Director, Emerging Obesity Mechanisms

About the Department 

Our Research & Development organization brings together the best minds in life science innovation. The teams located in facilities in Lexington, Watertown, Cambridge and Plainsboro reflect the full R&D continuum, from early research through late-stage clinical development. Here, we are building for the future, creating a distinct R&D community based on collaboration, partnerships, and cutting-edge research across multiple modalities and therapeutic areas. We recognize that improving human health starts here and that patients rely on us. Our R&D hub merges biotech speed and agility with large pharmaceutical company quality, resources, and stability, uniting the best of both worlds to develop new medicines for patients.

The Position

The Head of Emerging Obesity Mechanisms US leads a modality and platform-focused team dedicated to advancing early-stage obesity projects through RNAi and small molecule approaches. The department spearheads discovery initiatives and develops a range of in vitro models, from basic human cell cultures to complex in vitro systems, to validate and refine targets in the early pipeline. This role provides biological expertise and in vitro tools to assess drug candidates' mechanisms of action and effectiveness, supporting the early obesity pipeline. It also includes managing external collaborations and overseeing projects that align with the organization's strategic objectives.

Relationships

This job reports to the Senior Director of Obesity Research US and interacts extensively with other departments within Global Research, disease experts in the Therapy areas, Target Innovation Groups, and computational biology groups in ADI to leverage in silico biology.

Essential Functions

• Leadership and Team Management


• Leading the department in line with Novo Nordisk Way


• Influence and execute strategy for the disease area


• Securing global cross-organizational collaboration


• Leadership development of talents with leadership and organizational potentials


• Drive change management in own area as well as influence change management in the other departments as well as the TA


• Scientific Responsibilities:
  
  
  
  • Driving state-of-the-art drug discovery
  
  
  • Lead the department to have significant impact to build and expand a sustainable pipeline within Obesity and Cardiometabolic Research, including target ID, validation, and ensuring project progression and delivery within RNAi and small molecule technologies
  
  
  • Development and application of newest technology and complex in vitro models
  
  
  • Integrating data science with biology
  
  
  • Continuously move the scientific concepts and models towards newest ways of thinking
  
  
  • Challenge the scientific rationale, hypothesis and result interpretation of projects in pipeline
  
  
  • Pro-active in engaging with key stakeholders across the organization
  
  
  • Role model – working across to drive a collective benefit for NN
  
  
  
  


• Business development:
  
  
  
  • Work together with therapy area head and leadership team to identify scientific gaps in research direction as well as capabilities to mitigate and reduce gaps
  
  
  • Identify external groups for potential collaboration to mitigate gaps and/or increase pipeline
  
  
  • Assure scientific drive and value generation of ongoing and new external collaborations
  
  
  
  


• People Management:
  
  
  
  • Planning, coordination, prioritization, guidance to employees and monitoring progress of activities
  
  
  • Estimation of resource demand and bottlenecks, secure an optimal utilization of resources and equipment
  
  
  • Ensuring the area incl. sub-functions delivers according to the Novo Nordisk goal setting
  
  
  • Performance management and clear goal setting
  
  
  • Securing an optimal utilization of resources
  
  
  • Drive continuous development and improvements to meet business goals
  
  
  • Ensure budget and business targets are met
  
  
  • Responsible for Occupational Health & Safety in the department
  
  
  
  


• Collaboration across Obesity research and Global Research:
  
  
  
  • Secure collaboration across Obesity & Cardiometabolic Research at all levels
  
  
  • Role model – joint responsibility for target progression and pipeline support across Research & Development
  
  
  
  


• Communication:
  
  
  
  • Communicate, in a structured and well-articulated way, the rationale behind scientific strategy to the key members of research committees, peers as well as key collaborators within Global Research, R&D and other NN areas
  
  
  
  

Physical Requirements

The job requires occasional travel, including international travel, which is expected to be less than 10%. There are no additional physical requirements beyond standard office and laboratory activities associated with the role.

Development of People

Supervisory. Ensure that reporting personnel have individual development plans (IDP), with annual goals and measurements that are consistent with the priorities of the business, and that interim reviews are held so that their work is focused on those priorities, and they understand their level of accountability for results and the measurement process. Ensure that the IDP forms include completed learning and aspiration plans and are in place for all reporting personnel to enable the achievement of goals and capability to assume increased levels of responsibility. Manage the application and communication of all Novo Nordisk policies, procedures, and Novo Nordisk Way.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualification
  
  
  
  • Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university or equivalent education with 9+ years of experience required
  
  
  • Master's Degree/MBA from an accredited university or equivalent education with 7+ years of experience and/or Doctorate degree from an accredited university or equivalent education with 5+ years of experience
  
  
  • Drug discovery in a pharma setting, target validation/maturation, developing and utilizing in vitro systems in e.g. metabolism or another relevant cardiometabolic field required
  
  
  • Project Management and managing external collaborations experience required
  
  
  
  


• General Qualifications
  
  
  
  • Demonstrates advanced expertise in molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, bioengineering, and/or immunology
  
  
  • Exhibits strong leadership and managerial skills to oversee senior professionals
  
  
  • Possesses the ability to adapt departmental plans and priorities to address resource and operational challenges
  
  
  • Displays excellent problem-solving skills, with the capacity to take a broad perspective to identify and resolve complex issues
  
  
  • Demonstrates strong communication and negotiation skills, both internally and externally, with a focus on building consensus based on valid arguments and facts
  
  
  • Maintains a balanced focus on short-term and long-term organizational goals
  
  
  • Gives and receives continuous feedback as a natural part of personal and professional growth
  
  
  • Guides and mentors senior colleagues within the field of expertise to foster professional growth and development
  
  
  • Develops and implements operational plans that align with business priorities and strategic objectives
  
  
  • Applies specialized depth and breadth of expertise to recommend best practices and innovative solutions
  
  
  • Understands and integrates the core competencies of the function and the value chain of the company into decision-making processes
  
  
  • Demonstrates strong emotional intelligence and a flair for working actively with psychological safety, with experience in fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment
  
  
  
  

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.

Employees are also eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs including medical, dental and vision coverage; life insurance; disability insurance; 401(k) savings plan; flexible spending accounts; employee assistance program; tuition reimbursement program; and voluntary benefits such as group legal, critical illness, identity theft protection, pet insurance and auto/home insurance. The Company also offers time off pursuant to its sick time policy, flex-able vacation policy, and parental leave policy.

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

At Novo Nordisk, we're not chasing quick fixes – we're creating lasting change for long-term health. For over 100 years, we've been driven by a single purpose: to defeat serious chronic diseases and help millions of people live healthier lives. This dedication fuels our constant curiosity and inspires us to push the boundaries of what's possible in healthcare. We embrace diverse perspectives, seek out bold ideas, and build partnerships rooted in shared purpose. Together, we're making healthcare more accessible, treating and defeating diseases, and pioneering solutions that create change spanning generations. When you join us, you become part of something bigger – a legacy of impact that reaches far beyond today.

Novo Nordisk is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to 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.

If you are interested in applying to Novo Nordisk and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply, please call us at 1-855-411-5290. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.