensation range for this position is $280,000 to $491,400. Base compensation is determined based on a number of factors. This position is also eligible for a company bonus based on individual and company performance. 

Novo Nordisk offers long-term incentive compensation and or company vehicles depending on the position's level or other company factors. 

Employees are also eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs including medical, dental and vision coverage; life insurance; disability insurance; 401(k) savings plan; flexible spending accounts; employee assistance program; tuition reimbursement program; and voluntary benefits such as group legal, critical illness, identity theft protection, pet insurance and auto/home insurance. The Company also offers time off pursuant to its sick time policy, flex-able vacation policy, and parental leave policy.

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 defeating 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.

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.