Job Description

Associate Director, Quality and Quality Responsible Person/Fachtechnisch verantwortliche Person (FvP) – Novo Nordisk Health Care AG, Rare Disease Operations

Are you passionate about quality, business understanding, and finding smarter, better ways to work? Do you want to shape the future of Quality in Novo Nordisk for the benefit of our patients across the world? Are you ready for the responsibility of serving as Quality partner to executive leadership, and as Quality Responsible Person (QRP)/Fachtechnisch verantwortliche Person (FvP)?

If so, this is a unique opportunity to join an ambitious, collaborative team in which you will be Quality lead and QRP/FvP for Novo Nordisk Health Care AG (NNHCAG), headquarters for the Novo Nordisk Global Rare Disease business unit.

About the organization and team

The Rare Disease business unit of Novo Nordisk is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with hubs in Denmark, Turkey, India, and the US. We are focused on improving the lives of people with serious chronic rare diseases. Patients are at the centre of everything we do. Our vision is to be a leader in rare blood disorders and rare endocrine disorders. We live the Novo Nordisk Way and draw on the company’s rich heritage. Our working environment is entrepreneurial and fast-paced, and we are an ambitious team that values curiosity and generosity. If this spirit is appealing to you, then we may be the right place for you.

You will be part of a small but mighty 5-person team of legal, compliance, and quality professionals spread out over Zurich, Denmark, and Bangalore, India. The team is anchored in the Rare Disease business unit and reports directly to the executive leadership of the business unit.

The Position

As QRP/FvP, you will be the main contact on Quality Assurance (QA) topics to customers and external bodies (e.g., Swissmedic) and responsible for the quality of distributed medicinal products (GMP/GDP). You will also serve as the Quality lead for the Rare Disease organization and Quality partner and strategic advisor to the executive leadership of the business unit. Your focus will be on securing our License to Operate, maintaining patient trust, and enabling GMP/GDP compliant business growth.

Key responsibilities:

• Ensure Inspection readiness of the applicable Operational License activities
• Maintain the Quality Management System, including GxP training and local quality records
• Mature the NNHCAG/Rare Disease Quality strategy and lead change projects
• Lead Quality Management Review and engage in process confirmations to identify process improvements
• Advise organization on Novo Nordisk Quality Management System and external regulations
• Foster Quality understanding in the organization
• Engage in key business initiatives with GxP implications or major risk to patient safety, product quality and compliance
• Handle and approve Deviations and Change Requests

As the QRP/FvP, according to the Swiss Medicinal Products Licensing Ordinance and the Swissmedic Technical Interpretation, you will:

• Have the authority to issue directives and to take decisions with regards to their responsibilities, independently of Novo Nordisk Management and the Rare Disease management team.
• Ensure Quality Assurance related compliance with all National and International Regulations (e.g. MPLO, Cantonal Laws and Regulations etc.) and internal regulations.
• Decide independently of Novo Nordisk Management and the Rare Disease management team on disposition of rejected, recalled, falsified and expired products.

The position is based in Zurich.

Qualifications

1. Educational background

• • degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Medicine, Biology, Microbiology; advanced degrees (e.g., Master's, PhD) preferred
  • Professional certifications (e.g., Certified Lean Six Sigma, Quality Auditor) and membership in relevant professional bodies can be an advantage

1. Regulatory Expertise:

• • Knowledge of Swiss and EU Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines
  • Familiarity with other international requirements, e.g., FDA regulations, ICH guidelines, and ISO standards
  • In-depth understanding quality systems, and pharmaceutical regulations

2. Experience:

• • 5-10 years in pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality assurance, or quality control, with several years in a supervisory or QA/QP role
  • Experience in a global or multi-national pharma or biotech company
  • Experience with sterile manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals, and complex product types (e.g., biologics, gene therapy) is highly desirable

3. Skills:

• • Proficiency in risk management and compliance auditing
  • Strong knowledge of product development, manufacturing processes, validation, and batch release procedures
  • Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and decision-making ability
  • Strong project management skills and ability to execute in a complex, fast-moving environment

4. Personal Attributes:

• • High ethical standards and integrity
  • Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally and influence teams
  • Ability to handle pressure, work independently, and make critical decisions in line with regulatory requirements
  • Proactive attitude and high level of initiative in anticipating challenges and opportunities and actively seeks out ways to improve processes
  • Pragmatic, solution-oriented approach and sense of business partnership
  • Commitment to ongoing professional development and keeping up-to-date with changes in regulations, guidelines, and industry best practices

5. Language Skills:

• • Fluency in English
  • Proficiency in German required , French, Italian, or Romansch is an advantage

Working at Novo Nordisk 

Novo Nordisk is its people. We know that life is anything but linear, and balancing what is important at different stages of our career is never easy. That’s why we make room for diverse life situations, always putting people first. We value our employees for the unique skills they bring to the table, and we work continuously to bring out the best in them. Working at Novo Nordisk is working toward something bigger than ourselves, and it’s a collective effort. Novo Nordisk relies on the joint potential and collaboration of its more than 60,000 employees. Together, we go further. Together, we’re life-changing.

Deadline 

26 March 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.