Associate Project Director - Global Drug Discovery

About the Department
Our US Research & Development hub, located in the Greater Boston area, brings together the best talent to drive life science innovation. Located in Lexington, Watertown and Cambridge, our teams reflect the full scope of R&D, from early research through late-stage clinical development. We are building for the future by 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. By combining the speed and agility of biotech with the quality, resources, and stability of a large pharmaceutical company, our US R&D hub will benefit from the best of both worlds to develop new medicines that meet the needs of patients.
The Position
Global Drug Discovery (GDD) is establishing a dedicated microphysiological systems (MPS) department in Watertown with the purpose of identifying and integrating the next generation of human disease models into our drug discovery efforts within cardiometabolic disease. The department will be anchored in the Integrated Physiology Research area and will have strong integration with the biology areas across GDD.
The Associate Project Director will be part of a highly ambitious multidisciplinary team dedicated to setting up and implementing human cell-based disease relevant MPS platforms to support validation and progression of early drug candidates. The position will report to the Head of the MPS. Working closely with the cardiometabolic therapeutic areas across Research & Early Development (R&ED) organization the individual will lead the organ-specific disease model development efforts with the initial focus of developing multicellular cardiometabolic disease models. In addition, the Ass. Project Director will help establish this new unit by setting scientific direction and utilizing its strong international network. The individual will drive the in vitro technology development in multidisciplinary teams, guiding junior scientists, and working closely with the external partners on specific model development projects. The Ass. Project Director will help set scientific direction and help shape the growing department.
Relationships
The Associate Project Director will report to the head of the Microphysiological Systems (MPS) department at Novo Nordisk in Greater Boston
Internal relationships include working closely with scientists within the MPS department as well as with the head of MPS. Moreover, the individual will work with scientists within the cardiometabolic therapeutic areas across the global Research & Early Development (R&ED) organization, with project managers, and with Therapy Area Heads.
The Associate Project Director will have significant interaction with potential external research collaborators both academia- & industry.
Essential Functions

• Conduct a comprehensive analysis of commercially available microphysiological systems for studying obesity and cardiometabolic diseases.
• Identify and evaluate potential academic and/or industry partners with expertise in in vitro systems to understand the value propositions of different microphysiological systems and their relevance to Novo Nordisk's strategic goals.
• Assess the feasibility of utilizing individual organ-specific microphysiological systems for research and development purposes.
• Provide strategic recommendations based on the analysis of the external landscape and academic partnerships to support the department's objectives.
• Drive and lead external collaborations with an emphasis on merging the internal (Novo) capabilities in biology and disease understanding to the best technical/engineering solution in the external collaboration.
• Following external collaboration and adjust to ensure continued alignment with internal MPS development strategy.
• Advice on the strategy and decisions wrt. Timing of internalizing capabilities vs. utilizing external expertise.
• Help with financial modeling and deal structuring for MPS partnerships/ collaborations on a as needed basis.

Qualifications

• PhD with 10 years relevant industry or post-doctorate experience OR Master's Degree with 16 years relevant industry or post-doctorate experience OR Bachelors with 22+ years' relevant experience can be considered
• A strong background in biomedical sciences, bioengineering, or a related field with a deep understanding of microphysiological systems and their applications in studying obesity and cardiometabolic diseases.
• Demonstrated business acumen with the ability to assess the commercial viability and strategic relevance of different microphysiological systems.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including academic partners and industry experts.
• Advanced analytical and critical thinking abilities to evaluate and synthesize complex scientific and business information for decision-making purposes.
• Flair for navigating a complex matrix organization with multiple stakeholders and a talent for leveraging internal competencies in broad cross-functional collaborations.

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.
At Novo Nordisk we recognize that it is no longer good enough to aspire to be the best company in the world. We need to aspire to be the best company for the world and we know that this is only possible with talented employees with diverse perspectives, backgrounds and cultures. We are therefore committed to creating an inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity of our employees, the patients we serve and communities we operate in. Together, we're life changing.
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.
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