Associate Director - R&D External Innovation
Novo Nordisk
August 18, 2026
On-site
Cambridge, MA
Clinical Research and Development
The Associate Director, External Innovation provides scientific expertise to support R&D External Innovation Partnerships and drives an externally anchored project portfolio (sourcing innovative opportunities, early-stage partnerships, and recommendations aligned with Novo Nordisk R&D Lines of Business).
Responsibilities:
- Identify, scout, shape, and mature external innovation opportunities; translate R&D/NPI/LoB priorities into sourcing focus areas.
- Integrate cutting-edge science/technology into the innovation pipeline; monitor industry trends.
- Evaluate emerging technologies/platforms (feasibility, scalability, impact) and recommend opportunities.
- Prepare governance-ready decision materials (opportunity summaries, project plans, risks, budgets/resource implications, decision asks) and maintain transparency on pipeline status.
- Foster strategic partnerships with external stakeholders (VCs, incubators, startups, technology providers); act as liaison and represent Novo Nordisk in early discussions.
- Translate advancements into actionable solutions; develop frameworks to measure partnership/acquisition impact.
- Identify LoB needs/gaps to prioritize EI focus areas; conduct systematic scouting and maintain an opportunities database.
Qualifications & Skills:
- PhD with 5+ years (or MD/DO with 1+ year); alternatively BA with 9+ years or MS with 7+ years.
- Experience in pharmaceutical R&D, external innovation/sourcing/scouting, strategic partnerships, project shaping/portfolio strategy, and business development/early collaboration.
- Ability to translate scientific/portfolio needs into sourcing themes, briefs, proposals, and governance-ready recommendations; strong cross-functional stakeholder collaboration.
- Strong analytical skills (e.g., cost-benefit), executive-level communication, and influence without authority; comfortable in ambiguity.
- Experience working with biotech/academia/incubators/accelerators; developing sourcing/scouting playbooks/templates is an advantage.
Travel: <10% overnight domestic/international.
Compensation/Benefits (as stated): Base pay $152,700–$267,300; eligible for bonus and long-term incentives/vehicles. Benefits include medical/dental/vision, life/disability, 401(k), flexible spending, EAP, tuition reimbursement, and voluntary benefits (plus sick time, flexible vacation, parental leave).
Responsibilities:
- Identify, scout, shape, and mature external innovation opportunities; translate R&D/NPI/LoB priorities into sourcing focus areas.
- Integrate cutting-edge science/technology into the innovation pipeline; monitor industry trends.
- Evaluate emerging technologies/platforms (feasibility, scalability, impact) and recommend opportunities.
- Prepare governance-ready decision materials (opportunity summaries, project plans, risks, budgets/resource implications, decision asks) and maintain transparency on pipeline status.
- Foster strategic partnerships with external stakeholders (VCs, incubators, startups, technology providers); act as liaison and represent Novo Nordisk in early discussions.
- Translate advancements into actionable solutions; develop frameworks to measure partnership/acquisition impact.
- Identify LoB needs/gaps to prioritize EI focus areas; conduct systematic scouting and maintain an opportunities database.
Qualifications & Skills:
- PhD with 5+ years (or MD/DO with 1+ year); alternatively BA with 9+ years or MS with 7+ years.
- Experience in pharmaceutical R&D, external innovation/sourcing/scouting, strategic partnerships, project shaping/portfolio strategy, and business development/early collaboration.
- Ability to translate scientific/portfolio needs into sourcing themes, briefs, proposals, and governance-ready recommendations; strong cross-functional stakeholder collaboration.
- Strong analytical skills (e.g., cost-benefit), executive-level communication, and influence without authority; comfortable in ambiguity.
- Experience working with biotech/academia/incubators/accelerators; developing sourcing/scouting playbooks/templates is an advantage.
Travel: <10% overnight domestic/international.
Compensation/Benefits (as stated): Base pay $152,700–$267,300; eligible for bonus and long-term incentives/vehicles. Benefits include medical/dental/vision, life/disability, 401(k), flexible spending, EAP, tuition reimbursement, and voluntary benefits (plus sick time, flexible vacation, parental leave).