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 diligently to prevent and ultimately cure diseases.

Novo Nordisk Rare Disease employs over 4,000 individuals across 14 sites worldwide, allowing us to bring our marketed products to over 100 countries while ensuring a robust development pipeline. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, our Rare Disease Global commercial unit comprises over 150 dedicated and passionate employees who work closely with the broader organization. While we benefit from our unique positioning within the Novo Nordisk family, we also enjoy the flexibility of a biotech company that empowers us to innovate without limits. As a unit, we take pride in our agility and our ability to strike 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 and play a key role in the leadership team of the area.

You will lead a diverse, high-performing communications team of 15 employees dedicated to Novo Nordisk Rare Disease. Your team's responsibilities include shaping and driving communication, deploying multi-stakeholder advocacy strategies and initiatives, and engaging with internal and external partners to support our strategic objectives. The role encompasses customer engagement, public affairs and sustainability, patient advocacy, as well as internal and external communications.

Key Responsibilities

• Public Affairs and External Communications:
  • In coordination with the Rare Disease leadership team, develop and execute strategic external affairs plans addressing a variety of 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 execute external communication plans that align with both Rare Disease and Novo Nordisk corporate strategies.
  • Oversee the media, patient advocacy, and public affairs strategy for Rare Disease and priority therapy areas, collaborating closely with corporate functions while managing social channels and websites for Rare Disease, including content, maintenance, and campaigns.
• Internal Communications and Engagement:
  • Ensure timely and professional internal communication concerning the Rare Disease ambitions and business priorities.
  • Lead the provision of tools and support for Rare Disease leadership in 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 narrative.
  • Ensure professional internal news flow and communication channels within the Rare Disease office and across the Rare Disease Nation/virtual BU.
• Customer Engagement:
  • Set the strategic direction (both short and long term) for Rare Disease congresses and events, leading implementation that impacts the business unit directly.
  • Ensure a seamless attendee experience, whether offline or online.

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

Qualifications

You are an accomplished corporate affairs leader, ideally from a multinational pharmaceutical or biotechnology company. In addition, you 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 and implementing innovative communication approaches while staying ahead of emerging trends and technologies.
• Proven ability to collaborate and influence within complex, matrix organizations while maintaining a global perspective.

You possess a strong analytical mindset, allowing 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 also exhibit solid business acumen. As a natural networker, you gain energy from connecting with a diverse range of stakeholders. Engaged and passionate, you focus on driving impact, finding solutions, 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 it is no longer sufficient to aspire to be the best company in the world. We strive to be the best company for the world, which is only achievable through talented employees with diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and cultures. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture that celebrates this diversity among our employees, the patients we serve, and the communities we operate in. Together, we’re life-changing.