Senior Principal Scientist Full-time

Senior Principal Scientist

Cardiometabolic Comorbidities

Måløv, Capital Region of Denmark, DK

Are you a recognised scientific expert ready to shape the future of cardiometabolic innovation? We are looking for a Senior Principal Scientist to lead high impact research, inform strategic scientific decisions, and drive cross-functional collaboration that advances our early discovery pipeline. Apply today!

Your new role

As Senior Principal Scientist, you will contribute to shape scientific direction in early research focused on inflammation within cardiometabolic diseases. You will play a pivotal role in shaping our future discovery pipeline, driving innovation and engage with stakeholders across Research & Development.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Lead high quality scientific research focused on inflammation as a culprit of cardiometabolic diseases with a strong business and translational focus.
• Providing scientific guidance across discovery and early project teams, ensuring data driven decisions, scientific rigor and strategic prioritisation.
• Leading external collaborations with academic and biotech partners to secure innovation and alignment with human disease biology.
• Reviewing, evaluating and advancing new biological targets and ideas, ensuring they fit portfolio needs and support long term strategic goals.
• Acting as a trusted advisor for senior leadership on scientific direction, target prioritisation, project direction and emerging research opportunities.

Your new department

You will join Cardiometabolic Comorbidities TA Discovery team within R&D – embedded within Cardiometabolic Comorbidities Therapy Area, focused on advancing novel treatments for cardiometabolic comorbidities. The team operates at the interface between early research and drug discovery, with a strong emphasis on scientific excellence, collaboration and innovation. Working in a vibrant multicultural environment, you will collaborate closely with scientists, specialists, laboratory technicians and project leaders across the global R&D organisation.

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

You bring a strong scientific foundation, strategic mindset and the ability to influence across diverse scientific and organisational environments.

We expect you to have:

• A PhD or equivalent experience within cardiovascular, renal and/or cardiometabolic biology and 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience of drug discovery in industry (pharma or biotech). Experience from a highly matrixed organisation would be desirable.
• Proven track-record within inflammation and immunomodulation in the context of cardiometabolic disease with ability to translate mechanistic insights into therapeutic opportunities.
• Deep expertise in at least one cardiometabolic comorbidity area (e.g., ASCVD, HF, CKD or MASH) and strong understanding of the pharma value chain.
• Strong scientific depth and intellectual curiosity, with the ability to interrogate complex biology, challenge assumptions, and spot patterns across initiatives, synthesising insights from diverse programs and datasets to identify emerging themes.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management and collaboration skills, with the ability to align diverse groups and advocate for scientific direction.
• A proactive, organised and flexible mindset, with the ability to work independently while contributing to team success.

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 deadline

5 April 2026. We will review the applications on an ongoing basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. You do not need to attach a cover letter to your application, but please include a few sentences about why you are applying in your resume or CV. To ensure an efficient and fair recruitment process, please refrain from adding a photo to your CV.

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.