Project Director - Data Lead

Key Skills

Biostatistics, Data science techniques, Effective communication skills, IT, Leadership Skill, Project management

Job Description

Data Orchestration is a newly established unit in Novo Nordisk Data Science Development organisation responsible for strategic planning of data generating activities ranging from early product development to post-launch. The Data Lead Project Director (DLPD) is the key project leader representing the Data Science organisation in one or more Global Project Teams and a proactive partner in 5D product development across the lifecycle of a product. As a representative for the Data Science organisation the DLPD will be directly responsible for orchestrating strategic use of data and data science disciplines, ultimately enabling data driven decision making and evidence planning with the end goal in mind. To achieve this, the DLPD will collaborate with stakeholders across the entire organisation and chair a cross-functional Data Science Project Team (DSPT). The DSPT consists of leading project specialists from our functional lines including members from Biostatistics, Pharmacometrics, Data Management, RW Science and Advanced Analytics, and ad-hoc members with needed subject matter expertise. The DLPD is responsible for orchestrating the process and development of the Target Data Profile (TDP) for a project or TA. The TDP drives strategic project planning and transparency for appropriate and timely evidence generation and data utilization activities across the product lifecycle. The TDP is owned by the GPT and integrated with the Product Development Plan. The Data Lead Project Director will spearhead our new set-up in the clinical development projects and contribute to the continued development of our DSPT operating model and framework

The Position

The Data Lead Project Director will lead and drive major and high complexity clinical data science projects with cross organizational assignments and deliverables important to Novo Nordisk. This includes: Define and execute the data strategy and consider alternative data strategies; Indirect leadership of project members/managers from Data Science. Communicate and negotiate with several internal and external stakeholders.

Relationships

• The Data Lead Project Director reports to the Vice President, Data Orchestration
• Internal partners include among other Corporate Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents in the global Data Science function, Project Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Directors in the Medical and Science function
• External relationships include among others medical experts, health authorities, academic researcher, and institutions
• Internal Stakeholders
• Data Science
• Project teams (CVPs, PVPs and M&S)
• R&ED or Translational Science & Medicine
• Strategy, Access & Marketing (RWE, HEOR, NPP, Digital Health, Insights and Forecasting)
• GEPA
• Regions/Affiliates
• Senior/Executive management
• Global Medical Affairs
• Project teams

• External stakeholders
• Medical experts
• Academic researchers and Institutions
• Health authorities
• Research and data agencies /vendors
• IT
• Global and local health authorities

Essential Functions

• Key responsibility
• Responsible for timely planning and proper execution of data science activities resulting in an optimal Target Data Profile for one or more Global Projects
• Help establish and roll out the new concept of the Target Data Profile across Novo Nordisk projects
• Project leadership and management with respect to all data science activities for the projects ensuring all relevant Data Science experts are involved in Global Project Team (GPT) activities at the right time and to the right extent
• Internal and external stakeholder management
• Communication and cross-functional cooperation
• Ensure cross-portfolio data learnings
• Membership of one or more Global Project Teams
• Main Job Tasks
• Project Management
• Lead the establishment of the Target Data Profile in order to ensure all necessary insights and evidence is produced for the Target Project Profile
• Lead the Data Science Project Team and ensures all Data Science input / views / learnings are brought to the GPT in due time. This includes, but may not be limited to:
• Lead and challenges project data scope, goals, expected deliverables and stakeholders in order to continuously ensure all data are generated in accordance with the Target Data Profile
• Drive continued involvement and alignment of all involved Data Science functions in the GPT
• Ensure timely challenge of data needed for each significant decision point along the value chain
• Drive challenges and innovation with respect to clinical trials program (in close collaboration with Clinical Drug Development, Global Medical Affairs, Commercial a.o.)
• Ensure innovative data analytics methodologies are applied when appropriate
• Show excellence in identifying synergies with other functions and secures proper alignment

• Lead and challenge relevance and impact of defined goals, and fit with existing and upcoming regulations
• Lead and continuously improves the way data package deliverables are executed
• Identify risks via collaboration with other functions
• Lead and continuously improves the way project outcomes are shared, how they impact the organisation (from global to local and across functions). This includes better communication of results, use of visualization tools a.o

• Internal and external stakeholder management
• Identify and develop new data science stakeholders and/or opinion leaders
• Shape stakeholders’ perceptions to support new strategic initiatives and solutions
• Encourage teams with different objectives in Novo Nordisk to develop strategic “win-win” solutions, weighing up risk and profitability
• Create a culture of direct, continuous contact with the stakeholders to achieve Novo Nordisk’s strategic objectives
• Communication and cross-functional cooperation
• Demonstrate stakeholder management skills and ability to progress efficaciously with functional deliverables within the defined processes, teams, and governance model
• Portfolio management, strategy and tactics understanding
• Lead and challenges strategy development and ensures excellence to maximise impact of global strategy across customer groups and markets
• Apply insights adequately into strategy and tactic development
• Drive cross-project / portfolio data insights and learning
• Scope of Authority
• Independence: High. Independence and initiative should always be demonstrated when leading, improving, and performing tasks either assigned by management or initiated by PVP/CVP
• Decision-Making: High. In general, decisions are complex and involve coordination with other internal stakeholders in the organization incl. R&ED, CDD, SubLCM, GMA, DDS, Commercial, affiliates, and external stakeholders for this position
• Type of communication
• Convince others with a mutual, or sometimes divergent, interest to accept new concepts, practices, and approaches
• Collaborate with other functions to secure adequate implementation of projects
• Handle project conflicts at executive/senior levels
• Adjust deliverables to make effective strategic impact on management’s decision-making

• Innovation and change
• Innovation: High. Ensure identification of best practices internally and externally and facilitate incremental improvement and innovation with the overall project

• Complexity: High. Assignments are characterized by high variability, complexity and often by lack of precedence
• Geographic responsibility
• Global reach
• The Data Lead Project Director has direct/functional influence on internal and/or external stakeholders in the countries or regions

Physical Requirements

Travel is expected up to approximately 10% per year (International).

Qualifications

• Education Level:
• Master’s degree required
• Experience Level: 10+ years of relevant work experience, additional relevant advanced degree(s) may be substituted for experience as deemed appropriate
• Relevant work experience includes:
• Understanding of the pharmaceutical industry value chain and product development
• Experience from early to late-stage drug development
• Insights into at least one data science discipline in drug development (e.g. biostatistics, pharmacometrics, advanced analytics or epidemiology), alternatively as scientifically or medically responsible for designing drug development programs
• Project management experience leading cross-functional (and perhaps global) projects

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Knowledgeable of the Novo Nordisk value chain preferred

We 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.