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Are you a scientific leader who thrives applying the latest scientific insights and driving impact to improve drug discovery pipelines and patient outcomes?

We are on the journey to revolutionize Cardiovascular and Renal Disease research. Novo Nordisk is in a unique position to bring medicines to cardiorenal patients due to our investment and focus only in cardiometabolic disorders (obesity, diabetes, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, MASH, chronic kidney disease), and rare blood and endocrine disorders.

As Novo Nordisk has conducted large cardiovascular outcome trials to study the efficacy and safety of incretins with biosampling and omic profiling – we have the world’s best datasets on cardiorenal patients and their response to incretins.

Cardiorenal is a relatively new therapy area within Novo Nordisk with a leadership position in modulation of inflammatory processes within cardiovascular disease and an exciting and innovative early pipeline concentrating on non-lipid modes of action. This means, there is an opportunity to harness data science and the latest disease understanding to bring meaningful clinical benefit to patients.

If you have a passion for emerging research trends in cardiovascular and renal disease areas, as well as an eye for scientific excellence, this is your opportunity to step into a highly strategic role and make a significant impact on global health. Read more and apply today if this appeals to you.

About the department

The Corporate Vice President (CVP) of the Therapy Area, Cardiovascular and Renal Disease reports directly to the Executive Vice President for Research & Early Development.

The Research & Early Development (R&ED) department is a truly global organisation that promotes cross-site collaboration and access to external expertise. We are a collaborative global team of more than 2,600 scientists and professional specialists, based at 13 sites in five countries.

CV&RD is dedicated to prolonging the lives of people living with cardiovascular and renal disease by applying cutting edge science to discover vastly better drugs. With a focus on inflammation and immunomodulation, the unit’s innovative mindset is focused on prioritising and executing projects that align with its patient-centric approach to therapy development.

With an international organisation of 60+ talented people across Denmark, the UK, and the US, the Therapy Area key pillars are research biology, early projects, translational data science, and internal and external projects. Capabilities within the department include in vitro and in vivo biology, project leadership, data science and translational disease understanding. The department collaborates intensely across the organisation to access capabilities such as expertise in modality development, machine learning and data architecture, clinical development and business development.

The position

As the Research Vice President (VP), Cardiovascular and Renal Disease (CV&RD) Scientific Leader, you are the Subject Matter Expert highlighting and solving for scientific challenges within our pipeline projects. Bringing deep scientific understanding in the cardiovascular space, you will take on the responsibility for convening thought-leaders and industry experts across academia to drive internal decision making, as well as inform on emerging trends and their application to drug discovery and development.

You will be reporting to the Corporate Vice President (CVP) of the Therapy Area, Cardiovascular and Renal Disease. You will also represent the Therapy Area of CV&RD in initiatives across the value chain.

This position can be based in Denmark (Måløv) or the UK (Oxford).

Key responsibilities

Above all, we are looking for an excellent and creative scientist and expert research executive within cardiovascular who builds strategies and partnerships with the relevant scientific community internally and externally. As a leader you excel and thrive in a complex global stakeholder landscape and have an eye for breakthrough scientific methods.

As Research Vice President you will:

  • Be responsible for aligning strategies in close partnership with the Therapy area extended leadership, as well as a close collaboration across the value chain.
  • Drive informed strategic decision making through an evaluation of internal and external opportunities and available resources for pre-clinical and clinical development in CV&RD.
  • Identify and solve for blockers in pipeline progress (e.g., lack of pre-clinical models, early mitigations for safety risks or surrogate endpoints in early clinical studies) through deep scientific understanding and network of academic leaders.
  • Represent the Therapy Area and its Research and Early Development strategy as an authoritative scientific voice with development and commercial partners.
  • Inform on emerging trends through a deep knowledge of academic science and competitor activity.
  • Lead through innovation and ambition by identifying and evaluating cutting-edge research methodologies to enhance Novo Nordisk’s strategic capabilities, streamline research operations, and improve efficiency and pragmatism.

Qualifications

We are looking for a candidate with the following qualifications:

  • PhD degree in a relevant scientific field with a publication record. An MD degree is beneficial.
  • At least 15 years of experience in applied and/or emerging CardioRenal drug discovery or development in industry and/or applied academia. A combined experience in both industry and academia is an advantage.
  • Extensive research experience in cardiovascular related diseases is a must. Relevant experience in inflammation or immunomodulation topics within the cardiovascular field is a plus.
  • A proven track record of successfully leading and implementing strategic initiatives for purposes of therapeutic discovery or development.
  • A professional network within industry and academia.
  • Fluency in both spoken and written English.

As an individual, you are pioneering and curious, driven by a passion to make a tangible and positive impact for patients. You have a strategic vision for research processes, and an analytical thinking approach to work with complex data and research trends. As an ambitious leader, you thrive in proactive stakeholder engagement, maintaining and building strong relationships with industry and academic leaders internally and externally, leveraging on effective communication and collaboration.

Contact and Deadline

For further information please contact Executive Search Partner Connie Tode at ctod@novonordisk.com or get to know us better by visiting www.novonordisk.com/careers.

Please submit your application via our online application tool latest by 30 June 2025.

You do not need to attach a cover letter to your application, but please include a few sentences about why you are applying in your CV. To ensure an efficient and fair recruitment process, please refrain from adding a photo in your CV.

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

Working at Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company with a 100-year legacy of driving change to defeat serious chronic diseases. Building on our strong legacy within diabetes, we are growing massively and expanding our commitment, reaching millions around the world and impacting more than 40 million patient lives daily. All of this has made us one of the 20 most valuable companies in the world by market cap. Our success relies on the joint potential and collaboration of our more than 72,000 employees around the world. We recognise the importance of the unique skills and perspectives our people bring to the table, and we work continuously to bring out the best in them. Working at Novo Nordisk, we’re working toward something bigger than ourselves, and it’s a collective effort. Join us! Together, we go further. Together, we’re life changing.

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

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