Senior Director - Commercial Innovation

About the Department
Our Marketing & Patient Solutions group creates and delivers human-centered experiences, where innovation meets customer-centricity, driving the ultimate experience for our patients. Our focus extends beyond transactions to craft experiences as one fully integrated, aligned and connected organization that puts empathy at the center, powered by insight and foresight.
We develop an end-to-end approach to strategy, focusing on every touchpoint that impacts our customers. We leverage data and insights to inform our decision-making processes, ensuring that our strategies are rooted in a deep understanding of customer needs and behaviors. Our 'test and learn' mindset and approach enables us to iterate rapidly and refine our strategies based on real-world results.
We are building an intentional team culture that is made up of diverse skillsets, united by the shared belief that reinvention and learning is what fuels continuous growth. Do you get excited about exploring the unknown? Does the idea of driving value through human-centered design pull you in? Are you ready to experiment with us?
The Position
The Senior Director Commercial Innovation drives commercial innovation with a specific focus on the obesity therapeutic area and its cross-therapeutic area applications. The role is vital for identifying and developing new commercial business models that encompass partnerships, distribution channels, and value-added services aimed at maximizing market opportunities and enhancing customer engagement. By conducting thorough feasibility and viability assessments of these commercial opportunities, the role ensures that informed, data-driven decisions are made to mitigate risks before scaling initiatives.
Relationships
Reports to the Executive Director of Strategic Operations. This position interacts with senior leadership (Executive and Leadership Teams) and collaborates closely with key stakeholders across NNI (Commercial, Market Access & Public Affairs, CMR, Legal, Compliance, Finance and Operations and Human Resources); in order to foster a coordinated approach to evaluating innovative business models, pilot with cross-functional teams across enterprise.
Essential Functions
• Identification of New Commercial Business Models: Explore and define new commercial business models that can enhance market potential. This includes
o Commercial Partnerships: Identify opportunities for collaborations & partnerships with digital health companies, healthcare providers, technology firms, and other stakeholders to create synergistic solutions. Develop partnership frameworks that align business objectives and provide mutual benefits
o Channel Strategy Development: Analyze and assess emerging channels, partnerships and models - to determine the best ways to reach target customers. Design strategies that leverage direct-to-consumer approaches, telehealth providers, and mobile health applications, ensuring alignment with market trends
o Service Innovations: Investigate value-added services that can accompany existing product offerings, such as patient support programs, educational resources, or digital health solutions (e.g., apps for lifestyle management). These services should aim to improve patient outcomes and foster loyalty to the brand
o Revenue Stream Exploration: Assess new revenue opportunities that can arise collaborations and partnerships. Partner with Finance to provide financial modelling and forecasts to evaluate potential profitability and customer retention
• Market Insights and Analysis: Conduct comprehensive market research and analysis to provide a proactive, outside-in perspective on market evolution, dynamics, and competitive positioning in the obesity therapeutic area. Stay informed about trends, emerging technologies, and competitor strategies to inform business decisions and drive innovative approaches. Utilize insights to identify potential cross-therapeutic area (TA) applications
• Feasibility and Viability Assessment: Develop a thorough evaluation of proposed solutions to assess their feasibility, viability, and market fit before scaling. This includes conducting SWOT analyses, risk assessment, and financial modelling. Use quantitative and qualitative data to create a robust rationale for pursuing selected commercial opportunities
• Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams: Work closely with Marketing, Patient Solutions (MPS), and Market Access & Pricing Analytics (MAPA), along with other cross-functional teams, to ensure that commercial innovation initiatives align with broader organizational goals and strategies. Facilitate open communication channels to foster collaboration and share insights, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of commercial strategies
• Pilot Program Design and Implementation: Design and oversee pilot programs to test new commercial opportunities in a controlled environment. Collect feedback and performance data to refine and optimize offerings before wider implementation. Ensure that pilot initiatives are strategically aligned with organizational objectives and market needs
• Performance Monitoring and Continuous Improvement: Establish metrics and KPIs to monitor the performance of newly implemented commercial business models. Analyze outcomes and customer feedback to identify areas for improvement. Develop iterative processes to adjust business models as necessary based on real-world performance and evolving market conditions
• Strategic Recommendations for Leadership: Synthesize insights from market analysis, pilot programs, and performance evaluations into actionable recommendations for leadership. Present clear, data-driven proposals to support strategic decision-making regarding new initiatives and investments
Physical Requirements
0-10% overnight travel required.
Development of People
Supervisory. Ensure that reporting personnel have individual development plans (IDP), with annual goals and measurements that are consistent with the priorities of the business, and that interim reviews are held so that their work is focused on those priorities, and they understand their level of accountability for results and the measurement process. Ensure that the IDP forms include completed learning and aspiration plans and are in place for all reporting personnel to enable the achievement of goals and capability to assume increased levels of responsibility. Manage the application and communication of all Novo Nordisk policies, procedures, and Novo Nordisk Way.
Qualifications
• A Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree preferred in relevant area (e.g. MBA, Master's in Public Health, Healthcare Economics, or related discipline)
• 12+ years of progressive business analysis, commercial strategy, business development, or product management, preferably within healthcare/pharmaceutical industry.
• Proven track record of identifying and developing new commercial business models and partnerships is helpful
• Strong understanding of the healthcare landscape, including market dynamics, regulatory environments, and competitive positioning, particularly in the obesity therapeutic area and related cross-TA applications. Familiarity with various distribution channels and commercial strategies within the healthcare industry
• Ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams, including Marketing, Patient Solutions, Market Access, and other stakeholders. Strong presentation skills to communicate findings and recommendations to leadership and other stakeholders
• Strong problem-solving skills and a strategic mindset to identify growth opportunities and address challenges proactively. Ability to think creatively and innovatively, leveraging insights to propose novel solutions and business models
• Demonstrated adaptability to changing market conditions and the ability to navigate uncertainties within the healthcare environment. Ability to adapt to rapidly changing business requirements and operate at both the strategic and tactical level
• Hands-on experience in project/portfolio resource planning, reporting, prioritization, and budgeting
• Proven ability to work with and influence senior management
• Ability to synthesize complex information into user-friendly, persuasive formats and presentations
• Experience successfully leading complex confidential projects
The base compensation range for this position is $ 181,670 to $ 317,920. Base compensation is determined based on a number of factors. This position is also eligible for a company bonus based on individual and company performance.
Novo Nordisk offers long-term incentive compensation and or company vehicles depending on the position's level or other company factors.
Employees are also eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs including medical, dental and vision coverage; life insurance; disability insurance; 401(k) savings plan; flexible spending accounts; employee assistance program; tuition reimbursement program; and voluntary benefits such as group legal, critical illness, identity theft protection, pet insurance and auto/home insurance. The Company also offers time off pursuant to its sick time policy, flex-able vacation policy, and parental leave policy.
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.
If you are interested in applying to Novo Nordisk and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply, please call us at 1-855-411-5290. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.