Head Of The Biomedicine Department In Medical Science

We are looking for a dedicated and dynamic person to lead our Department of BioMedicine. If you are eager to improve the lives of others through scientific excellence, want to drive science-based understanding of human physiology and disease, and if you are motivated by the opportunity to develop strategic initiatives supporting biomedical and translational research - the science required to face the future; then you might be our new Head of BioMedicine.

BioMedicine is part of the Novo Nordisk Foundation programme area Medical Science. The area is dedicated to realising the Human Health element of the Foundations Strategy 2030, particularly pertaining to improved mechanistic understanding of the prevention, emergence, and management of cardiometabolic disease; obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, as well as the opportunities and development of regenerative medicine. There are three departments in the area to cover the end-to-end value chain from basic discoveries to clinical implementation: BioMedicine, Clinical Medicine, and Cardiovascular Medicine, each with a strong human-centric translational focus. Medical Science is annually granting approximately EUR 470 million to support medical research; EUR 200 million through the Department of BioMedicine.

The Job

As the Head of BioMedicine, you will be a valued member of the Medical Science Management Team, reporting to the Senior Vice President. You will work in close collaboration with the Medical Science Management Team members and other areas of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, focusing on both operational and strategic matters. Your responsibilities encompass managing grants from open calls, steering the operations of ongoing strategic initiatives, and collaboratively crafting new ones with your team's involvement. You will drive the biomedical basis for a paradigm shift in cardiometabolic disease, aiming to move from management to cure. Additionally, you will work on predicting and preventing disease, developing and implementing precision medicine approaches, studying the interactions between cardiometabolic and infectious diseases, and advancing regenerative medicine. As a leader, you will provide daily inspiration, coaching, and guidance, nurturing your team's development and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.

Your main tasks will include:

• Leading the Department of BioMedicine, currently consisting of 7 dedicated people

• Overseeing major committees for open calls within biomedicine

• Contributing to governance and steering groups of prestigious research centers:
  the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic and Metabolic Research (Copenhagen),
  the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Research reNEW (Copenhagen, Melbourne, Leiden),
  the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Genomics Mechanisms of Disease at the Broad Institute (Boston)

• Providing biomedical expertise to support the Senior Vice President.

• Representing the Foundation and Medical Science at national and international events

• Engaging with stakeholders on strategic initiatives

Our team thrives on collaboration, combining scientific management, project management, and administrative expertise. We are committed to excellence, fostering a trust-based environment where feedback is valued. We engage in cross-organizational projects to contribute our skills and to learn, all in support of advancing science needed to face the future!

Professional and Personal Qualifications

We are searching for an inspirational leader who excels in fostering diversity, inclusion, and innovation. The ideal candidate will be a professional, impact-oriented individual capable of creating synergy in a team-centric environment, committed to nurturing a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

You should be decisive, proactive, and pragmatic, with a structured approach to problem-solving. Intellectual agility, curiosity, and resilience are key, along with strong interpersonal skills for building collaborative relationships. You should demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges and be adept at navigating complex organizational landscapes to achieve outstanding results.

We expect the right candidate to be an experienced Head of Department with an MD, PhD, and over 20 years of experience in academic and/or industry research and development.

The ideal candidate will be:

• An authority in basic biomedical human-centric methodologies, with a strong grasp of translational medicine
• A medical specialist in cardiometabolic health and disease
• A distinguished researcher, preferably at the professor level
• Well-versed in the science culture, its ecosystem, and stakeholders
• Knowledgeable about the project-centric organisational nature of academia and industry, adept at understanding the difference between an academic independent approach and a corporate interdependent approach
• Skilled in concurrently managing multiple complex projects
• An excellent communicator, particularly in English, both orally and in writing.

Working at the Novo Nordisk Foundation

We offer a committed and professional workplace in which we emphasize ensuring that our colleagues thrive, are challenged, and have opportunities to unfold their potential. A career at the Novo Nordisk Foundation gives you the opportunity to work: 

• on important projects that benefit society
• with key actors within research and development
• and as part of a dedicated team that is passionate about creating value for society

Application and information

If this position has caught your interest, then please send your application and CV, along with your diploma and any other relevant documentation, by clicking on “Apply now”.

We invite you to submit your application as soon as possible and no later than June 10.

For more information, please contact Senior Vice President Martin Ridderstråle on e-mail: mri@novo.dk.

About the Novo Nordisk Foundation

The Novo Nordisk Foundation dates back to 1922, and is an independent Danish foundation with corporate interests. Our vision is to contribute significantly to research and development that improves the lives of people and the sustainability of society.

Since 2010, the Foundation has donated more than DKK 30 billion (€4 billion). The Foundation gets its income from ownership in the Novo Group companies and more than 130 other life science companies.

In the coming years, the Foundation will broaden its scope and increase its grants for scientific, humanitarian and social purposes. As a consequence, we are a growing organization, which means new job openings and exciting opportunities for employees to be a part of forming the future of the Foundation.

Read more about the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s history, strategy and ownership structure here: Frontpage - Novo Nordisk Fonden.