Assoc P&O Director, Site R&D - South East, GB

R&D People & Organisation (P&O)

Oxford, United Kingdom

Are you an experienced HR professional who thrives at the intersection of business strategy, organisational development and people leadership? Would you like to play a key role in shaping the organisation and employee experience across Novo Nordisk’s UK R&D presence?

We are looking for an Associate P&O Director, Site UK R&D to join our global R&D People & Organisation on a 1-year fixed-term contract. Based in Oxford, you will be a trusted P&O partner to the UK R&D Site Leadership team and senior leaders, helping us build an effective, engaging and high‑performing organisation.

You will lead and drive P&O operations, organisational development and engagement across our UK R&D hubs in close collaboration with the site and your colleagues from across the global R&D organisation.

You will act as a trusted advisor, sounding board and challenger to senior leaders, translating business priorities into effective people and organisational solutions. Working in a highly international and matrixed environment, you will connect local needs with the broader R&D P&O agenda and the expertise available across our global P&O organisation.

• Partnering with the UK R&D Site Leadership team and senior leaders on organisational and people‑related matters
• Ensuring smooth and effective local P&O operations, working closely with P&O Centres of Excellence and relevant colleagues
• Identifying and driving organisational development initiatives, including organisational design, workforce planning, talent development, culture and employee engagement
• Supporting organisational change and transformation, including reorganisations and change management activities
• Driving effective implementation of key P&O processes and annual activities, including performance and development, reward and engagement processes
• Supporting effective HR practices and processes in line with legal and compliance requirements, including performance management and employee relations
• Providing direction, coaching and feedback to the local P&O coordinator through indirect leadership
• Leading or contributing to local and global P&O projects, including policy and system launches and organisational transformation initiatives
• Building strong relationships across R&D, global P&O teams, Centres of Excellence and the wider UK organisation

The role has responsibility across the UK with significant global interaction and requires the ability to influence, build alignment and deliver through others in a complex matrix organisation. The role requires onsite presence in both Oxford and London.

In People, Organisation & Corporate Affairs, you will be part of a team that enhances employee engagement and attracts top talent to ensure Novo Nordisk remains a premier choice for exceptional individuals. Together, we foster an inclusive workplace culture that empowers individuals to thrive, and supports our mission to make a positive impact on people’s lives.

R&D People & Organisation partners with leaders and colleagues across Novo Nordisk R&D to build the organisational capabilities, culture and talent needed to deliver on our ambitions. In the UK, this role supports our London and Oxford R&D hub while working closely with colleagues across the global R&D P&O organisation, P&O Centres of Excellence and the broader Novo Nordisk organisation.

You will join an international environment where collaboration across functions, geographies and organisational boundaries is central to how we work.

To succeed in this role, we expect you to bring significant breadth and depth of HR/P&O experience, together with the credibility to partner effectively with senior leaders.

You will ideally have:

• A bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, Psychology or a related discipline; a master's degree would be advantageous
• At least 10 years of relevant HR experience and strong experience in organisational development and change management
• Broad knowledge of HR policies, processes and employee lifecycle activities
• Experience working in a global matrix…