Associate, Novo Holdings, Venture Investments (Copenhagen)

Novo Holdings is seeking an Associate to join the Venture Investments team in Copenhagen.

Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk and Novonesis and manages an investment portfolio with a long-term return perspective. In addition to managing a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure and private equity assets, Novo Holdings is a world-leading life sciences investor. Through its Seeds, Venture, Growth, and Principal Investments teams, Novo Holdings invests in life science companies at all stages of development. As of year-end 2023, Novo Holdings had total assets of EUR 149 billion.

Working in the Venture Investments team

The Venture Investments business offers an exciting and truly diversified life science investment platform. We have the ability to invest across all stages of private and public investments with a core focus on therapeutics and medtech. Our size, evergreen platform, and diversification across sector, stage and geography (30 professionals across offices in Copenhagen, San Francisco, Boston and London) provides an excellent training ground for venture career development. We have a respectful and collaborative work culture where your opinion is valued. The day-to-day work experience is intellectually stimulating and rich in scientific and business content. With access to exceptional resources and global networks, the Venture Investments team at Novo Holdings is one of the most impactful investors in the industry, providing an opportunity to be in a stimulating learning environment. In 2023, we deployed $530 million across our portfolio, including 18 new portfolio investments with participation in 28 further financings and secured 5 successful M&As. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome and celebrate individuals of all backgrounds, orientations, and identities. We are committed to developing our internal talent and have a long track record of promotion to the senior levels of our team.

The Job

You will be part of our team responsible for originating, analyzing and managing Venture Investments’ private investments. Responsibilities include:

• Supporting Partners and Principals in investment cases
• Assessing investment opportunities based on the clinical unmet need they are addressing, supporting scientific validation, strength of management teams, clinical development plans, regulatory outlook, commercial opportunities, intellectual property, competitive landscape and valuation
• Conducting primary due diligence of new investment opportunities, which can include:

• An in-depth review of relevant scientific and clinical publications
• Review and distillation of company provided materials
• Competitive landscaping
• Calls with KOLs, physicians, payers and other relevant experts
• Preparing and helping present investment material and supporting documentation associated with transactions
• Building capitalization tables, returns and financial forecast models
• Helping monitor and assist with management of investments
• Creating excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations and reports within specific areas
• Assisting in operations and other ad hoc tasks
• Collaborating with other areas of the organization to support other Novo Holdings’ activities

Based in Copenhagen and London, the Novo Holdings Ventures Investment’s European team works very closely with its Boston and San Francisco colleagues. The role is based in Copenhagen and will involve regular travel to our London office to enable teamwork, joint learning and networking.

Professional Qualifications

We are looking for a candidate with:

• A strong scientific background, with a PhD in Medical Sciences or a related field such as pharmacology, biology or chemistry or an MD-PhD and preferably supplemented with a financial qualification (e.g. Masters level qualification in Finance, MBA, CFA)
• 2 to 3 years post qualification experience gained analyzing life science companies and/or executing financial transactions for life science companies – ideally at a venture firm, buy-side or sell-side equity research, investment banking, top tier consulting firm, or business development at a pharmaceutical company/ biotech
• Strong appetite and demonstrated interest for life science innovation and investment
• Experience with crafting presentations, complex analysis and processes
• High level of IT skills with Microsoft office, in particular Excel and PowerPoint. Ability to conduct financial modelling and valuation analysis is preferred
• Experience working with industry databases (e.g. Citeline, Pitchbook), libraries and other data sources to assist in researching companies, clinical trials, competitive positioning and commercial opportunities is preferred
• Strong communication skills in English (written and oral)

Personal Qualifications

• Professional, quality-conscious, impact-oriented team player with ability to multi-task and work with cross cultural/multi-office teams
• Intellectual quickness, curiosity, discipline, resourcefulness and resilience
• Highly motivated self-starter with demonstrated ability to problem-solve, make decisions and provide input on issues relating to administration, projects and communication
• High integrity, strong interpersonal skills and an ability to build good and respectful relationships

Contact

For more information about the role please contact P&O Partner, Jorge Schutte, at [email protected].

The deadline for applying is 31 January 2025. To apply, please send your CV, cover letter and university transcripts by clicking on the “Apply” button.