Vice President - Program Management Bio Innovation Hub

Company: Initial Therapeutics, Inc.
Location: Cambridge
Posted on: May 9, 2025

Job Description:

About the DepartmentOur Research & Development organization brings together the best minds in life science innovation. The teams located in facilities in Lexington, Watertown, Cambridge and Seattle reflect the full R&D continuum, from early research through late-stage clinical development. Here, we are building for the future, creating a distinct R&D community based on collaboration, partnerships, and cutting-edge research across multiple modalities and therapeutic areas. We recognize that improving human health starts here and that patients rely on us. Our R&D hub merges biotech speed and agility with large pharmaceutical company quality, resources, and stability, uniting the best of both worlds to develop new medicines for patients.The PositionThis position plays a critical role in Novo Nordisk's success by serving as a direct scientific interface to external partners and creating a diversified external research pipeline. The Vice President (VP) will be responsible for cross-functional project management and successful alliance management with Bio Innovation Hub collaborations and partnerships, acting as an externally committed role model, and serving as an anchor of quality, improvement, and knowledge sharing.In addition, the VP will shape the future program management, including the portfolio of projects and alliance management roles within the Bio Innovation Hub. The job requires coordinating, mentoring, guiding, and providing daily leadership and oversight of a team of program/project/alliance managers to ensure program/project execution with external partners across Bio Innovation Hub teams.The VP will be based in Cambridge and will collaborate and align stakeholders with colleagues from Research & Early Development ("R&ED"), from Development within the East Coast Hub, as well as colleagues based in Denmark (DK). The job also requires expert global leadership experience, particularly in leading and developing leaders in accordance with the Novo Nordisk Way.The VP will evaluate the strategic fit of novel product concept ideas, develop R&D plans to stepwise de-risk identified product concept ideas, drive product development approach, ensure organizational integration set-up, and optimize budget and resource use while ensuring quality and keeping the triple bottom line in focus. The job also requires ensuring efficient usage of staff and external resources in accordance with the company priorities.RelationshipsThe Vice President of Program Management plays a critical role in fostering strong relationships with colleagues in the Cambridge office, the core Novo Nordisk R&D organization, and external partners such as biotech companies, venture capital firms, and academic institutions. Reporting directly to the head of the Novo Nordisk Bio Innovation Hub TRU in Cambridge, this position is responsible for overseeing the Program Management function, including the Director of Project Management and the Program Management Team. The VP also has indirect leadership responsibility for externally 'sponsored' R&D teams driving the project portfolio within the TRU organization, which consists of 100-150 FTEs in the innovation ecosystem.Daily proactive collaboration with colleagues across the organization and external partners is crucial to the success of the Bio Innovation Hub. As the interface between the Bio Innovation Hub and all levels of the Research and Early Development organization, as well as the wider R&D in Novo Nordisk, the Vice President of Program Management supports the scientific agenda and execution of project plans developed as part of current and future collaborations. They also internalize transacted projects into the core R&D organization and governance.The Vice President of Program Management coordinates, mentors, guides, and provides daily leadership and oversight to a team of program/project/alliance managers to ensure successful program/project execution with external partners across Bio Innovation Hub teams. Effective relationship management and communication with stakeholders at all levels are essential to the success of the Program Management function.As a key member of the Bio Innovation Hub leadership team, the Vice President of Program Management has the opportunity to make a significant impact on the organization's success. Building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external partners are critical to achieving the Bio Innovation Hub's goals and advancing Novo Nordisk's mission to improve the lives of people with chronic diseases.Essential Functions

