Join Novo Nordisk as Director of Digital Science External Partnerships

Are you an expert in digital science with a passion for driving innovation? Novo Nordisk is looking for a dynamic Director of Digital Science External Partnerships (DSEP) to spearhead digital transformation across our Research & Early Development (R&D) through strategic external collaborations.

Role Overview

The DSEP Director will play a crucial role in shaping scientific innovation and leading cross-functional teams of specialists and managers from both internal divisions and external partners. Your mission will be to establish and cultivate partnerships in the digital sphere of early research and drug discovery.

Key Responsibilities

• Shape and execute the digital external innovation strategy in collaboration with stakeholders across R&D.
• Identify, prioritize, and manage strategic digital partnerships with AI-driven companies, academic institutions, biotech, and large tech companies, focusing on early research and drug discovery.
• Provide robust scientific project management for established partnerships, leveraging unique digital technologies and external data.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand business needs and develop partnership opportunities with strategic fit and clear value proposition.
• Lead the identification, evaluation, due diligence, and contracting of new digital opportunities with experts and colleagues from various departments.
• Inform senior executives to secure sponsorships and drive technological innovations such as AI, Machine Learning (ML), and Large Language Models (LLM) for target/biomarker discovery and computational drug design.
• Represent Novo Nordisk at key conferences and consortia to expand the network of relevant players in the digital space of drug discovery.
• Develop both long-term and short-term strategies for engagement with key external digital partners.

This hybrid position requires 2 days a week at our newly established London office and up to 15% travel.

Qualifications

To excel in this role, you should have a strong background in digital science, particularly in driving digital innovation and partnerships in the pharmaceutical, biotech, or tech industry. Additional qualifications include:

• PhD or Master’s degree in computational science, data science, or a biopharma-related discipline.
• Proven experience in project management, strategic planning, and stakeholder management.
• Extensive knowledge about in-silico/AI-driven drug discovery, such as target/biomarker discovery and computational drug design.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for effectively conveying complex scientific concepts to senior executives.
• Strong networking and relationship-building skills to establish and grow partnerships.
• A strategic mindset to identify and evaluate new digital opportunities that align with business needs and goals.
• Passion for driving change and making a significant impact in the field of drug discovery.

About the Department

The DSEP team formulates and executes the digital external innovation strategy in close collaboration with stakeholders across R&D. Our team is dedicated to advancing scientific innovation and harnessing the power of data and digital approaches through external partnerships in drug discovery. Anchored in the Data & Knowledge Discovery (DKD) unit within Digital Science & Innovation (DSI), we participate in drug development projects across the value chain, aiming to improve lives through groundbreaking scientific research.

Working at Novo Nordisk

At Novo Nordisk, life is at the heart of everything we do. From the foundational blocks of life that underpin our groundbreaking research to the rich personal lives of our employees, life is our driving force. We strive to enable people to lead lives free from chronic diseases, motivated by the diverse experiences and perspectives of our talented team.

Contact and Application

Please apply through our online platform. Directly sent CVs will not be accepted.

Application Deadline

Please apply before June 23rd.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Novo Nordisk is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of 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.

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our applicants.

At Novo Nordisk, we aspire to be the best company not just in the world, but for the