Portfolio Strategy Director

Ready to make a lasting impact in Rare Disease and shape strategic direction at a global level? Join Novo Nordisk Rare Disease Executive Office & Portfolio Strategy team in Switzerland and lead portfolio strategy that drives innovation, cross-functional alignment, and long-term impact. This is your opportunity to influence global decisions and deliver value to patients worldwide.

Your New Role

In the role of Portfolio Strategy Director, you will be responsible for shaping the direction and execution of the Rare Disease therapeutic area (TA) and portfolio strategy. This position requires close collaboration with senior leadership and cross-functional teams within commercial, medical, insights, and R&D, to ensure strategic alignment and operational excellence across global functions.

You will facilitate informed decision-making, manage select portfolio committees, and ensure effective engagement with stakeholders at global level, all while orchestrating cross-functional initiatives to achieve strategic goals within the Rare Disease portfolio. The position will be based in Rare Disease, Zurich (Switzerland) and reporting to the Senior Director, Rare Disease Executive Office & Portfolio Strategy.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Leading portfolio prioritisation and strategic planning, governance, and follow-up activities, including design and implementation of frameworks for governance and effective decision making.
• Providing strategic partnership to the Rare Disease senior management team by offering portfolio insights, driving implementation of key initiatives, and ensuring efficient decision-making and progress on strategy execution.
• Facilitating cross-functional collaboration to drive successful execution of TA and portfolio strategy. 
• Driving organisational change by identifying process efficiencies, implementing tools, and leading strategic initiatives across functions and organisational levels.
• Preparing business cases, analyses, strategic reports, and executive insights and communication material for senior leadership.
• Serving as the key liaison with other SVP and EVP areas and represent Rare Disease in relevant internal forums and steering groups.

Your New Department

Rare Disease, based in Zurich, Switzerland, is the global head office of the rare disease arm of Novo Nordisk. We are focused on improving the lives of people with serious chronic rare dis-eases. Our vision is to be a leader in rare blood disorders and rare endocrine disorders. With an entrepreneurial and fast-paced working environment, we are an ambitious team that values curiosity and generosity. If this spirit is appealing to you, then we may be the right place for you.

The Rare Disease Executive Office & Portfolio Strategy department plays a crucial role in providing comprehensive senior management support, overseeing leadership agenda, planning and execution of the Rare Disease portfolio strategy, managing strategic committees and affiliate engagements, supporting organisational development and alignment, as well as driving key cross-functional strategic projects.

Your skills and qualifications

You are eager to apply for this exciting opportunity because you are a seasoned professional with experience working alongside commercial, medical, insights, and R&D teams as well as senior leadership. Your exceptional communication and analytical skills, combined with your strong commercial acumen, have consistently driven business success.  

In Addition, You Will Have:

• Advanced degree in Economics, Business, or Scientific field; and similar.
• 5+ years of experience in portfolio strategy, management consulting, strategic marketing, and/or project management roles, ideally within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong expertise in driving complex cross-organisational initiatives, strategy processes, and projects, with multiple internal and external senior stakeholders.
• Solid understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and value chain, with strong analytical skills to assess business and organisational dynamics and translate complex insights into actionable plans.
• Proven experience working across global and operational levels, alongside track record navigating in cross-cultural and geographical boundaries.

As a person, you bring excellent communication, change, and stakeholder management skills and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to diverse audiences. You are an independent, strategic thinker with strong judgment, resilience, and the ability to influence across levels. Proactive, result-oriented, highly structured, and a master with MS Office.

Working at Novo Nordisk

At Novo Nordisk, collaboration and innovation drive everything we do. Every day we work to find solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. For over 100 years, this unordinary mindset has seen us build a company like no other—where mutual respect, curiosity, and determination make extraordinary results possible.

What We Offer

In addition to a unique and supportive culture, Novo Nordisk offers strong learning and development opportunities tailored to your career and life stage. Our benefits reflect our commitment to empowering employees to reach their full potential while achieving work-life balance.

Deadline

21st October 2025. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. 

Disclaimer

Novo Nordisk is currently in the process of adjusting job titles globally. Please note that the job title listed in this advertisement may be subject to change. More detailed information will be provided during the recruitment process.

Novo Nordisk is not your typical healthcare company. In a modern world of quick fixes, we focus on solutions to defeat serious chronic diseases and promote long-term health. Our unordinary mindset is at the heart of everything we do. We seek out new ideas and put people first as we push the boundaries of science, make healthcare more accessible, and treat, prevent, and even cure diseases that affect millions of lives. Because it takes an unordinary approach to drive real, lasting change in health.