Assoc P&O Director, Site Uk R&D - 1-Year Fixed-Term Contract in Oxford

Are you an experienced HR professional who thrives at the intersection of business strategy, organisational development and people leadership? Would you like to play a key role in shaping the organisation and employee experience across Novo Nordisk’s UK R&D presence?

Your new role

We are looking for an Associate P&O Director, Site UK R&D to join our global R&D People & Organisation on a 1-year fixed-term contract. Based in Oxford, you will be a trusted P&O partner to the UK R&D Site Leadership team and senior leaders, helping us build an effective, engaging and high-performing organisation. You will lead and drive P&O operations, organisational development and engagement across our UK R&D hubs in close collaboration with the site and your colleagues from across the global R&D organisation.

You will act as a trusted advisor, sounding board and challenger to senior leaders, translating business priorities into effective people and organisational solutions. Working in a highly international and matrixed environment, you will connect local needs with the broader R&D P&O agenda and the expertise available across our global P&O organisation.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Partnering with the UK R&D Site Leadership team and senior leaders on organisational and people-related matters
• Ensuring smooth and effective local P&O operations, working closely with P&O Centres of Excellence and relevant colleagues
• Identifying and driving organisational development initiatives, including organisational design, workforce planning, talent development, culture and employee engagement
• Supporting organisational change and transformation, including reorganisations and change management activities
• Driving effective implementation of key P&O processes and annual activities, including performance and development, reward and engagement processes
• Supporting effective HR practices and processes in line with legal and compliance requirements, including performance management and employee relations
• Providing direction, coaching and feedback to the local P&O coordinator through indirect leadership
• Leading or contributing to local and global P&O projects, including policy and system launches and organisational transformation initiatives
• Building strong relationships across R&D, global P&O teams, Centres of Excellence and the wider UK organisation

The role has responsibility across the UK with significant global interaction and requires the ability to influence, build alignment and deliver through others in a complex matrix organisation. The role requires onsite presence in both Oxford and London.

Your new department

In People, Organisation & Corporate Affairs, you will be part of a team that enhances employee engagement and attracts top talent to ensure Novo Nordisk remains a premier choice for exceptional individuals. Together, we foster an inclusive workplace culture that empowers individuals to thrive, and supports our mission to make a positive impact on people's lives.

R&D People & Organisation partners with leaders and colleagues across Novo Nordisk R&D to build the organisational capabilities, culture and talent needed to deliver on our ambitions. In the UK, this role supports our London and Oxford R&D hub while working closely with colleagues across the global R&D P&O organisation, P&O Centres of Excellence and the broader Novo Nordisk organisation. You will join an international environment where collaboration across functions, geographies and organisational boundaries is central to how we work.

Your skills & qualifications

To succeed in this role, we expect you to bring significant breadth and depth of HR/P&O experience, together with the credibility to partner effectively with senior leaders.

You will ideally have:

• A bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, Psychology or a related discipline; a master's degree would be advantageous
• At least 10 years of relevant HR experience and strong experience in organisational development and change management
• Broad knowledge of HR policies, processes and employee lifecycle activities
• Experience working in a global matrix organisation and collaborating across functions and geographies
• Demonstrated ability to coach, challenge and influence senior stakeholders
• Experience of strategic workforce management, talent management and organisational effectiveness
• Direct or indirect people leadership experience would be an advantage

As a person, you work with a high degree of independence, integrity and sound judgement. You are structured and able to navigate complexity while remaining flexible when priorities change. You build trusted relationships at all levels, bring resilience and initiative to your work, and are comfortable challenging constructively to achieve strong outcomes.

Working at Novo Nordisk

Every day we seek the solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. To do this, we approach our work with determination, constant curiosity and a commitment to finding better ways forward. For over 100 years, this dedication has driven us to build a company focused on lasting change for long-term health. One where diverse thinking, shared purpose and mutual respect come together to create extraordinary results. When you join us, you're not just starting a job – you're becoming part of a story that spans generations.

What we offer

There is, of course, more on offer here than the uniqueness of our culture and the extraordinary results we produce. Being part of a global healthcare company means opportunities to learn and develop are all around us, while our benefits are designed with your career and life stage in mind.

Application Support

We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all applicants. If you require adjustments during the application or selection process, please contact ebhn@novonordisk.com and include your name, the role you are applying for and the adjustment you require.

Deadline 6 September 2026.

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.