Principal Scientist - Global Drug Discovery

About the Department

Our Research & Development organization brings together the best minds in life science innovation. The teams located in facilities in Lexington, Watertown, Cambridge and Plainsboro reflect the full R&D continuum, from early research through late-stage clinical development. Here, we are building for the future, creating a distinct R&D community based on collaboration, partnerships, and cutting-edge research across multiple modalities and therapeutic areas. We recognize that improving human health starts here and that patients rely on us. Our R&D hub merges biotech speed and agility with large pharmaceutical company quality, resources, and stability, uniting the best of both worlds to develop new medicines for patients.

The Position

The Principal Scientist will provide scientific leadership in the identification and validation of new drug targets, advancing novel therapies to the clinic, and developing technologies to accelerate drug research. This will be achieved by functioning as a subject matter expert that provides strategic guidance to project teams, evaluates emerging targets and technologies, and proposes and oversees external collaborations and strategic partnerships. The Principal Scientist may mentor senior colleagues in department and will represent the organization to the external scientific community through publication and presentation of highly impactful research.

Relationships

Reports to the head of the relevant department at Novo Nordisk Research Center Seattle. Internal relationships include working closely with technical staff & other members of the scientific leadership team; regular collaborations with members of other research departments at NNRCSI; & frequent interaction with project managers & other colleagues across global R&D. Individual may indirectly supervise less experienced team members. Individual will interact with external research collaborators both academia- & industry-based.

Essential Functions

• Proven subject matter expertise. Demonstrates a specialized depth and/or breadth of expertise, and engages relationships with other key areas related to drug development in the pharmaceutical industry
• Work with full autonomy on extremely complex tasks requiring highly-specialized knowledge of strategic importance to SVP area
• Provide expert-level guidance for project team related to experimental strategies to evaluate emerging targets, biologies or technologies
• Effectively communicate and collaborate across global sites and sets project strategy by providing leadership of cross-functional project teams
• Propose and lead external collaborations and strategic partnerships to further company goals related to therapeutic area
• Contribute subject matter expertise to develop the research agenda with a clear understanding of the link between scientific project goals and overall long-term business needs
• Propose new projects that support the strategic agenda and address gaps in technological capabilities and therapeutic areas
• Represent the organization through external communication of impactful scientific research in the form of presentation at external conferences and publication in scientific journals and patents
• Maintains a deep understanding of theoretical knowledge and a connection to the external scientific community through continuous evaluation of relevant literature
• Leads global, cross-functional experimental teams to achieve project goals. Provides significant mentorship and training of junior and senior colleagues within field of expertise

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. Relevant Post-graduate or industry experience required
• 22+ years’ relevant experience required, Master's Degree with 16 years relevant industry or post-doctorate experience can be considered. PhD with 10 years relevant industry or post-doctorate experience can be considered
• Relevant required experience includes: insert subject matter expertise
• Preferred experience includes: insert subject matter preferred experience
• Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills

The base compensation range for this position is $175,000 to $225,000. 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.