Reference Material Scientist

Reference Material Scientist

Job Title: Reference Material Scientist

Department: Reference Materials Team, New Product Introduction (NPI), Aseptic Manufacturing Science and Technology (AMSAT), Global Manufacturing & Supply

Location: Lyngby, Denmark. This is a 15-month maternity cover position.

Your impact begins here

As Reference Material Scientist, you will help make sure high-quality reference materials are always available for the analysis and release of Novo Nordisk products. During this 15-month maternity cover, you will coordinate the establishment, resupply and maintenance of reference materials and support their transfer from development into large-scale production. Product release depends on reliable reference materials, so your planning, documentation and quality mindset help keep treatments moving to the people who need them.

What you’ll bring

You bring a solid scientific foundation, a strong sense of quality and the ability to keep several activities moving at once. You will need:

• A relevant scientific education, for example within pharmaceutical science, biotechnology, biochemistry, chemistry, biophysics or a related field.


• Relevant pharmaceutical or scientific experience, for example within quality control (QC), analytical development, stability, drug product development or manufacturing and process development.


• Experience preparing and reviewing scientific documentation, such as protocols and reports.


• The ability to plan and coordinate multiple scientific and technical activities in a complex environment, and to understand how they connect.


• Evidence of cross-functional stakeholder management, working with both internal and external stakeholders.


• A strong quality mindset, flexibility in a changing environment and the drive to become increasingly independent in the role.

Useful, but not essential:

• Direct experience with reference materials or reference standards – a major advantage, but we know this experience is rare.


• Experience with LIMS, deviations and change control.


• Previous production experience or work with analytical methods.


• Project management experience.


• Some exposure to audits or inspections.

What you’ll do

No two days will be the same. You will combine scientific work with coordination, making sure reference materials are planned, documented and ready when analysis and release teams need them.

• Coordinate the establishment, resupply and maintenance of reference materials for our product portfolio, keeping a constant stock of high-quality material available.


• Prepare and review documentation such as reports and protocols, including monitoring and trending reference material stability studies.


• Collaborate with development and manufacturing sites on transferring reference materials into full-scale production.


• Provide submission documents and interact with regulatory affairs during questions from health authorities


• Support internal users of reference materials across Novo Nordisk with clear, timely answers.


• Help implement changes to our processes and look for simpler, more efficient ways of working within the reference material area.

Who you’ll work with

You will join the NPI Reference Materials Team, a team of eight colleagues. NPI is part of AMSAT within Global Manufacturing & Supply and has approximately 100 employees across several departments. Its main responsibility is moving development products into large-scale production.

Day to day, you will work closely with scientists, technicians and statisticians. You will also partner with stakeholders across Novo Nordisk, including production, regulatory affairs, quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC), as well as development and manufacturing sites. Aligning these perspectives early helps keep reference materials – and the products that depend on them – moving forward.

What you can expect here

You will join a work environment where your quality-conscious, flexible mindset is valued. Working across development, manufacturing, quality, QC laboratories and regulatory partners, you will build new skills and a broad view of how reference materials support products reach people who need them.

You will be supported by experienced colleagues as you grow your independence, and trusted to make your voice heard in a team that cares about quality and getting things right

What we offer

At Novo, you will join a global healthcare company with a distinctive culture and a strong track record. We offer continuous learning, career development and benefits tailored to your life and career stage.

Salary: The annual base salary for this role ranges from DKK 570,200 to DKK 838,100, depending on the level of the position. Placement within the range will be assessed during the recruitment process based on the candidate’s skills, competencies, knowledge, and relevant experience.

Incentives and benefits: The compensation package may include short-term and/or long-term incentives, together with other employee benefits based on position level, location, functional area, and relevant market benchmarks.

Learn more about our Reward Philosophy here.

Start now

Your impact begins today. If you are ready to help secure the reference materials that make product release possible, apply for the Reference Material Scientist role by 27 October 2026.

For further information, please contact Sr. Manager Patrycja W. Dahl (+45 3079 9489). Please note that this contact can answer questions about the role itself, but not about recruitment status.

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.