Senior Director - Media And Stakeholder Relations

About the Department         

The Communications Department brings the value of Novo Nordisk medicines and innovations to life through strategic communications that elevate our purpose, drive our business, foster our culture and enhance our reputation with patients, customers, employees and society in the US.  Communications is comprised of four distinct yet synergistic teams that work collaboratively with a focus on proactive and progressive approaches to:  Corporate Reputation & Brand; Commercial Communications; Enterprise & Leadership Communications; and Digital Channels & Content.  We provide objective strategic communications counsel, an ability to flex with shifting organizational priorities and emerging needs and a strong focus on ethics and discretion with the sensitive information we are entrusted with.  As part of Team Novo Nordisk, you will have an opportunity to work with extraordinary, energizing and diverse talent where your distinct perspectives and expertise are valued as we work together to change lives for the better.

The Position

This position is responsible for leading the enterprise's external Stakeholder Relations with Media and other influencers; leading issues management communications across all industry, company and brand issues; and leading crisis communications management to enhance Novo Nordisk's position externally and internally in the United States. The Senior Director leads a team responsible for developing and executing a variety of integrated communications plans and media strategies as well as issues/crisis communication plans for significant US business milestones, initiatives and unplanned events. The Senior Director is responsible for relationships with top-tier media outlets and offers a deep expertise on media relations, issues, crisis and Stakeholder Relations as well as serves as a critical communications advisor and counsellor to the Novo Nordisk Inc. (NNI) Executive Team. This position is responsible for strategic US news flow and press release distribution. As Novo Nordisk footprint in the US continues to expand, this position will be responsible for establishing and enabling media protocols and serving as a communications resource across Novo Nordisk North America sites. The Senior Director position also serves as the NNI Communications Lead for cross-functional Crisis Response Teams. This position plays a key role in positively positioning the company among its key external audiences and to ensure public understanding of the company's purpose, mission, business goals and philosophies.

Relationships

Reports to a Vice President, Communications and serves as a member of the NNI Communications Leadership Team.

Manages team of two – three direct reports along with professional communications agency partners and outside consultants. Interacts with the NNI Executive Team and top management across NNI, as well as NNI Commercial, CMR, Finance, Legal and Market Access & Public Affairs teams and other teams in the NNI Communications function. Collaborates with Headquarters Corporate Communications, Investor Relations leadership, and Novo Nordisk Executive Management (as necessary) during company-wide activities, including business milestones, crisis and issues management.

Essential Functions

• Media & External Relations
  • Leads the creation and implementation of a comprehensive proactive and reactive media relations and Stakeholder strategy in support of NNI business goals and objectives
  • Oversees management and handling of top-tier media inquiries in the US and those related to US business, leveraging US and HQ Media Teams as appropriate
  • Responsible for establishing and maintaining productive and responsible relations with top-tier US Media and other relevant external stakeholders
  • Partners with stakeholders to ensure a strategic balance of corporate and commercial messages across all communications in support of one NNI narrative
  • Establishes US cross-functional media protocols and processes to reflect significantly heightened interest and scrutiny as well as organizational complexity
  • Leads media relations/communications resourcing and support for NNI stakeholders (commercial, executives, sites)
  • Responsible for ensuring all company expert spokespeople are media trained and ready for external engagements
  • Identifies and counsels on media dynamics, industry trends, emerging outlets, reporters and channels
  • Serves as official company spokesperson
  • Strategically assesses media landscape relevant to our business, products and industry and general media dynamics and news flow to counsel, inform and provide recommendations to senior leadership and inform NNI media strategy
  • Serves as the Media Relations and Issues/Crisis Communications Expert in the US and partners with key contacts across other Novo Nordisk North America sites to provide strategic communications counsel, exchange information and support substantive milestones, as appropriate in support of overarching business and reputational goals
• Issues & Crisis Management
  • Leads communications issues management strategy and implementation across relevant industry, company and brand issues, collaborating with relevant stakeholders and subject matter experts to identify, create and implement solutions
  • Responsible for NNI’s strategic approach to issues management, ensuring processes/procedures are followed and provides counsel to NNI senior leaders and Executive Team
  • Assesses key issues concerning external communications/company reputation and implements the most appropriate strategy to address
  • Utilizes technology, market insights and data to anticipate issues and trends and develops plans and processes to address key events and milestones that affect NNI
  • Communications Lead on relevant NNI and Global HQ Crisis Response Teams (CRT) and responsible for the NNI Crisis Communications Protocol

• Media Monitoring & Listening
  • Leads team efforts to identify and understand key audience/stakeholder insights through reputational, Media and social listening for issue management and business needs
  • Responsible for ongoing media monitoring and sharing across relevant stakeholders
• Budget & Agency Partners
  • Identifies and directs Agency of Record for media relations and issues/crisis communications management
  • Develops requests for proposals based on costs associated with projects set by senior management
  • Sets budget for team projects and oversees the spending to ensure budget expectations are met

Physical Requirements

20-30% 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. Concentration in journalism, public relations, English or a related communications discipline preferred
• 15+ years of progressively increasing corporate communications, issues/crisis management and media relations experience required
• Minimum of 5 years of supervisory and management experience in communications required          
• Experience in PR agency environment or pharmaceutical industry required including an in-depth understanding of the supply chain, regulatory landscape, advocacy relations and policy and industry issues (e.g., access, pricing and affordability)
• Knowledge of diabetes and obesity (or related metabolic disease) marketplace preferred 
• Knowledge of new and emerging public relations/media/communications tools
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to interact with all levels of the business including NNI Executive Team and NNAS Executive Management
• Ability to work under tight timelines and outside of official Company hours in what can be a stressful environment with limited planning or preparation
• Able to work effectively in a cross-functional, collaborative environment with global as well as regional considerations and, sometimes, political implications
• Demonstrated ability to display expert level critical thinking in applying principles, theories and concepts on a wide range of problems
• Demonstrated success in creating and leading strategic direction, plans and proven ability to drive and sustain business improvement and results
• Proven strategic planning, media relations and issues/crisis management skills are essential for this position
• Requires proven success in setting direction and developing others
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to use data to inform decision-making

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.