Job Description

Associate Director International Operations Business Development (IO BD) Transactions

At Novo Nordisk, we have an increased strategic focus on reaching more patients with our therapies through business development and partnering.

Do you have a passion to drive transactions across traditional commercial Partnerships, e-health & e-commerce partnerships and strategic Projects that align with the consumerization strategy in a pharmaceutical company? Then do not miss the opportunity to join us as our new Associate Director Transactions, IO BD.

The Position

The Associate Director Transactions, IO BD will have responsibility for evaluating external commercial partnerships, e-health and e-commerce partnership opportunities, building business case and leading through deal execution to support Novo Nordisk’s commercial products and commercial strategy. The AD Transactions regularly interfaces with area heads in Global Commercial, HQ functions, International Operations, and senior management. This position is at the epicentre of the evolving commercial landscape and is critical in helping identify, evaluate, and weigh-in on opportunities in the marketplace.

• As our new Associate Director Transactions, you will have the following key responsibilities: Lead end-to-end evaluation and due diligence of new global partnering opportunities across commercial partnerships (e.g., co-commercialization, diagnostics, digital health, data sharing, health care institutions) for Novo Nordisk’s current and future portfolio.
• Drive deal strategy and execution to support commercial product growth and IO consumerization objectives, including deal structure and financials informed by valuation, risk, and diligence outcomes.
• Act as a strategic sparring partner to embed partnering into commercial planning—identifying and prioritizing future opportunities and ensuring partnering is considered at relevant decision points.
• Ensure effective cross-functional collaboration to plan and execute healthcare partnership projects on time, aligned with Global Commercial priorities and agreed requirements.
• Secure stakeholder alignment and decision-making across senior management and cross-functional teams (Regulatory, Legal, Medical, Finance, Pricing, Marketing, Operations—IO/Regional/Country), including participation in key executive briefings.
• Lead significant renegotiations and settlement agreements when required.
• Serve as an internal partnering anchor by fostering networking and knowledge transfer with other Novo Nordisk Partnering teams and managing key external interactions.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of partnering strategy, processes, and governance.
• Build organizational transaction and negotiation capabilities by developing and delivering training materials.

Qualifications

• A master’s degree in Life Science, Business, Economics or another relevant field

• 10+ of relevant experience in pharmaceutical organizations and Business Development is required

• Demonstrated track record of leading projects and deals for multiple collaborations, commercialisation and transactions involving external partners

• Demonstrated record of presenting to senior management of partnership opportunities

• Demonstrated ability to build rapport with functional area leaders

• Demonstrated ability to influence senior management, converting a “no” to a “yes”

• Proven ability to lead all elements of due diligence, building business case and deal structuring

• Thorough knowledge of the pharmaceutical business incl. diagnostics, digital health and new product launches; understanding of Novo Nordisk’s therapeutic areas will be preferred

• Firm understanding of multicultural impact on business relationships including experience in working in an international context and environment

• Direct or indirect leadership or people management experience in industry or biotech is preferred

• Strong analytical skills required to provide sound inputs into financial evaluations

• Ability to identify and prioritize risks across functional areas, weigh those appropriately with benefits of investment, and effectively frame business decisions for senior management

• Strong communication and presentation skills

About the department

The International Operations Business Development team partners with the commercial organisation to drive excellence in identification, evaluation, creation and execution of strategic partnerships that maximise potential of Novo Nordisk’s commercial products by facilitating best-in-class deal making.

The International Operations Business Development team is anchored in Business Integrity Legal Development (BILD) department based in Novo Nordisk’s IO Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.  

IO Business Development is the business development unit of Novo Nordisk’s International Operations. Here, we gather best-in-class strategists, analysts, dealmakers, and specialists in deal management to form a team of future-focused experts. We define our partnering strategy, forge external collaborations, and bring in innovation and companies that share our purpose, mission, and values. ​Our culture of teamwork, transparency, and accountability drives our work to enable leaps of transformation beyond ordinary incremental changes. That’s why we embrace the transformative power of partnerships and collaboration. ​For us, alliances come down to creating more value than we could accomplish independently. More scientific and commercial breakthroughs. More discoveries. More expertise. More impact.

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 preventing 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.