Vice President of Communication and Corporate Affairs / Vice Presidentess of Communication and Corporate Affairs

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.

Novo Nordisk Rare Disease has over 4,000 employees across 14 sites around the world, bringing our marketed products to over 100 countries while ensuring a strong development pipeline. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the Rare Disease Global commercial unit includes over 150 dedicated and passionate employees who work closely with the broader organization. While we benefit from our unique positioning as part of the Novo Nordisk framework, we also enjoy the flexibility of a biotech, enabling us to innovate without limits. As a unit, we pride ourselves on being agile and capable of striking a balance between vision and action.

The Position

As the new VP of Communications & Corporate Affairs for Novo Nordisk Rare Disease, you will report to the Senior Vice President (SVP) of Rare Disease at Novo Nordisk and play a key role in the leadership team of the area.

You will be responsible for leading a diverse, high-performing communications team of 15 employees dedicated to Novo Nordisk Rare Disease. The team is responsible for shaping and driving communication, deploying multi-stakeholder advocacy strategies and initiatives, and engaging with internal and external partners to support Novo Nordisk Rare Disease's strategic objectives. The role encompasses customer engagement, public affairs and sustainability, patient advocacy, and internal/external communications.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Public Affairs and External Communications:
  • In coordination with the Rare Disease leadership team, develop and execute strategic external affairs plans on various advocacy, public policy, and business issues of importance to Novo Nordisk Rare Disease.
  • Shape, embed, and implement the sustainability strategy for the Rare Disease portfolio.
  • Plan, develop, and execute external communication plans aligned with the Rare Disease and Novo Nordisk corporate strategies.
  • Oversee the media, patient advocacy, and public affairs strategy for Rare Disease and priority therapy areas; collaborate closely with corporate functions and manage social channels and websites for Rare Disease, with responsibility for content, maintenance, and campaigns.
• Internal Communications and Engagement:
  • Ensure timely and professional internal communication regarding the Rare Disease ambition and business priorities.
  • Lead the provision of tools and support for Rare Disease leadership on employee communication, internal channels, events, etc.
  • Drive internal communication for key Rare Disease initiatives.
  • Collaborate with internal partners to identify synergies between corporate messages/programs that can enhance the Rare Disease story.
  • Ensure professional internal news flow and communication channels in the Rare Disease office and across the organization.
• Customer Engagement:
  • Set the strategic direction (short and long term) for Rare Disease congresses and events and lead implementation with a direct impact across the business unit.
  • Ensure a seamless attendee experience, whether offline or online.

The role is based in Zurich, Switzerland. We are open to relocating international talent.

Qualifications

You are an accomplished corporate affairs leader, ideally from within a multinational pharmaceutical or biotechnology company. In addition, you possess:

• Over 15 years of experience in global communication and advocacy.
• Over 5 years in leadership, with a track record of building high-performing communications teams.
• Successful development and implementation of global public affairs and patient advocacy strategies.
• Experience providing strategic communication counsel to senior management.
• Prior experience within rare diseases, with launch/pre-launch communication experience.
• Strong knowledge of public/government affairs and established networks with policymakers globally (EU, US, emerging markets).
• A record of championing and implementing innovative communication approaches, staying current with emerging trends and technologies.
• Proven ability to collaborate and influence within complex, matrix organizations, maintaining a global perspective.

You have a strong analytical mindset that allows you to shift effortlessly between broad overviews and detailed insights. Your dedication, agility, and passion for cultural diversity shape your leadership style. You thrive under multiple deadlines and diverse responsibilities, naturally creating structure. Curious and scientifically minded, you possess solid business acumen. As a natural networker, you invigorate your surroundings by connecting with a diverse range of stakeholders. Engaged and passionate, you focus on driving impact, finding solutions, continuous improvement, and delivering high-quality results.

Application Process

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Contact

For further information, please contact Executive Search Partner, Heidi Ashby at Show e-mail.

At Novo Nordisk, we recognize that aspiring to be the best company in the world is no longer sufficient; we strive to be the best company for the world. This can only be achieved with talented employees who bring diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and cultures. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity of our employees, the patients we serve, and the communities we operate in. Together, we’re life-changing.