• Leadership Responsibilities
• Exhibit high-level project leadership by setting direction, strategy, and tactics in accordance with the Bio Innovation Hub (BIH) Strategy
• Assure performance and development of the Project Organization, either directly or indirectly, through project manager(s) responsible for relevant sub-teams/early project GPTs
• Set project strategy based on cross-functional knowledge and drive deliverables according to R&ED plans for novel product concepts
• Actively activate project teams within Novo Nordisk R&D to execute on co-creation plans
• Ensure decisions are guided by scientific and translational priorities, even when requiring complex analysis of situations and data
• Be accountable directly to the Project Governance Committees, Boards, and Joint Steering Committees (JSCs) for the progress of the projects in accordance with the approved goals, agreed key deliverables, milestones, and granted internal and external resources
• Be responsible for the internal and external project communication strategies and implementation within projects
• Ensure identification of best practices internally and externally and facilitate continuous improvement and innovation within the overall project
• Demonstrate the ability to identify better practice and create improvements in processes and approaches and act proactively to quality and compliance-related matters
• Develop an effective, professional, motivated, and dedicated Project Organization capable of delivering on project targets as per Project Governance Committees, Boards' and JSC approvals in full compliance with the Novo Nordisk Way
• Portfolio Execution
• Lead execution and reporting - together with the project teams - of tasks needed to meet Key Deliverables and Project Milestones
• Coordinate, mentor, guide, and act as the first point of contact for a team of program/project/alliance managers to ensure successful execution of projects with external partners across the Bio Innovation Hub innovation teams
• Develop and shape future program management including project and alliance management responsibilities
• Lead and manage planning and execution of project and alliance management for Bio Innovation Hub collaborations and partnerships
• Manage and nurture existing business partnerships to maximize the value to Novo Nordisk
• Role-model best practice in Project and Alliance Management and ensure networking with and knowledge transfer externally and to other AM teams in NN
• Back-end Integration
• Secure back-integration of programs into the Novo Nordisk organization
• Shape and execute complex partnerships to fit Novo Nordisk's demand for a diversified R&D pipeline where substantial innovation is required as solutions are not always evident with direct impact on EVP area results
• Drive translational R&D plans for novel product concepts and actively engage with cross-functional Novo Nordisk R&D teams to execute on co-created R&D plans
• Ensure efficient usage of staff resources in accordance with the company prioritiesPhysical Requirements10-20% overnight travel required. Will require travel several times a year to DK/Int'l sites as business requires.Development of PeopleSupervisoryEnsure that reporting personnel have individual development plans (IDP), with annual goals and measurements that are consistent with the priorities of the business, and that interim reviews are held so that their work is focused on those priorities, and they understand their level of accountability for results and the measurement process.Ensure that the IDP forms include completed learning and aspiration plans and are in place for all reporting personnel to enable the achievement of goals and capability to assume increased levels of responsibility.Manage the application and communication of all Novo Nordisk policies, procedures, and Novo Nordisk Way.Qualifications
  • Education:
  • MD or PhD required, preferably within natural sciences
  • Experience:
  • 15+ years of relevant professional experience
  • Project management experience leading cross-functional and global projects (preferably 5+ years)
  • Strong scientific and business understanding across R&D, with experience in translational medicine/pre-clinical drug development
  • Strong intercultural understanding and collaboration capabilities both internally and externally
  • Understanding of medicinal product (drug or device) development, from idea to early clinical development
  • Knowledge of the drug development and life cycle management process, preferably from direct participation in project teams through substantial parts of the product development life cycle or alternatively from relevant high-level academic or hospital positions
  • Knowledge of the marketing of pharmaceuticals, preferably from regional or affiliate offices or alternatively from relevant post-graduate educational programs or consultancy tasks
  • Proven pharmaceutical or health care line management or cross-functional and cross-national management experience, e.g. project leadership from large multi-functional and multi-national teams
  • International assignment or experience from working within major markets/resolution of international issues/partnerships
  • Strong experience with cross-functional teamwork
  • Business planning skills - knowledge/experience with project planning tools and processes
  • Excellent communication skills from either top level academic or management presentations
  • Leadership Skills:
  • Proven track record on delivering results of relevance in a business or academic setting
  • Participation in leadership development programs including 360-degree feedback or alike
  • Experience from work under challenging conditions and proven ability to maintain and communicate focus to a project team
  • Experience with crisis and conflict management
  • Excellent communicator and presenter with good command of written/spoken English
  • General Novo Nordisk leadership competencies also apply:
  • Building Winning Teams
  • Coaching & Developing Others
  • Leading & Managing Change
  • Thinking and Acting Globally
  • Impact and Influence
  • Self-Awareness and Maturity
  • Innovative Problem Solving
  • Creatively analyses business problems/issues in order to reach innovative, cost-effective and timely decisionsWe 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.Novo Nordisk is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations.If you are interested in applying to Novo Nordisk and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply, please call us at 1-855-411-5290. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
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Keywords: Initial Therapeutics, Inc., Lynn , Vice President - Program Management Bio Innovation Hub, Executive , Cambridge, Massachusetts