Job Description

Associate Director Market Access & Corporate Affairs

South Africa

Shape the future of healthcare access in South Africa, influence national policy, and unlock access to innovative medicines ensuring millions of patients can access the treatments that will change their lives!

Your new role

As Associate Director Market Access & Corporate Affairs, you'll lead the strategic vision for how Novo Nordisk's therapies reach patients across South Africa. You'll be the architect of market access strategies that balance innovation, sustainability, and patient need – while protecting and advancing our reputation with the stakeholders who matter most.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and executing innovative market access strategies that integrate pricing, reimbursement, and other channels than unlock access for more patients
• Building and maintaining strategic relationships with payers, insurers, government departments, and reimbursement influencers to advocate for fair and sustainable access to our therapies and supporting access to innovative care
• Overseeing pricing and reimbursement activities, including conducting quantitative and qualitative research to inform strategy and optimise outcomes
• Collaborating with Health Economics and Outcomes Research teams to design studies that support compelling payer value propositions
• Leading integrated communications across all channels – shaping clear, consistent narratives for government, media, employees, and the public
• Monitoring evolving reimbursement systems and healthcare landscapes to capitalise on opportunities and proactively address compliance challenges
• Representing Novo Nordisk in internal forums and external platforms, ensuring alignment and effective stakeholder engagement

Your new department

Within International Operations, Market Access & Corporate Affairs plays a pivotal role in ensuring our innovative therapies reach the patients who need them most. We work at the intersection of science, policy, and economics – translating clinical value into access strategies that work within South Africa's unique healthcare landscape. Our team operates with high autonomy, collaborating across Medical, Regulatory, and Commercial functions to deliver outcomes that matter for patients, payers, and our business.

Your skills & qualifications

We're looking for a strategic leader who thrives at the intersection of healthcare policy, economics, and stakeholder engagement. You'll bring with you:

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Business, Economics, or related field required; advanced degree (MSc, MBA, or PhD) strongly preferred
• Minimum 8+ years of leadership experience in market access, pricing, reimbursement, and corporate affairs within the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing innovative market access strategies, including payer engagement and health economic modelling
• In-depth knowledge of health technology assessment (HTA) processes, evidence-based medicine, and reimbursement systems
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills with proven ability to build relationships with payers, government bodies, and reimbursement decision-makers
• Strong analytical capabilities to interpret complex research and make data-driven decisions that optimise market uptake
• Outstanding communication skills to articulate complex scientific and economic concepts to diverse audiences, from policymakers to clinical leaders
• Strategic thinking combined with problem-solving agility to navigate South Africa's evolving healthcare landscape

Working at Novo Nordisk

Every day we seek the solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. To do this, we approach our work with determination, constant curiosity, and a commitment to finding better ways forward. For over 100 years, this dedication has driven us to build a company focused on lasting change for long-term health. One where diverse thinking, shared purpose and mutual respect come together to create extraordinary results. In this role, you'll have the autonomy to shape strategy, the influence to change policy, and the opportunity to ensure our life-changing therapies reach every patient who needs them. When you join us, you're not just starting a job – you're becoming part of a story that spans generations.

What we offer

There is, of course, more on offer here than the uniqueness of our culture and the extraordinary results we produce. Being part of a global healthcare company means opportunities to learn and develop are all around us, while our benefits are designed with your career and life stage in mind.

Deadline

May 10th, 2026

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.