Assoc Director, Sales Rare Disease

Category:  Sales
Location: 

Gatwick, South East, GB

   

Associate Director Sales Rare Diseases

 

Drive meaningful impact for patients living with rare diseases, while leading a high-performing team to deliver exceptional results across the UK.

 

Your new role

 

As Associate Director Sales Rare Diseases, you'll lead the UK Rare Disease Sales team and play a pivotal role in shaping and executing our commercial strategy for Rare Blood Disorders and Rare Endocrine conditions. This is a role where strategic vision meets hands-on leadership, and where your decisions directly impact patients who depend on life-changing treatments.

 

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Leading and developing the Rare Disease sales team (Key Account Managers), creating realistic goals and inspiring high performance across all territories
  • Co-creating and executing the national sales strategy in partnership with the Director of Rare Disease, aligned to UK affiliate business objectives
  • Serving as an active member of the Rare Disease leadership team, driving the business agenda and making strategic decisions
  • Managing the Nordicare Service Lead and matrix-managing the Nordicare nurse team to deliver a gold standard, differentiated patient service
  • Championing account management excellence across all key accounts, ensuring robust account plans with SMART objectives and strong tactical execution
  • Overseeing budget management and resource allocation to ensure optimal return on investment
  • Building and maintaining stakeholder networks across the UK and global functions, representing the UK at European and Global meetings
  • Driving transformation toward an insight-driven, multi-channel approach that maximizes impact throughout the customer journey

 

Your new department

 

Within the UK affiliate, you'll be part of the Rare Disease leadership team—a collaborative group committed to transforming the lives of patients with rare conditions. This is a dynamic environment where cross-functional collaboration, strategic thinking, and patient-focused innovation come together to deliver exceptional outcomes. Your leadership will be instrumental in positioning Novo Nordisk as the partner of choice in the UK rare disease community.

 

Your skills & qualifications

 

We're looking for an accomplished leader who combines strategic commercial acumen with a genuine passion for making a difference in rare diseases. You'll bring:

  • Proven track record in a senior leadership role, delivering high results through strong leadership of complex matrix organizations in the pharmaceutical industry
  • Extensive experience in strategic and tactical account planning and execution, with demonstrated success in multiple product launches
  • Direct people management experience leading remote, high-performing teams through transformation and multi-channel acceleration
  • Strong commercial acumen with experience developing business strategy and working knowledge of the NHS, preferably within the Rare Disease environment
  • Experience operating, communicating, and influencing at ICS (Integrated Care System) level in the external environment
  • ABPI qualification (essential) and degree in a science or business-related subject (desirable)
  • Exceptional networking, influencing, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to harness internal and external networks
  • High-level insight generation capabilities using multiple data sources, coupled with multi-channel excellence
  • Financial management skills including budgetary control and ROI decision-making
  • Valid UK driving license and willingness to travel within the UK
  • Fluency in written and spoken English with creative storytelling and communication skills for audiences of all sizes

 

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. In rare diseases, this commitment takes on special meaning—where every patient matters, and where your leadership directly contributes to improving lives that might otherwise be overlooked. When you join us, you're not just starting a job – you're becoming part of a story that spans generations.

 

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. As a senior leader in our International Operations, you'll have access to global networks, cross-functional collaboration opportunities, and the chance to shape the future of rare disease care in the UK.

 

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.