Corporate Vice President, Global Medical Affairs, Rare Disease

Corporate Vice President, Global Medical Affairs, Rare Disease

Are you an esteemed and forward-thinking leader in the medical affairs arena, driven by a passion to bring about meaningful change for patients? Do you have a demonstrated history of implementing impactful medical strategies within specialty care? We are in search of an outstanding leader to guide our Global Medical Affairs function for Novo Nordisk Rare Disease. Read on and apply today. 

About the department 

Novo Nordisk Rare Disease is a unit within the leading global healthcare company Novo Nordisk. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat rare blood and endocrine disorders. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. 

Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, our Rare Disease unit has approximately 4000 employees across 14 sites around the world and products marketed in over 100 countries as well as a strong development pipeline. Whilst we benefit from our unique positioning as part of the Novo Nordisk stronghold, we possess the flexibility of a biotech enabling us to innovate without limits. As a unit we pride ourselves on being agile and able to strike a balance between vision and action. 

The Global Medical Affairs department of Rare Disease is of strategic importance for the unit. We are highly regarded internally and externally for our pursuit of medical excellence and exceptional quality standards. Our team consists of approximately 55 highly qualified professionals spread across several geographies and has grown to cover the full value chain of medical affairs including external engagement, scientific communication, evidence generation, and medical excellence. 

The position 

Reporting directly to the Executive Vice President (EVP) for Rare Disease at Novo Nordisk, the Corporate Vice President (CVP) for Global Medical Affairs within Rare Disease is accountable for the following:

• Strategic Leadership: Set strategic direction for global medical affairs initiatives, drive the development and execution of global medical strategies for rare disease therapies, ensuring alignment with the Rare Disease strategy and a strong focus on medical excellence. 
• Organisational Leadership: Lead, inspire, and develop the Global Medical Affairs team within Rare Disease. Drive performance and growth across the area, team, and broader Medical Affairs network (particularly in the regions). Drive standards and expectations for medical affairs activities in connection with launches within our therapy areas. Provide coaching and support, fostering adaptability, quality decision-making and a focus on continuous improvement. 
• External Engagement and Advocacy: Foster strong, credible relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs), International Professional Associations (IPAs) and Medical Experts, identifying scientific opportunities, ensuring proper scientific communication and strategic alignment with brand strategies. Represent the company at scientific forums, advisory boards, and medical conferences within the rare disease space. Provide medical education among Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) through scientific meetings and symposia. 
• Advancing Clinical Development: Drive Real World Evidence (RWE) initiatives for Rare Disease, Medical Education strategy/plans, Medical Guidance and ensure support to rare blood and rare endocrine clinical activities and proper handling of Investigators Sponsored Studies process and grant requests. 
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including product development, regulatory affairs, pharmacoeconomics, marketing and safety etc., ensuring comprehensive alignment and integration of medical affairs strategies for rare disease therapeutics. 
• Contribute to Rare Disease Leadership: Actively participate and contribute as a valuable member of the Rare Disease Leadership Team, offering insights, expertise, and strategic guidance to advance the organization’s rare disease initiatives. 

The role is based in Zurich, Switzerland. 

Qualifications 

You are an accomplished global leader in medical affairs within a large pharmaceutical company or biotech, with over a decade of experience in the discipline ideally focused on specialty care. 

In addition, you possess: 

• A proven track record for successfully leading and developing a high-performing global medical affairs function, ideally in a similarly complex, global matrix environment.
• A proven track record for successful involvement in multiple global launch processes.
• A proven track record of positively influencing clinical practices and transforming disease treatment methodologies.
• A history of proactive and meaningful engagement with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and external medical experts, establishing a company’s presence at scientific forums and advisory boards.
• An advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., MD, PhD, PharmD).

As an individual, you are pioneering and curious, driven by a passion to make a tangible and positive impact for patients. You have a forward-thinking perspective, coupled with a pragmatic, results-oriented approach. As an empowering and resilient leader, you motivate and bring together high-performing teams of exceptional professionals. Acknowledged as a strong collaborator and stakeholder manager, you are valued for your capacity to listen, build relationships, and collectively drive change across all levels of an organisation. 

Deadline 

Please submit your application via our online application tool latest by Sunday 17th November. 

You do not need to attach a cover letter to your application, but please include a few sentences about why you are applying in your CV. To ensure an efficient and fair recruitment process, please refrain from adding a photo in your CV. 

Contact 

For further information please contact Executive Search Partner, Heidi Ashby at [email protected]. 

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants. 

At Novo Nordisk we recognize that it is no longer good enough to aspire to be the best company in the world. We need to aspire to be the best company for the world and we know that this is only possible with talented employees with diverse perspectives, backgrounds and cultures. We are therefore committed to creating an inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity of our employees, the patients we serve and communities we operate in. Together, we’re life changing.

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