Associate Director - Strategic Collaboration

About the Department

The Strategy & Rare Disease (STARS) organization drives the long-term strategic direction of Novo Nordisk Inc. (NNI)/North America Operations (NAO) and leads all US commercial efforts for Novo Nordisk’s Rare Disease portfolio. The mandate of STARS is to facilitate the development and to coordinate the execution of the long-term strategy, defining a sustainable business model in US beyond a 5-year time horizon. This department serves as the insiders of the US market when informing and help shaping upstream decisions around future investments and assets. The Rare Disease portfolio includes products in the hemophilia and growth disorders therapeutic areas, new products in the pipeline, and products acquired through business development efforts in existing and new areas. The STARS team collaborates and partners with groups across NAO, Research & Early Development, Development, innovation hubs across NN, other affiliates, and global. We’re looking for individuals who are enterprise thinkers, inclusive leaders, and strong collaborators, as we embark on shaping our future.

The Position

The Associate Director, Strategic Collaboration role is responsible for fostering partnerships with traditional and non-traditional patient organizations, with the lens of Rare Blood and Sickle Cell patient and community engagement, positioning NNI Rare Disease as a trusted leader. This involves forging partnerships with patient advocacy organizations, aligning internal and external goals, and collaborating regularly. The role also involves liaising across NNI Rare Disease stakeholders for key insights, community KOL engagement, and strategic programs, with a focus on vital projects in the evolving Rare Disease treatment landscape, including Rare Blood and Sickle Cell Disease.

Relationships

Reporting to the Strategic Partnerships and Engagement Lead, this role collaborates cross-functionally with Commercial Strategy and Marketing, Medical, Market Access and Public Affairs and Community Engagement teams, to craft and execute comprehensive and purposeful engagement and relationship strategy across the business unit, fostering alignment across internal teams. Additionally, this position contributes to nurturing strategic external relationships, including interactions with vendors and consultants to address specific project needs or the implementation of new programs.

Essential Functions

• Strategic Partnerships and Engagement
  • Serve as the key representative of the Rare Disease Portfolio to external organizations, fostering collaborative relationships to address critical business issues and objectives
  • Develop and oversee the implementation of strategic and tactical plans, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and industry best practices
  • Take charge of engagement strategy and interactions with national CBOs and the community, fostering meaningful connections and support for Rare Disease patient needs
  • Collaborate with healthcare providers within community-based organizations, pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, and other stakeholders to form partnerships and initiatives that cater to the needs of Rare Disease patients
  • Disseminate timely and accurate information to national organizations within the Rare Disease community regarding Novo Nordisk resources, serving as a central hub for information
  • Facilitate collaborations and partnerships between the company and external thought leaders and community organizations focused on Rare Diseases
  • Organize and participate in national advocacy events, fostering a positive and enduring presence of Novo Nordisk within the Rare Disease community, and engaging with national advocacy for programming and commercial sponsorships
  • Establish and implement key metrics to track and communicate the value and impact of brand initiatives to relevant stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability in demonstrating initiative effectiveness
• Cross Functional Knowledge Sharing
  • Foster effective engagement within the cross-functional team, ensuring close collaboration with key internal stakeholders such as Marketing, Medical, and Market Access Public Affairs
  • Responsible for acquiring and maintaining comprehensive proficiency in disease state, product, and business knowledge, staying adept with the latest developments and insights
  • Strategically plan and oversee cross-functional teams or projects aligned with strategic objectives, utilizing relevant project management tools and techniques, and implementing contingency and communication plans as necessary

• Resource Management
  • Strategically allocate resources by evaluating business priorities, risks, timing, and opportunities, and adapt allocations based on project progress and evolving needs
  • Monitor and manage the time and costs of activities, ensuring that vendor, agency, or HCP/patient consultant estimates align with agreed deliverables, and oversee the completion of reconciliation reports
  • Follow administrative policies and procedures, ensuring their effective implementation and adherence through diligent oversight

Physical Requirements

50% Travel.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., life sciences, business administration), advanced degree in related field preferred
• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in strategic or related roles within the pharmaceutical industry required
• Strong understanding of the rare disease landscape, including knowledge of key stakeholders, regulatory requirements, and emerging trends
• Exceptional negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain productive relationships with diverse partners
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate insights into actionable plans and initiatives
• Familiarity with legal and compliance considerations related to collaboration agreements and partnerships
• Proven experience in internal and external customer-facing strategic partnerships, or alliance management within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or rare disease space
• Strong knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry, including regulations, competitive market dynamics, and trends, especially within rare disease preferred
• Outstanding planning and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and proven track record delivering results
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement long-term strategic plans aligned to corporate objectives, market dynamics, and industry trends
• Expert understanding of the pharmaceutical industry including marketing, medical, access, public affairs, compliance, legal and regulatory as well as the healthcare ecosystem

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.

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.