Head of Business Development Transactions

About the Department

 

The Novo Nordisk Cambridge location is the headquarters for Global Business Development across all of our therapeutic and technology areas. We contribute to innovation in one of the world's largest life sciences ecosystems by participating in events and discussions with renowned and upcoming scientists looking for the next scientific breakthrough to bring transformative treatments to patients. We work with start-ups, established companies, venture capitalists, teaching hospitals, and academic institutions to support the development of innovation for mutual benefit, and to help patients in all of our current therapy areas. Through a variety of partnership models, we accelerate ideas from the lab and clinic to advance and expand our product portfolio and to improve outcomes for the patients we serve

 

The Position

Global Business Development is responsible for Novo Nordisk’s corporate business development activities related to establishing external partnerships, collaborations and acquisitions, as well as integration and alliance management. The Group Vice President (GVP) area consists of units covering business development from end-to-end with Search, Evaluation & Intelligence, BD and M&A Transactions, Integration and Alliance Management.

 

The Head of Business Development (BD) and Transactions is crucial for securing external assets that augment and accelerate the Novo Nordisk pipeline. These can include drug candidate molecules, technology platforms, device and diagnostic platforms, production capacity, and commercial assets and capabilities – anything that supports the development and delivery of differentiated medicines to patients in the therapy areas that we serve.  The Head of BD Transactions works proactively and independently driving access to external innovation through assessment, negotiation and contracting with external parties. Given the external facing nature of the role, they are expected to nurture a strong network within relevant innovation ecosystems and have the ability to leverage this network to gain access to and come to mutually beneficial agreement terms on prioritized business development deals, including research collaborations, licenses, asset purchases, company acquisitions, mergers and other partnerships. The Head of BD Transactions should constantly raise the bar and strive for higher performance in the unit as well as across the organization.

 

Relationships

Reports to the GVP of Global Business Development and has responsibility for a team of transaction professionals and strategic deal leaders. The Head of BD Transactions has direct responsibility for mentoring and supporting their team members and is a member of the GBD leadership team. They are also accountable for mentorship and development of colleagues across GBD and the broader cross-functional organization in pursuit of external innovation and deal making.

 

The Head of BD Transactions interacts constantly with the Global Business Development Leadership Team, and regularly with members of executive and senior management across the organization, and cross-functional stakeholders within all EVP areas in all global Novo Nordisk locations. They are expected to build relationships, credibility, and trust with external parties including industry peers, collaborators and biotech and biopharma executives, investment bankers and external legal counsel.

 

The Head of BD Transactions must engage in proactive dialogue with the internal stakeholders at all levels of the organization, to recommend and reach agreement on priorities and activities to pursue specific external innovation opportunities. They will represent Novo Nordisk in outreach related activities and must be able to engage in proactive dialogue with all external stakeholders, represent Novo Nordisk’s interests and arrive at mutually beneficial business outcomes in a manner supporting ongoing and future collaboration, sustaining Novo Nordisk’s reputation across the sector.

 

Essential Functions

• Deliver business development transactions and contracts with favorable terms to Novo Nordisk
  • Develop transaction strategies and deal tactics in line with potential value and strategic importance of individual assets or companies
  • Complete contract negotiations, including driving discussions on investment mandates with internal governance, ensuring favorable contractual positions for NN and mitigating key risks
  • Lead strategic deals including diligence and deal execution across deal types e.g. mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, partn