Would you like to develop and use other skills, be part of diverse and talented teams and work in a global setting? Does a career with a realistic work/life balance appeal to you?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then Novo Nordisk’s Pharmaceutical Medicine Programme (PMP) could be for you. Offering a broad introduction to the pharmaceutical industry, the PMP aims to develop medical doctors with clinical experience within various functions in the company where medical competencies are needed.

Launched in 2006, the PMP is a two-year programme with three participants accepted onto the programme each year. Applications are welcomed from spring, with the programme starting on 1 September. After successful completion of the programme participants are offered a permanent position with the company. The programme has been the spring board for many medical doctors’ progression to key positions within Novo Nordisk around the world. With a focus on both personal and professional development, and the knowledge and experience you will gain during the time you spend working in three different functions within the company, the PMP could be your first step towards a life-changing career.

Within biopharmaceuticals we have a leading position within the therapeutic areas of haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. We also have a strong research portfolio within inflammation, with the ambition of it becoming the third branch in our R&D activities.

Novo Nordisk has more than 30,000 employees in 81 countries, with the expectation that this number will increase to 43,000 by 2018. Our employees are driven by the common goal of making a difference to patients, healthcare professionals and society. Each and every employee at Novo Nordisk knows that their contribution helps make this difference.  Our ethical culture, high standards and commitment to being socially and environmentally responsible attracts a certain type of employee who is ready to change lives for the better.

All new employees take part in an introduction course where you will learn about Novo Nordisk, our business segments, product portfolio, management framework and governance structure.

During your two years on the programme you will take part in intensive internal and external training courses for both professional and personal development, for example in presentation skills, biostatistics, Good Clinical Practice, personal assessment, marketing and business understanding and the regulatory process.

The three rotations not only provide the opportunity for on-the-job training - you also have the opportunity to network with a diverse team of employees who are specialists in their fields. Via this network you will gain knowledge and advice from colleagues throughout the global organisation, including past and present PMP participants.

PMP 2006
The first two successful graduates from the 2006 programme, Yan and Trine, moved on to positions within Novo Nordisk as an Global Medical Advisor within Medical Affairs working closely together with Marketing, and as an International Medical Director within Global Development. The third participant choose to pursue a career in the public health care system.

PMP 2007
The graduates from the 2007 programme consisted of Marek, Troels and David. Marek, who previously worked and researched within endocrinology, became an International Medical Director within Global Development. Troels, who previously worked and researched within the areas of thoracic and abdominal surgery, became an Global Medical Advisor within Medical Affairs. Last but not least David, who had his internship in New York, US, where he also did research focusing on cardiovascular diseases, became an International Medical Director within Global Development.

PMP 2008
The 2008 PMP participants are Charlotte, who prior to the programme worked and researched within obstetrics and gynaecology, and who became an International Medical Director within Global Development; Britt, who before joining Novo Nordisk worked within gastrointestinal surgery, family, orthopaedic surgery and child psychiatry, and had started her specialist training as a general practitioner within the Danish healthcare system, after finishing the programme she joined Global Safety as a Safety Surveillance Advisor; and Katja, who had been engaged in research within the field of Neurology and was pursuing a career within the field of internal medicine, took up a position as Global Medical Advisor in Medical Affairs upon completion of the programme.

PMP 2009
From 2009, the PMPs included Oscar, who before starting the programme worked and researched within cardiovascular medicine, Oscar choose to return to the public health care system ; Claus who after internship has conducted research within inflammation and chronic autoimmune diseases and Jeppe, who joined the programme after internship and several years of research within inflammation and cardiovascular disease.

PMP 2010
The graduates from the 2010 programme consisted of Charlotte, Katja and Britt. Charlotte, who prior to the programme worked and researched within obstetrics and gynaecology where she acheived a PhD degree, became an International Medical Director within Global Development in one of key focus areas in Novo Nordisk working on the new generation of insulins. Katja, who had previously been engaged in research within the field of Neurology and was pursuing a career within the field of internal medicine before she joined the PMP programme, became an Global Medical Advisor within Global Medical Affairs where she combines her knowledge from safety with her experience and skills on medical communication. She is currently on maternity leave. Britt, who was pursuing a career as a general practitioner prior to employment in the PMP programme, became a Safety Surveillance Advisor within Global Safety responsible for her own projects.

The 2010 team includes Ida, who before starting the programme finished internship and worked in gastrointestinal and orthopaedic surgery before completing a PhD within the field of osteoarthritis; Anders, who prior to joining the programme finished his internship and conducted research within the field of rheumatology and Florian, who completed his internship before working in cardiology and has conducted research within neuroanatomy prior to joining the programme.

Documented scientific experience is not a prerequisite, but is an advantage. The programme offers an introduction to the pharmaceutical industry and so the applicant should not have prior industry experience.

