Associate Vice President R&D Digital Portfolio, Governance & Investment

At Novo Nordisk, we are driving the future of pharmaceutical research and development through digital innovation, artificial intelligence, and data-driven transformation. We are seeking a visionary and digital business savvy Associate Vice President to lead the function of Digital Portfolio, Governance & Investment within R&D. This role combines strategic leadership, transformation execution, organizational development, and external engagement in one of the most critical innovation areas within the company.

Your new role

This is a strategic global leadership role responsible for shaping the digital strategy and accelerating the value of digital investments in the R&D engine. By leveraging data and AI, we aim to quickly identify drug candidates, reduce clinical trial execution time and costs, and better serve patients in line with Novo Nordisk’s goals.

As Associate Vice President, you will report to the Group Vice President, AI & Digital Innovation, responsible to lead 5 direct reports with additional 20 indirect reports globally, in a small, high-impact organization.

Together with your teams and specialists you will oversee strategic digital investments, lead large-scale transformation programmes, build strong external partnerships, and ensure operational excellence across a complex global digital portfolio.

You will collaborate closely with your peers in the leadership team, executive stakeholders across the business, and external partners to translate digital opportunities into measurable scientific and business value.

Your key responsibilities

• Co-create the strategic direction for R&D digital transformation and innovation through digital and AI investments
• Drive large-scale digital programme management for “big bets” within AI and digital
• Lead operational and financial management, via complex portfolio and governance
• Orchestrate business transformation via digital process mapping and mining
• Orchestrate and explore strategic partnership with technology vendors that have an AI/digital element
• Ensure competitive intelligence and orchestrate opportunities for external engagement and strategic communications

Your new organisation

In AI & Digital Innovation we are 600 colleagues across the globe with a core mission to speed up development, improve precision, and strengthen R&D by embedding AI, digital science, and data at the heart of drug discovery and clinical development. Our contributions in Research & Development are: Accelerating the pipeline through computational methods and digital innovation. Placing data at the centre of the R&D ecosystem - ensuring it is accessible, governed, and shareable. Creating a thriving workplace where employees can meet their ambitions and contribute meaningfully.

Your skills & qualifications

• Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field.

• Strategic Leadership
• Digital Transformation
• Pharmaceutical Industry Expertise
• Organizational Strategy
• Global Stakeholder Management
• Product & Portfolio Delivery
• Innovation & Partnership Development
• Fluency in English written and spoken

Your personal leadership profile

• You demonstrate visionary and collaborative leadership with outstanding stakeholder management and communication skills, strong business acumen, and a strategic mindset.
• You effectively translate strategy and complex business challenges into actionable solutions inspiring innovation, leading organizational transformation, and establishing trust and credibility at the executive level through integrity and accountability.

Come join us

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of digital innovation in R&D on a global scale. You will play a pivotal role in transforming how scientific research is conducted through AI, digital technologies, and strategic partnerships — ultimately helping bring innovative treatments to patients faster.

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.