Vice President, Communication and Corporate Affairs, Novo Nordisk Rare Disease

About the Department

Novo Nordisk Rare Disease is a unit within the leading global healthcare company Novo Nordisk, dedicated to combating rare blood and endocrine disorders. Our mission is to drive change by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, enhancing access to our medicines, and striving for disease prevention and eventual cures.

With over 4,000 employees across 14 global sites, we deliver marketed products to more than 100 countries while ensuring a robust development pipeline. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, our Rare Disease Global commercial unit boasts over 150 passionate professionals working closely with the broader organization. We leverage our unique position within Novo Nordisk, embracing the flexibility of a biotech to foster limitless innovation. Our team values agility and the equilibrium between vision and action.

The Role

The incoming leader will be instrumental in shaping communications and corporate affairs at Novo Nordisk Rare Disease. Reporting to the Senior Vice President (SVP) of Rare Disease, this position is integral to the leadership team.

Key Responsibilities

• Public Affairs and External Communications:
  • Collaborate with the Rare Disease leadership team to create and implement strategic external affairs plans addressing critical advocacy, public policy, and business issues.
  • Develop and integrate sustainability strategies for the Rare Disease portfolio.
  • Plan and execute external communication strategies in line with Rare Disease and Novo Nordisk corporate objectives.
  • Manage media relations, patient advocacy, and public affairs strategies, ensuring effective content and campaign management across owned social channels and websites.
• Internal Communications and Engagement:
  • Facilitate timely and professional internal communication related to Rare Disease ambitions and business priorities.
  • Support leadership with tools for employee communication and organization of internal events.
  • Drive internal communication initiatives linked to key projects within Rare Disease.
  • Enhance collaboration by integrating corporate messaging programs to strengthen the Rare Disease narrative.
  • Ensure effective internal news flow and communication channels within the Rare Disease team globally.
• Customer Engagement:
  • Establish strategic direction for participation in Rare Disease congresses and events, leading implementation for optimum business impact.
  • Guarantee a seamless experience for attendees, whether in-person or virtual.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be a seasoned corporate affairs leader with a background in a multinational pharmaceutical or biotechnology organization. The following qualifications are essential:

• Over 15 years of experience in global communication and advocacy.
• A minimum of 5 years in a leadership role, with a proven track record of fostering high-performing communications teams.
• Successful record of developing and executing global public affairs and patient advocacy strategies.
• Experience in providing strategic communication counsel to senior management.
• Familiarity with rare diseases, including launch and pre-launch communication experience.
• Strong understanding of public and government affairs, along with established relationships with global policymakers (EU, US, emerging markets).
• Demonstrated ability to innovate communication strategies while staying updated on emerging trends and technologies.
• A collaborative approach with the ability to influence in complex, matrix organizations while maintaining a global perspective.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will exhibit a strong analytical mindset with the ability to navigate both high-level overviews and detailed insights. Dedication, agility, and appreciation for cultural diversity will define their leadership approach. They will thrive under diverse responsibilities and tight deadlines, bringing organization to their work. A curious and scientifically inclined individual, they will also possess solid business acumen and the capability to energize through networking and diverse stakeholder engagement. Passionate and engaged, their focus will be on driving impact, generating solutions, continuous improvement, and delivering exceptional results.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Novo Nordisk is dedicated to fostering an inclusive recruitment process that provides equal opportunity for all applicants. We aspire to be not only the best company in the world but also the best company for the world. This vision can only be realized with talented employees who bring diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and cultures. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity of our workforce, the patients we serve, and the communities we touch. Together, we are making a life-changing impact.