Project Director

Søborg, Denmark or Boston, United States

Are you ready to lead high-impact R&D programmes in a truly global and collaborative environment? Based in Søborg, Denmark or Boston, United States, this Project Director role within R&D External Innovation / Scientific Partnerships offers the opportunity to shape co-created innovation with external partners and drive key programmes that strengthen our future pipeline. You will work across geographies and organisations, influencing innovation at scale. 

Your new role: 

As a Project Director, you will lead fit-for-purpose global project teams and drive complex R&D programmes in close collaboration with external partners. This dual accountability —leading collaborative, partner-centric innovation while driving internal progression and value delivery — creates a level of complexity that requires strong judgement, influence, and execution discipline. 

You will: 

• Lead and inspire global, cross-functional project teams, building trust and driving high performance 

• Shape, align and lead execution of joint development strategies, ensuring Novo Nordisk objectives are integrated and met 

• Simultaneously ensure progress of externally executed workstreams while aligning with Novo Nordisk’s Global Project Framework (GPF), balancing partner-driven execution with internal governance, decision-making, and portfolio alignment 

• Translate complex programme developments into clear, decision-ready insights for governance forums and joint steering committees 

• Contribute to portfolio-level decisions, including evaluation, prioritisation, and optimisation of programmes 

• Provide coaching, mentoring, and development to team members, promoting a culture of continuous learning and performance excellence 
  
  

Your new department 

You will join R&D External Innovation / Scientific Partnerships, a strategic area focused on accelerating innovation through external collaborations. The department plays a key role in shaping and advancing co-created programmes with partners across academia, biotech, and industry. 

Working across organisational boundaries, the team combines scientific expertise with partnership leadership to ensure that externally partnered innovation translates into meaningful impact for Novo Nordisk’s pipeline. 

Your skills and qualifications: 

To succeed in this role, you bring strong scientific expertise and leadership experience from complex R&D environments. 

We are looking for someone who: 

• Holds an advanced degree (MSc or PhD) in a relevant scientific discipline 

• Has significant experience within pharmaceutical or biotech R&D (typically 8–12+ years) 

• Has a strong track record of leading complex projects, ideally involving external collaborations 

• Demonstrates solid understanding of R&D governance frameworks (e.g. stage-gate or GPF models) 

• Brings strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across organisational boundaries 
  
  

You thrive in ambiguity, combine strategic thinking with operational execution, and are comfortable operating in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.


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 

Salary: For this role being in Denmark, the Annual Base Salary ranges from 940,800 to 1,448,700 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  (https://www.novonordisk.com/careers/working-at-novo-nordisk/total-rewards-benefits.html)

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. 

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