Clinical Operations Lead, Obesity (1-year Maternity Cover)

Join Novo Nordisk and play a key role in advancing innovative obesity treatments for patients worldwide. In this role, your operational leadership will help accelerate clinical trials and strengthen quality in a fast‑growing therapeutic area. Make your impact — apply today.

Your new role

• You will provide strategic operational leadership for global clinical trial start‑up and initiation activities, shaping execution from protocol development through first patient in across Phase I–IV trials.
• You will act as a key operational thought partner, translating clinical strategy into scalable, patient‑centric operating models and ways of working.
• You will hold end‑to‑end accountability for start‑up readiness, setting direction, priorities, and success criteria while proactively managing risks and trade‑offs.
• You will serve as a day‑to‑day informal leader within the trial team, influencing without authority, coaching peers, and creating clarity across complex stakeholder landscapes.
• You will drive strong cross‑functional alignment across project teams, line functions, and external partners to ensure shared ownership and timely decision‑making.
• You will champion continuous improvement and best practices in trial execution, strengthening quality, efficiency, and learning across programs.

This role is located Søborg, Denmark, with a global scope and occasional international travel.

Your new department

You’ll join the Obesity clinical development area, covering everything from clinical pharmacology trials to phase 3a and lifecycle management programs for marketed products. The role requires close collaboration with colleagues across our global network and offers the chance to influence programs at scale.

Your skills and qualifications

• You hold an MSc in a natural or health science plus ~5 years’ relevant experience, or a BSc (or equivalent) with ~7 years’ experience in roles such as Global Trial Manager or similar Clinical Lead roles
• You bring strong clinical project management experience and a track record of positively impacting core operational processes.
• You are an excellent planner, communicator and collaborator with professional proficiency in English.
• You lead by influence and structure — motivating and empowering teams to deliver with excellence, supported by clear structure and responsibilities
• You are resilient and adaptable, embrace change, and enjoy implementing continuous improvement.
• You bring a global enterprise mindset, value diverse perspectives, and build trust across functions.

What we offer

• Meaningful work: play a pivotal role in developing therapies that improve lives worldwide.
• Significant responsibility and visibility in a world-class pharmaceutical company.
• Strong personal and professional development opportunities within a global organization.
• An inclusive, diverse culture that encourages innovation and new ways of working.

Working at Novo Nordisk

At Novo Nordisk, we don't wait for change. We drive it. We're a world-leading agile company in a dynamic industry, and we know that what got us to where we are today is not necessary what make us successful in the future. We embrace the spirit of experimentation, striving for excellence without fixating on perfection. We never shy away from opportunities to develop, we seize them. From research and development, through to manufacturing, marketing, and sales - we're all working to move the needle on patient care.

Contact

For further information, please contact Director Emma Cardona Roca (ecdr@novonordisk.com).

Please note that we are not able to offer informal coffee talks as part of the recruitment process; all applications must be submitted via the official application channel.

How to apply

Deadline 1st of March 2026

Please include a few sentences about why you are applying for this position in your CV. You do not need to attach a cover letter to your application.  

At Novo Nordisk, we are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all job applicants. To ensure a fair recruitment process, please refrain from adding a photo to your CV.

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.

At Novo Nordisk, we're not chasing quick fixes – we're creating lasting change for long-term health. For over 100 years, we've been driven by a single purpose: to defeat serious chronic diseases and help millions of people live healthier lives. This dedication fuels our constant curiosity and inspires us to push the boundaries of what's possible in healthcare. We embrace diverse perspectives, seek out bold ideas, and build partnerships rooted in shared purpose. Together, we're making healthcare more accessible, treating and preventing diseases, and pioneering solutions that create change spanning generations. When you join us, you become part of something bigger – a legacy of impact that reaches far beyond today.