Senior Principal Scientist - Safety Pharmacology / Toxicology

Non-Clinical Development

Måløv, Denmark

Are you passionate about advancing innovative therapeutics into the clinic? Do you thrive in a dynamic environment with scientific complexity, high collaboration, and opportunities to shape the future of non-clinical development? We are looking for an experienced and scientifically driven scientist to join us.

Your new Position

As Senior Principal Scientist, you will provide scientific leadership within toxicology and safety pharmacology. You will have a particular focus on integrating safety pharmacology into overall non-clinical development strategies, ensuring scientifically sound and fit-for-purpose approaches to cardiovascular, respiratory, and central nervous system safety assessment throughout drug development.

You will be responsible for planning, designing, monitoring, interpreting, and communicating non-clinical safety studies and strategies in close collaboration with multidisciplinary project teams, CROs, and global stakeholders.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Drive and develop non-clinical toxicology and safety pharmacology strategies supporting candidate selection and First-in-Human clinical development
• Provide scientific expertise within safety pharmacology, including integration of cardiovascular, respiratory, and CNS safety assessments into non-clinical development plans
• Design, oversee, monitor, and interpret outsourced non-GLP and GLP toxicology and safety pharmacology studies
• Collaborate closely with CRO study directors, internal study managers, and multidisciplinary project teams
• Evaluate and communicate non-clinical safety data to support project decisions and regulatory interactions
• Author and contribute to regulatory documentation including INDs, CTAs, IBs, briefing packages, and responses to health authorities
• Ensure scientifically sound, fit-for-purpose, and lean non-clinical development programs aligned with regulatory expectations and project needs
• Contribute to implementation of new ways of working, digitalisation initiatives, and optimisation of operational processes
• Support investigative and mechanistic understanding of toxicological findings and their relevance for human safety assessment
• Contribute to due diligence activities and evaluation of external opportunities when relevant
• Mentor and support less experienced colleagues and contribute to knowledge sharing across the organisation

Your new department

You will join a highly collaborative and science-driven non-clinical safety organisation within Global Drug Discovery. Our teams support the full Novo Nordisk pipeline across multiple therapeutic areas and modalities, including peptides, proteins, small molecules, monoclonal antibodies, and emerging technologies.

The department is responsible for non-clinical safety assessment activities supporting projects from early research through First-in-Human clinical trials and beyond.

We collaborate closely with other disciplines including DMPK, pathology, translational sciences, bioanalysis, and project management.

Our studies are conducted externally at CROs in close scientific collaboration with internal stakeholders and external partners. We place high emphasis on scientific quality, operational efficiency, innovation, animal welfare, and implementation of new approaches and digital solutions to optimise the way we work.

The environment is characterised by openness, collaboration, scientific ambition, and strong opportunities for professional growth and influence.

Your skills & qualifications

We are looking for a collaborative and curious scientist who thrives in a dynamic project environment and enjoys balancing scientific quality with speed and innovation.

You likely bring:

• PhD, DVM, MD, PharmD, or equivalent scientific degree within toxicology, pharmacology, veterinary sciences, or related discipline
• Significant experience within pharmaceutical or biotechnology non-clinical drug development
• Strong expertise in toxicology study design, conduct, interpretation, and regulatory application
• Strong knowledge and hands-on experience within safety pharmacology, including design, interpretation, and strategic application of safety pharmacology studies
• Experience integrating safety pharmacology into broader non-clinical development strategies supporting First-in-Human studies
• Experience supporting projects through regulatory submissions and health authority interactions
• Strong knowledge of global regulatory guidelines including ICH, FDA, and EMA requirements, particularly relevant safety pharmacology guidance
• Experience working with outsourced studies and CRO management
• Ability to understand target biology and integrate complex scientific data into translational safety assessments

You possess strong communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to present complex scientific information clearly. Moreover, you can manage multiple priorities and navigate changing timelines in a collaborative matrix environment. You have scientific curiosity and interest in innovative approaches, digitalisation, and continuous improvement of ways of working.

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. When you join us, you're not just starting a job – you're becoming part of a story that spans generations.

What we offer

At Novo Nordisk, you’ll join a global healthcare company with a unique culture and strong results. We offer continuous learning, career development, and benefits tailored to your life and career stage.

Salary: For this role, the Annual Base Salary ranges from 847,000.00 to 1,245,100.00 DKK, corresponding to the level of the position.

The placement within the salary range will be assessed during the recruitment process based on the candidate’s skills, competencies, knowledge, and relevant experience.

Incentives and Benefits: The salary package may include short-term and/or long-term incentives as well as other employee benefits based on position level, location, functional area and relevant market benchmarks.

Learn more about our Reward Philosophy here.

Deadline

21 June 2026.

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.