The IO Business Graduate track is designed for internationally minded Master’s graduates with a background in business, marketing, management, innovation or similar, who are curious about how commercial strategy is shaped and executed across markets. Through rotations in affiliates, regional offices and/or IO Strategic Operations HQ, you will develop broad commercial insight, build an international network and contribute to creating impact for patients and the business.
The International Operations Business Graduate Programme is designed to develop the next generation of international leaders. With offices in 80 countries, the programme ensures ample on the job experiences, with the opportunity to bring your business understanding into play in a multicultural network during your international assignments.
Start your career on 1 September 2027. Applications are open here from 16 December 2026 to 5 January 2027. Until then follow Novo on LinkedIn to get a better feeling of who we are.
Please note that we also offer the Global Business Graduate programme. Read more about it here.
Reaching 95% of the world across 195 countries, International Operations is the largest operational unit in Novo. Its scale is as staggering as its impact. About 588 million people are living with diabetes in these countries and an estimated 1.4 billion live with obesity. Every day International Operations delivers care to more than 36.5 million patients.
International Operations (IO) is split into four regions, spread across every continent of the globe, with our head office, IO Strategic Operations, based in Zurich, Switzerland.
As an International Operations Business Graduate, you will build a broad understanding of International Operations through rotations across affiliates, regional offices/business areas, Global functions and/or IO Strategic Operations HQ. You will take on assignments that allow you to contribute directly to patients, create value for the business and learn from talented commercial professionals across the globe.
An example IO Business Graduate journey could look like this, and will include rotations across different commercial functions within International Operations:
1. Regional Office or Business Area: Develop a regional perspective on commercial strategy and execution across a cluster of countries, while understanding how priorities are shaped, aligned and translated into local market impact.
2. IO Strategic Operations HQ: Understand IO’s strategic priorities and how they are translated across regions and markets, while building skills in stakeholder management, commercial planning and cross functional collaboration.
3. Brand Marketing team, local affiliate: Build on your value chain understanding by gaining hands-on experience with existing brands and/or new product launches in an affiliate, while learning how brand strategies are executed locally to create impact for patients and the business.
Working at Novo is your opportunity to embark on a life changing career to accelerate your personal and professional capabilities while delivering exciting results and making a significant difference to patients and society.
Throughout the programme, you will gain hands-on experience with transforming data into business insights, developing recommendations and creating measurable business impact. You will work with senior management and build an international network of colleagues, establishing yourself as one of tomorrow’s key commercial talents at Novo.
During the two years, you will benefit from accelerated personal and professional development through one-on-one sparring with a senior mentor, as well as a tailored learning journey combining training, development activities and peer learning. Furthermore, you will build international experience by working abroad in one of our many affiliates or regional offices, while joining an exclusive graduate community across programmes, with social activities and inspiring colleagues to collaborate with and learn from.
For the positions starting 1 September 2027, we are looking for candidates with:
- A recent Master’s degree from 2026 or 2027 in a relevant field, for example within International Business, Marketing, Business Administration, Innovation Management or similar study field
- No more than one year of full time work experience between or after completing a Master’s degree
- International experience gained through studies abroad, internships or volunteering
- Relevant work experience from internships, student jobs, or extra-curricular activities obtained next to your studies
- Globally mobile, both during and after the graduate programme
- Adaptability, courage to experiment and confidence in decision making
- A collaborative approach, strong communication skills, high drive and a genuine eagerness to learn
- An AI mindset, with curiosity about how AI can transform healthcare and pharma, and motivation to turn insights into better solutions for people, products and ways of working
- Professional fluency in English
- In certain hiring locations, you must be legally permitted to work in that country; please check the specific requirements in the job adverts
You are welcome to apply for more than one track. However, we recommend you to carefully consider which tracks you will apply for and your motivation for doing so. You will have to make an individual application for each programme track and we encourage you to only apply for the tracks that you would be truly excited to join.
Be yourself and share why Novo Nordisk is the company you want to work for. What motivates you and why do you think being a graduate could be amazing. We would like to know who YOU are.
No, our corporate language is English, so speaking Danish is definitely not a requirement. There may be local language requirements for some International Operations (IO) tracks.
Yes, as long as you plan to graduate before the start of the Graduate programme. It is also accepted if you have not received your official graduate diploma before starting in the Graduate Programme, as long as you have finished your studies and are just waiting for the official papers.
This position is designed as an entry-level role, and while many graduates join the program directly after their studies, we also consider candidates with up to one year of post-graduate experience.
Previous pharmaceutical work experience is not a requirement to apply for the programme.
For the Global tracks you will be employed by our HQ organisation and most of the positions will start in Denmark, except for Global Tax, where you will commence your rotations in either Denmark, US or in one of our International Operations locations globally.
For the International Operations tracks you will be employed in one of our specified hiring countries for 2026, where you will undertake your first rotation.
Upon successful completion of the programme, you will be offered a position in Novo Nordisk, therefore full mobility and flexibility is required as the location is not pre-determined.
