Associate Director - External Innovation

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 Associate Director, R&D External Innovation is accountable for providing scientific expertise to support R&D External Innovation Partnerships and in driving an externally anchored project portfolio from sourcing of innovative opportunities, early-stage R&D partnerships and driving opportunities to decision group ensuring alignment with Novo Nordisk R&D Lines of Business (LoBs). By sourcing and assessing potential pipeline opportunities, the role ensures that NN can capitalize on collaborations that enhance its capabilities.

Identify, scout, shape and mature external innovation opportunities within TAs of Novo Nordisk interest in the pipeline filling and sourcing team with NPI alignment. The role includes relevant NPI/LoB interfaces (potentially Diabetes, Obesity and related comorbidities) and focuses on understanding what is next for the pipeline, translating R&D/NPI/LoB priorities into external sourcing and scouting focus areas, shaping selected opportunities into actionable project proposals, and preparing governance-ready recommendations. The role is not of a due diligence owner; detailed diligence and transaction processes sit with the relevant assessment, SME, GBD/Search & Evaluation, and governance stakeholders.

Relationships

Reports to: Head of R&D EI Pipeline Filling and Sourcing. Works in a matrix structure with EI&A (External Innovation and Assessments), SP&I (Scientific Partnerships & Integration), NPIs, R&D LoB resources and Global business development/search and evaluation.

Internal stakeholders: External innovation, Pipeline Filling & Sourcing colleagues; relevant NPI/LoB stakeholders; R&D Executive Office; GBD/Search & Evaluation; Ex-ternal Innovation China where relevant; R&D SMEs; Legal; Patents/IP; Finance; P&O; Compliance; R&D EI Decision Group where applicable.

External stakeholders: Biotech companies; academic groups; incubators; accelerators; platform companies; principal investigators; external scientific experts; venture/start-up ecosystem contacts and other partners relevant to sourcing, scouting and opportunity shaping.

Essential Functions

• Support ecosystem stimulation, scouting, evaluation, due diligence, and execution for external innovation opportunities for research and therapeutic discovery
• Drive efforts to identify, assess, and integrate cutting-edge science and technology into Novo Nordisk's innovation pipeline
• Monitor industry trends to ensure the organization maintains 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
• Work with our partnerships team and assist in managing collaborations, ensuring alignment with Novo Nordisk's strategic goals
• 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
• Support that scientific advancements are effectively communicated and translated into value-driven outcomes
• Collaborate with internal teams and the R&D External Innovation team to align on recommendations for evaluation and external partnership opportunities
• Partner with NPIs, internal stakeholders to ensure external innovation efforts complement existing projects and priorities
• Share knowledge of external insights into internal processes
• Align recommendations with internal teams and the R&D EI team to ensure cohesive decision-making on partnerships
• Identify R&D LoB needs and gaps to help prioritize EI focus areas
• Analyze R&D Line of Business (LoB) requirements to identify unmet needs and gaps
• Collaborate with internal teams, NPIs to define priorities for innovation adoption
• Provide insights to guide strategic planning and resource allocation for addressing identified gaps
• Scout for external opportunities to support pipeline needs
• Conduct systematic scouting for external innovations that align with pipeline requirements
• Evaluate potential opportunities for their ability to address specific organizational challenges
• Maintain a database of promising external opportunities for future consideration
• Build and maintain an external network in scientific expertise area
• Develop and maintain a robust network of experts, innovators, and organizations in scientific expertise area
• Participate in industry events and forums to strengthen Novo Nordisk's presence in the innovation ecosystem
• Leverage the external network to identify collaboration opportunities and gain early access to emerging technologies
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Responsible for collaborating with internal stakeholders across departments to align external innovation initiatives with organizational goals. Acts as a liaison with external partners, VCs, and scientific institutions
• Represent Novo Nordisk in early scientific or strategic partner discussions related to assigned opportunities, in coordination with EI&A leadership, NPI/LoB stakeholders and GBD/Search & Evaluation.

• Representation Scope
• Represents Novo Nordisk in external forums, conferences, and partnership discussions, showcasing the company’s commitment for scientific and business advancements
• Independence
• Operates both independently and with others to identify and assess emerging opportunities, while ensuring alignment with the broader strategic objectives of Novo Nordisk. Collaborates closely with R&D External Innovation to ensure effective evaluation and execution of external opportunities
• While no direct leadership is part of this role, the Associate Director, R&D External Innovation must be a clear role model and educate, create awareness and interests in external innovation 

Physical Requirements

Less than 10% overnight domestic and international travel required.

Qualifications

• Education + Required Experience

  • PhD from an accredited university and 5+ years of experience OR an MD from an accredited university and 1 year of experience in drug discovery/innovation in the pharmaceutical industry (biotech, pharma) required

• Experience
  
  • Experience in pharmaceutical R&D, external innovation, sourcing/scouting, strategic partnerships, scientific project shaping, portfolio strategy, business development support or early collaboration development.
  • Strong understanding of early R&D, NPI/LoB priorities, portfolio gaps and how external opportunities can contribute to future pipeline needs.
  • Experience translating scientific or portfolio needs into sourcing themes, opportunity briefs, project plans, collaboration proposals 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, budget/resource implications and decision asks.
  • High degree of personal motivation and proactivity, able to influence without authority, and operate comfortably in ambiguity
  • Ability to spot emerging trends and external innovation opportunities.
  • Analytical skills for conducting cost-benefit analyses
  • Experience interacting with external partners, biotech companies, academic groups, incubators, accelerators or external scientific experts during sourcing/scouting or opportunity shaping.
  • Experience developing or improving sourcing/scouting playbooks, NPI interface models, templates, operating models or governance processes is an advantage.
  • Strategic and structured, with strong ability to translate ambiguity into clear next steps.
  • Strong external orientation and ability to spot relevant opportunities aligned to R&D needs.
  • Strong stakeholder management and ability to align across NPI/LoB, EI&A and enabling functions.
  • Clear written and verbal communication, including concise executive-level materials.

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 View phone number on us.fitly.work. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.