You must have practical and analytical skills and be capable of working independently, while at the same time being able to excel in a cross-functional, multi-disciplinary team. Moreover, you should be prepared to travel and work in an international arena.

We expect that you are results-oriented, are good at setting priorities, that you have a broad perspective and an open-mind, and are able to challenge the status quo. Lastly, we expect you to have excellent English skills and be proficient in IT.

After submitting an application online, successful applicants will be invited for a telephone interview. Following this, if successful, applicants will be invited for a 1 day assessment centre when they will undertake face-to-face interviews with various managers in the programme’s rotation departments and the PMP manager. Each year three applicants are offered a position on the PMP. The programme starts 3 September 2012.

For more information please see the FAQ or contact the PMP manager Birgitte Claudius.

Must you be a medical doctor in order to apply?
Yes, being a medical doctor is a prerequisite. The programme is designed specifically for medical doctors with no prior industry experience.

Which qualifications must you have?
In order to qualify for the Pharmaceutical Medicine Programme, you must hold a university degree as a medical doctor. You should have passed postgraduate internship and possess 2-3 years of documented scientific and/or clinical experience. You must have practical and analytical skills and be capable of working independently, while at the same time accepting a strong team focus and influence. Moreover, you should be prepared and willing to travel and work in an international arena. We expect that you are results oriented; good at setting priorities and that you have a strong personal impact and drive. Lastly, we expect you to have excellent English skills and a high proficiency in IT knowledge.

Can you apply even if you are not Danish?
Yes, Novo Nordisk is a global company and welcomes applications from all over the world. It is not a prerequisite that you understand and/or can speak Danish but you must be fluent in English (written and verbal).

Must you move to Denmark, if offered the position and for how long?
The departments included in the programme are all situated at headquarters. That means that you will be working within the Copenhagen area during the 2 years of the Pharmaceutical Medicine Programme. Expatriation is not a part of the programme. After the successful completion of the programme each PMP doctor will be offered a permanent position within headquarters (Denmark). If it is a wish from the PMP doctor and availability enables it, a position in one of Novo Nordisk’s affiliates around the world may be offered.

Must you have had a position within the pharmaceutical industry before?
This would over-qualify the applicant and is neither the scope nor profile we are looking for with this programme. The purpose of the programme is to introduce a medical doctor to the pharma industry and all the facets relevant for a medical doctor working in Novo Nordisk

How often and how many participants are hired? When does the programme start?
Each year three applicants are included in the programme. The hiring process starts during spring and an invitation for applications is posted on the PMP website at novonordisk.com/careers. It is also advertised in various national and international journals/papers. The programme starts every 1st September.

What can improve my chances of being considered for one of the positions?
Work with your competencies within clinical work, scientific research, clinical drug research, and business/economy.

What is the salary level?
The salary is at a competitive level compared to the pharmaceutical industry. It is equal to that of a young medical doctor in an entry level position within the pharmaceutical industry. Along with the salary come additional benefits, for example an annual bonus, computer, mobile phone, re-location aid and an extensive and generous training course budget.

What must you do when you are in the programme?
The two-year programme consists of three eight-month rotations in three different areas of the organisation - Global Development, Global Medical Affairs and Global Safety. Within the three departments you will be involved in specific everyday tasks through which you will get experience with elements such as clinical development planning of a drug candidate, global and local positioning strategies for a marketed drug, medical documentation in a new drug application, pharmacovigilance activities such as monitoring adverse events in clinical trials for developmental drugs and making surveys of adverse events for marketed drugs. In addition to the rotations, an individual course plan is created allowing the candidates to participate in internal and external courses. This can for example include training in GCP (good clinical practice), biostatistics, computer skills and participation in congresses.

Is it a permanent position?
Yes, it is a permanent position. It is not a scholarship or a grant.
 
How is the programme structured?
The programme is structured around three main activities within the development of new drugs.
1: Global Development, where trial protocols and development plans for new potential drug candidates are made and communication with the authorities concerning approval of trials and drugs is conducted.
2: Global Medical Affairs, where input is given to the clinical development plans and product strategies. Publication planning, medical communication and data presentation are also anchored in the Medical Affairs rotation.
3: Global Safety, where adverse events are assessed, safety reports are submitted to competent authorities and trial protocols are reviewed.

What happens after the programme?
After/upon successful completion of the programme you will be offered a position usually within one of the three departments in the programme. Your final position depends on your wishes, feedback from managers and vacancies in the respective departments. If it is a wish from the PMP doctor and availability enables it, a position in one of Novo Nordisk’s affiliates around the world may be offered.

Do you have a question?
Feel free to contact PMP Manager Birgitte Claudius.