At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations in a fast-paced R&D environment, ensuring compliance and efficient service delivery.
- Company: Join Novo Nordisk, a global leader in healthcare dedicated to long-term health solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy career development opportunities, competitive benefits, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to creating lasting change in healthcare.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare by driving operational excellence and innovation.
- Qualifications: Experience in facility or lab operations, strong leadership, and stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced operations leader who can bring structure, governance and strong stakeholder partnering to a fast-moving R&D environment—without slowing the science down? We are looking for an Associate Director to help strengthen UK R&D site operations across our UK sites based out of Oxford, strengthening compliance, service delivery and supplier models while acting as a trusted partner to site leadership.
Your new role
As Associate Director, you will drive the next wave of operational professionalisation across our UK sites. You will help build robust governance, scalable support models and compliance-minded operations, while providing strong on-site leadership in a complex, evolving R&D environment.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leadership of a small team of highly skilled professionals and outsourced services, providing coherence, direction and support on day-to-day operations as well as strategic initiatives.
- Senior stakeholder partnering: Act as a trusted sparring partner to site leadership, navigating complexity and pushback with integrity, clarity and executive presence.
- Operational governance and professionalisation: Establish and strengthen structures, processes and governance so the UK organisation operates in a compliant, efficient and science-enabling way.
- Outsourcing and supplier management: Lead strategic supplier partnerships, to ensure resilient and integrated outcome-based delivery of comprehensive site operation.
- Cross-site operational accountability: Ensure consistent, high-quality operational support across sites in Oxford and London.
This role is Oxford-based and requires highly visible presence with regular on-site leadership.
Your new department
You will join UK R&D Operations, supporting a multi-site organisation across two sites in Oxford and one in London. The function brings together Health & Safety, site coordination, facility management activities and lab services, working closely with colleagues in the US and Denmark to ensure UK sites maintain operational readiness and compliance posture; governance, audit prep., corrective and preventative actions, and risk management (e.g. LTO: License to Operate). Moreover, the function leads operational change initiatives while maintaining business continuity and protecting R&D productivity. Accountable for Operations performance, responsible for influencing cross-functional outcomes.
In Research & Development, you will be part of a unit that explores bold scientific ideas and advances them into clinical testing. We combine curiosity, AI tools, and human data to develop transformative therapies. Through collaboration and operational excellence, we shape and deliver an innovative pipeline to meet future patient needs.
Your skills and qualifications
We are looking for a mature, resilient operations leader who thrives in ambiguity and can create structure, trust and momentum in a fast-growing R&D environment.
To succeed, you will likely bring:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Facility Management, Engineering, Business Administration or a related field.
- Significant experience in site operations, facility or lab operations–adjacent roles within a professional industry setting, ideally pharma or life sciences.
- Proven leadership experience managing employees in complex, change-driven environments.
- Strong experience with outsourcing, vendor and contract management, including data-driven decision-making and KPI follow-up.
- Executive-level stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trust and build “one team” collaboration.
- Comfortable operating within ambiguity, prioritising under pressure and driving progress despite organisational and capability constraints.
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 we commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants. If you're a person with a disability, if you're neurodivergent, and need any adjustments to be made during the application and selection process, please send an email to ebhn@novonordisk.com. Please include your name, the role you are interested in and the type of adjustment you need.
Contact
For further information about the position, please contact Director, Bigitte Regine Viktor-Knudsen at brkn@novonordisk.com.
Deadline: 14 June 2026.
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.
Associate Director, Facility Operations in Oxford employer: Novo Nordisk
At Novo Nordisk, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, particularly for the Associate Director role in Facility Operations based in Oxford. Our commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation ensures that employees are empowered to grow professionally while contributing to meaningful advancements in healthcare. With a focus on inclusivity, continuous learning opportunities, and a supportive work environment, we offer a unique chance to be part of a legacy dedicated to creating lasting change for long-term health.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director, Facility Operations in Oxford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you showcase your fit for the role and demonstrate your genuine interest in the organisation.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your experience and how it relates to the Associate Director role. Highlight your leadership skills and ability to navigate complex environments, as these are key to impressing potential employers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director, Facility Operations in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in operations leadership, especially in R&D environments. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Associate Director and how you can bring structure and governance to our team.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:In your application, emphasise your proven leadership experience and how you've managed teams in complex, change-driven environments. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and guide others, so don’t hold back on sharing your success stories!
Highlight Stakeholder Management Experience:Since this role involves senior stakeholder partnering, make sure to detail your experience in building trust and collaboration with site leadership. We want to know how you've navigated complexities and maintained integrity in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Novo Nordisk
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the company’s operations and recent projects. Familiarise yourself with their R&D processes and how they align with your experience in facility management and operations. This will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to their goals.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in complex environments. Think of situations where you successfully managed teams or navigated challenges. Be ready to discuss how you foster collaboration and build trust among stakeholders.
✨Understand Compliance and Governance
Brush up on compliance standards relevant to the pharmaceutical industry. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve implemented governance structures in past roles. This shows you’re not just a leader but also someone who understands the importance of operational integrity.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that demonstrate your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about their current operational challenges or future projects. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.
