Sustainability Professional, 2-3 years of experience

Join Novo Holdings as part of our Sustainability and Impact team, where you will contribute to our ambitious journey towards becoming a leading responsible investor. This role is based at our headquarters in Copenhagen.

About Novo Holdings

Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company responsible for managing the assets and wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Our purpose 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. Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, we maintain a global presence with offices in the US, the UK, Singapore, and China.

In addition to managing a broad portfolio of equity, fixed income private equity and real assets through the Capital Investments team, Novo Holdings is a world-leading life sciences investor and invests in life science companies at all stages of development through its Seeds, Venture, Growth, Asia, Principal and Planetary Health Investments teams. As of year-end 2023, Novo Holdings had total assets of EUR 149 billion.

The team and the role

The Sustainability & Impact team drives Novo Holdings’ responsible investment strategy, centred around three strategic themes: Health, Planet, and People. The team supports investment teams throughout the investment lifecycle, focusing on ESG due diligence and engaged ownership with portfolio companies, while enhancing transparency on our approach through ESG reporting. Recently, we achieved an important milestone with the approval of our emissions reduction targets by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

As part of a collaborative team of three experienced professionals and a Junior Analyst, you will play a key role in shaping and advancing Novo Holdings’ sustainability efforts.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing ESG reporting planning and coordination across internal teams and portfolio companies to deliver meaningful dashboards, analyses, and reports aligned with regulatory requirements.
• Overseeing the team’s pipeline of sustainability initiatives and improving ESG governance by organising decision-making processes and preparing materials and dashboards on targets, initiatives, and timelines.
• Running projects and analyses, such as human rights impact and materiality assessments, while actively engaging internal and external stakeholders.
• Advising portfolio companies on materiality assessments and reporting frameworks (e.g., CSRD), supported by the development of guidelines and tools.
• Supporting investment teams with ESG due diligence on funds, external managers, and direct investment.

Professional qualifications

We are looking for a candidate who offers:

• 2–3 years of fulltime experience in sustainability, ideally within consulting, the corporate sector, or financial services.
• Strong project management skills with a proven ability to manage complex initiatives effectively.
• A solid understanding of sustainability and ESG standards, data, and regulation such as UNGPs, OECD MNEs, CSRD, UN Global Compact, SFDR and UNPRI.
• A master’s degree in finance, economics, or a related field, with a strong academic record.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Fluent English proficiency.

Personal qualifications

As an individual, you are:

• Curious, ambitious, and driven to make a meaningful impact.
• Structured and analytical in your work approach, with strong data skills.
• Skilled at building and fostering strong relationships in a diverse organisational culture.
• Pragmatic and solution-oriented when addressing challenges.
• Proactive and independent, with a proven ability to manage projects from start to finish.
• A dedicated team player who thrives in an open and collaborative environment.

Working at Novo Holdings

At Novo Holdings, we aspire to a set of values that define the way we work. Our values underpin the Novo Holdings culture of high performance with high responsibility and long-term thinking.  

Our work environment is driven by purpose and values, and we strive to be recognised by our stakeholders and people as an exceptional enterprise.  Our aim is to create an environment where our people can develop to their full potential.  

Application and information

Application deadline is January 12, 2024 with expected start date as soon as possible. To apply, please send your CV and cover letter by clicking on the “Apply” button.

About Novo Holdings A/S

Novo Holdings is a world-leading life science investor, driven by the purpose of improving people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet. Since 1999 we have been investing to promote groundbreaking solutions in healthcare and bio-sustainability. We employ more than 180 professionals from various nationalities and backgrounds, all sharing the same goal: To generate attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

For further information, please visit novoholdings.dk.