Portfolio Management & Strategic Events Director

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for making a difference? We are seeking an inspiring and strategically thinking Director to lead our Portfolio Management & Strategic Events Team. In this pivotal role, you will shape, facilitate and drive the successful planning, execution, and evaluation of our diverse portfolio of projects and events. You will be at the forefront of aligning our initiatives with the Foundation’s vision, creating lasting impact and contributing to a better future for people and the planet.

The Job

The Portfolio Management & Strategic Events Team consists of 7 highly skilled and dedicated colleagues, including two members in the Portfolio Team and 5 members in the Events Team. As a team, we are committed to excellence in our work, leveraging strong professional expertise, dedication, and a passion for making a difference in our respective fields.

It will be a key success criteria in the role to establish effective working relationships with heads of programme and functional areas based on trust and mutual alignment. You will need to have a strong personal skill set enabling you to be a crucial link between the COO, heads of areas and the progress of the foundation’s portfolio to approval in foundation governance. Close collaboration with the Finance area and our CFO will support the cohesion of our portfolio and the execution of our strategy.

You will lead the orchestration of the Foundation’s project portfolio, ensuring each initiative aligns with our strategic vision. This includes:

• Develop and implement robust portfolio management frameworks and methodologies to optimize project selection, prioritization, and resource allocation.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging data and feedback to enhance portfolio management practices.
• Collaborate with the programme areas and work with stakeholders to ensure alignment and coherence across all projects.
• Prepare and present regular portfolio performance reports to senior leadership and the Board of Directors, providing insights and recommendations for strategic decision-making.
• Collaborate with the Executive team and guiding how the portfolio areas and funding priorities supports the execution of our strategy.

You will also lead the planning and execution of high-profile events that promote the Foundation’s mission. This includes:

• Establish synergies between the insights from our portfolio management and the design and scope of our impactful academic events.
• Develop our strategic events that contribute to amplifying the impact of priorities in our strategy.
• Ensure events are executed to the highest standards, reflecting the Foundation’s values and brand.

As a leader, you will build cohesiveness in a team with diverse work tasks. You inspire people, foster a collaborative and high-performance culture characterized by trust, engagement, and well-being, and ensure the team’s efforts are aligned with the Foundation’s strategic goals.

Professional and Personal Qualifications

We are looking for an experienced senior leader (+15 years), preferably within a private sector, non-profit organization or or philanthropic foundation. Experience with cross-sector collaboration is a significant advantage.

You have strong knowledge of portfolio management methodologies and practices and can adapt those to suit the life cycle and culture of a philanthropic foundation.

You understand and demonstrate effective change management working with business readiness, stakeholder management and leadership alignment within complex, multi-stakeholder organisations.

We imagine that you have a combination of finance, strategy, PPM and operational management experience.

Working at the Novo Nordisk Foundation 

We offer a committed and professional workplace in which we emphasize ensuring that our colleagues thrive, are challenged, and have opportunities to develop their potential. A career at the Novo Nordisk Foundation gives you the opportunity to work:  

• On important projects that improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet; 
• With key actors within research and development in Denmark and internationally; 
• As part of a dedicated team that is passionate about creating impact.

Application

We encourage you to send your application as soon as possible and no later than 16 March 2025.

To apply, please send your CV, cover letter, grade transcript from university or similar, and other relevant documents by clicking the “Apply now” button.

About the Novo Nordisk Foundation

Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation’s mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society.

In the coming years, the Foundation will broaden its scope and increase its grants for scientific, humanitarian, and social purposes, including solving the climate crisis and developing tomorrow’s food production. As a consequence, we are a growing organisation, which means new job openings and exciting opportunities for employees to be part of forming the future of the Foundation.