Scientific Director

About the role

The Scientific Director serves as a senior scientific leader and subject matter expert, shaping strategic direction and advancing disease biology insights across the Diabetes Therapeutic Area. This role provides biological leadership to impact the portfolio strategy, ensuring programs are grounded in robust human biology, translational relevance and a clear path to differentiated clinical value.

Responsibilities

• Progress novel targets and emerging mechanisms of action for diabetes and diabetic related comorbidities
• Align efforts in the departments leading external innovation outreach and alliance activities to ensure Diabetes strategic priorities are addressed and future-focused needs and development are being supported
• Contribute subject matter expertise to the TA research agenda in partnership with TA Leadership, Development and Commercial, linking scientific priorities to long-term portfolio and business needs
• Integrate human cohorts, clinical datasets, biomarkers and omics data into disease understanding, target validation and precision medicine strategies
• Contribute to defining and advancing scientific strategy in diabetes biology, ensuring a robust, human biology–driven foundation for target identification and validation
• Deliver high-quality scientific insights that enable program progression and support key portfolio decisions
• Influence portfolio direction and go/no-go decisions through expert scientific recommendations to TA Leadership and cross-functional stakeholders

Requirements

• PhD from an accredited university and 7+ years of experience required
• Equivalent experience requirements for advanced degrees would be an MD/DO from an accredited university and 3+ years of experience
• A diabetes drug discovery SME with a high level of creativity & curiosity with a strong innovative mindset
• Expert level understanding of scientific & translational challenges related to drug development in T1D, with previous experience in industry
• Proven track record of coordinating and obtaining buy-in from internal & external stakeholders
• Ability to influence without direct authority, align cross-functional teams and drive results globally
• High level of communication skills, including the development of clear agenda, meeting leadership, drawing groups to good conclusions & communicating scientific results & content across international sites & stakeholders from many parts of a complex multinational organization

Skills

• Strong diabetes disease understanding and drug discovery expertise in small molecules
• Experience with siRNA or other nucleic acid-based modalities is a plus
• Fluency in spoken & written English is a prerequisite for the role with good communication skills & cross-cultural understanding to interact in the global organisation

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• 401(k) savings plan
• 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

Pay

The base compensation range for this position is $200,000 to $290,000. Base compensation is determined based on a number of factors. This position is also eligible for a company bonus based on individual and company performance. Novo Nordisk offers long-term incentive compensation and or company vehicles depending on the position's level or other company factors.

Schedule

10-20% overnight travel required