Vice President, Communication and Corporate Affairs / Vice Presidentess, 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 achieve this by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working towards the prevention and ultimate cure of disease.

With over 4,000 employees across 14 sites globally, Novo Nordisk Rare Disease is dedicated to delivering our marketed products to more than 100 countries while ensuring a robust development pipeline. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, our Rare Disease Global commercial unit consists of over 150 passionate employees collaborating closely with the broader organization. While we benefit from our unique positioning within the Novo Nordisk stronghold, we enjoy the flexibility of a biotech, enabling us to innovate without limits. As a unit, we pride ourselves on being agile, striking a harmonious balance between vision and action.

The Position

We are seeking a new VP of Communications & Corporate Affairs for Novo Nordisk Rare Disease. Reporting to the Senior Vice President (SVP) of Rare Disease at Novo Nordisk, you will play a key role on the leadership team in this area.

You will lead a diverse, high-performing communications team of 15 dedicated employees. This team is responsible for shaping and driving communication strategies, deploying multi-stakeholder advocacy 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

• Public Affairs and External Communications
  • In collaboration with the Rare Disease leadership team, develop and execute strategic external affairs plans addressing various advocacy, public policy, and business issues relevant to Novo Nordisk Rare Disease.
  • Shape, embed, and implement the sustainability strategy for the Rare Disease portfolio.
  • Plan, develop, and implement external communication strategies that align with the Rare Disease and Novo Nordisk corporate objectives.
  • Oversee media, patient advocacy, and public affairs strategies for Rare Disease and priority therapy areas, working closely with corporate functions. Manage social channels and websites for Rare Disease, ensuring responsible content maintenance and campaigns.
• Internal Communications and Engagement
  • Ensure timely and professional internal communication regarding the Rare Disease ambitions and business priorities.
  • Provide 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 be integrated to enhance the Rare Disease narrative.
  • Ensure a professional flow of internal news and communication channels within the Rare Disease office and across the Rare Disease Nation/virtual BU.
• Customer Engagement
  • Define the strategic direction (short and long term) for Rare Disease congresses and events and lead their implementation to create a direct impact within the business unit.
  • Ensure a seamless attendee experience, whether offline or online.

The role is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and we welcome international talent willing to relocate.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is an accomplished corporate affairs leader with experience in a multinational pharmaceutical or biotechnology company.

Additionally, you should possess:

• Over 15 years of experience in global communication and advocacy.
• More than 5 years in leadership, with a proven 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, including launch/pre-launch communication experience.
• Strong knowledge of public/government affairs and established networks with policymakers globally (EU, US, emerging markets).
• A history of championing innovative communication approaches and staying current with emerging trends and technologies.
• Proven ability to collaborate and influence within complex, matrix organizations while maintaining a global outlook.

You possess a strong analytical mindset that allows you to transition seamlessly between broad overviews and detailed insights. Your dedication, agility, and passion for cultural diversity shape your leadership style. You thrive in a fast-paced environment, expertly managing multiple deadlines and diverse responsibilities while creating structured processes. Curious and scientifically minded, you demonstrate solid business acumen. As a natural networker, you energize from building connections with a wide range of stakeholders. Passionate and engaged, you focus on driving impact, finding solutions, and delivering high-quality results.

How to Apply

Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Contact

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

At Novo Nordisk, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity of our employees, the patients we serve, and the communities in which we operate. We acknowledge that it is no longer sufficient to aspire to be the best company in the world; we must strive to be the best company for the world. This vision is only achievable through talented employees who bring diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and cultures together. Together, we’re life-changing.