Scientific Director - Obesity & Cardiometabolic Disease

About the Department

Our Research & Development organization brings together the best minds in life science innovation. The teams located in facilities in Lexington, Watertown, Cambridge and Plainsboro reflect the full R&D continuum, from early research through late-stage clinical development. Here, we are building for the future, 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. Our R&D hub merges biotech speed and agility with large pharmaceutical company quality, resources, and stability, uniting the best of both worlds to develop new medicines for patients.

The Position

Global Research is advancing a portfolio of discovery stage programs in obesity and cardiometabolic disease, and obesity-related co morbidities (MASH, CVD, Women’s Health). The organization integrates deep disease biology, human translational science, external innovation and cross-functional drug discovery to accelerate the development of differentiated therapies for people living with chronic disease. The Scientific Director will serve as a senior scientific leader and cardiometabolic disease subject matter expert. Reporting to the Senior Director of Obesity Research US, the Scientific Director will help define and execute the scientific strategy for address obesity, quality of weight loss and associated co-morbidities. The role will provide strategic scientific innovation leadership across Obesity Research US, lead external innovation and due-diligence activities, and drive high-impact academic collaborations with clear scientific, operational and decision-making deliverables. The individual will operate with a high degree of autonomy, influence portfolio and platform strategy, and lead cross-functional teams to deliver timely, decision-enabling data and new innovative projects for the pipeline.

Relationships

The Scientific Director will report to the senior director of Obesity Research US at Novo Nordisk in the Boston area.

Internal relationships include senior scientists and leaders across Global Research, including innovation groups within Obesity and Obesity related co-morbidities, Chemistry, Translational Medicine, Clinical Development, Data Science, Project Management, Business Development and Search & Evaluation. The role will work across global sites to align scientific strategy, priorities and execution.

The Scientific Director will establish and lead strategic interactions with external experts, academic investigators, biotechnology companies, technology providers and other innovation partners. The individual will represent Novo Nordisk in scientific forums and may provide scientific leadership, mentoring and development to colleagues and project-team members.

Essential Functions

Serve as the senior scientific subject matter expert in cardiometabolic disease, obesity and related co-morbidities, with particular depth in CNS disease mechanisms, human translational research and quality of weight loss.

Define and execute a scientifically rigorous strategy for innovation within Obesity and Obesity-related co-morbidities, relevant in vitro strategy emphasizing translational endpoints and decision frameworks that advance the early cardiometabolic and obesity discovery portfolio.

Lead scientific strategy for assessing quality of weight loss, including preservation of lean mass, body composition, metabolic health, functional outcomes and co-morbidity-relevant biology.

Provide expert scientific leadership to multidisciplinary project teams; translate emerging biology, CNS driven mechanisms and technology opportunities into clear, actionable research plans and portfolio decisions.

Drive important collaboration between therapeutics discovery (chemistry) regarding small molecule, siRNA, and novel modalities.

Operate autonomously on complex, strategically important problems; anticipate scientific and business challenges and recommend innovative solutions with broad impact across global research and Obesity & Cardiometabolic Research.

Drive external innovation evaluations and scientific due diligence of targets, platforms, technologies and potential partnerships in cardiometabolic disease and obesity; synthesize findings into clear recommendations for senior leadership.

Identify, shape, negotiate and govern academic collaborations and strategic partnerships; define scope, milestones, decision points, data standards, and clear, measurable deliverables.

Build and maintain an international network of academic and industry experts; represent Novo Nordisk through scientific presentations, publications, patent contributions and participation in external scientific forums.

Collaborate effectively across a global organization, aligning scientific strategy and execution with therapeutic-area leaders, project teams and enabling functions across sites.

Lead global, cross-functional teams and workstreams to achieve program milestones; ensure work is scientifically robust, appropriately prioritized and delivered to agreed timelines.

Mentor and develop junior and senior colleagues; promote rigorous scientific standards, knowledge sharing and an inclusive, high-performing research culture.

Physical Requirements

5-10% overnight travel required.

Qualifications

• PhD from an accredited university and 7+ years of experience required. Equivalent experience requirements for advanced degrees would be an MD/DO from an accredited university and 3+ years of experience
• Required Experience includes:
  • Deep scientific expertise in cardiometabolic disease, obesity and related co-morbidities, including a strong understanding of disease biology, translational research and small molecule, siRNA and other novel therapeutic modalities.
  • Demonstrated experience working in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology setting and influencing drug discovery or development strategy is required.
• Proven track record of coordinating and obtaining buy-in from internal & external stakeholders
• Ability to influence without direct authority, align cross-functional teams, and drive results globally
• A strong team player that brings people along through a supportive, engaged, & creative way of working
• Role models the Novo Way, encouraging a culture of engagement & dedication
• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication, strategic thinking, scientific judgment, stakeholder management and the ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse internal and external audiences.
• Preferred experience includes:
  • Leading external innovation, scientific due diligence and/or search and evaluation; establishing and governing academic collaborations with explicit milestones and deliverables; and leading complex, global, cross-functional scientific teams.
  • Experience with human translational models, translational biomarkers, body composition, muscle biology, CNS biology, metabolic disease or related technologies is strongly preferred.

The base compensation range for this position is $200,000 to $290,000. Base compensation is determined based on a number of factors. This position is also eligible for a company bonus based on individual and company performance. Novo Nordisk offers long-term incentive compensation and or company vehicles depending on the position's level or other company factors.