Associate Director - R&D External Innovation

About the Role

The Associate Director, External Innovation is accountable for providing scientific expertise to support R&D External Innovation Partnerships and driving an externally anchored project portfolio. This includes sourcing innovative opportunities, early-stage R&D partnerships, and advancing opportunities to decision groups while ensuring alignment with Novo Nordisk R&D Lines of Business (LoBs). The role focuses on identifying, scouting, shaping, and maturing external innovation opportunities within therapeutic areas of interest, translating R&D priorities into external sourcing focus areas, and preparing governance-ready recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Support ecosystem stimulation, scouting, evaluation, due diligence, and execution for external innovation opportunities in research and therapeutic discovery.
• Identify, assess, and integrate cutting-edge science and technology into Novo Nordisk's innovation pipeline.
• Monitor industry trends to maintain a competitive edge in scientific advancements.
• Recommend strategies to leverage external innovation for transformative research and drug discovery solutions.
• Prepare concise decision materials for EI&A leadership, NPI/LoB stakeholders, and relevant governance forums.
• Maintain transparency on assigned sourcing/scouting pipeline, open questions, decisions, and follow-up actions.
• Evaluate emerging technologies/platforms to support external innovation in drug discovery.
• Assess the feasibility, scalability, and impact of new technologies/platforms on R&D objectives.
• Recommend opportunities based on alignment with organizational goals and potential value creation.
• Foster and sustain strategic partnerships with external stakeholders to advance new science and technology in drug discovery.
• Nurture relationships with VCs, incubators, start-ups, and technology providers.
• Act as a liaison to foster trust and mutual understanding between external partners and internal teams.
• Translate advancements into actionable business solutions for drug discovery.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to adapt innovation for practical applications in R&D.
• Contribute to developing frameworks to measure the impact and success of potential partnerships/acquisitions.
• Collaborate with internal teams and the R&D External Innovation team to align on recommendations for evaluation and external partnership opportunities.
• Identify R&D LoB needs and gaps to help prioritize external innovation focus areas.
• Scout for external opportunities to support pipeline needs.
• Build and maintain an external network in scientific expertise areas.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders across departments to align external innovation initiatives with organizational goals.
• Represent Novo Nordisk in external forums, conferences, and partnership discussions.

Qualifications

• PhD and 5+ years of experience, OR MD/DO and 1+ years of experience preferred. Equivalent experience may be considered with a Bachelor's degree (9+ years) or Master's degree (7+ years).
• Experience in pharmaceutical R&D, external innovation, sourcing/scouting, strategic partnerships, scientific project shaping, portfolio strategy, or business development support.
• Strong understanding of early R&D, NPI/LoB priorities, portfolio gaps, and how external opportunities contribute to future pipeline needs.
• Experience translating scientific or portfolio needs into sourcing themes, opportunity briefs, project plans, or governance-ready recommendations.
• Experience working with cross-functional stakeholders across R&D, GBD/Search & Evaluation, Legal, Finance, IP, and scientific/technical SMEs.
• Experience preparing senior-level materials, including opportunity summaries, project plans, risk/mitigation views, and decision asks.
• High degree of personal motivation, proactivity, and ability to influence without authority.
• Strong analytical skills for conducting cost-benefit analyses.
• Experience interacting with external partners, biotech companies, academic groups, incubators, accelerators, or external scientific experts.
• Strategic and structured mindset with the ability to translate ambiguity into clear next steps.
• Strong external orientation and ability to spot relevant opportunities aligned with R&D needs.
• Excellent stakeholder management and alignment skills across NPI/LoB, EI&A, and enabling functions.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including concise executive-level materials.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life insurance and disability insurance.
• 401(k) savings plan with company match.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Employee assistance program.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Voluntary benefits such as group legal, critical illness, identity theft protection, pet insurance, and auto/home insurance.
• Paid time off pursuant to sick time, flexible vacation, and parental leave policies.

Pay

The base compensation range for this position is $152,700 to $267,300. This position is also eligible for a company bonus based on individual and company performance, as well as long-term incentive compensation or company vehicles depending on the position's level.

Schedule

Less than 10% overnight domestic and international travel required.