Core Facilities Manager - Cell Therapy at Novo Nordisk

About the Department                                                                                                                                     

Novo Nordisk, a global health care company, is committed to discovering and developing innovative medicines to help people living with diabetes lead longer, healthier lives. To support this, Novo Nordisk is conducting research on stem cell therapy. Stem cell research raises hopes for improved treatment of Type 1 Diabetes and for future treatments with cell transplantation therapy. This treatment could be offered to people with many different serious chronic diseases caused by the degeneration of specific cells, such as Type 1 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is manifested by the selective destruction of the insulin-producing cells in the body, which leads to a life-long dependence on insulin injections to control blood sugar levels. It is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. Cell therapy may offer a better treatment by replacing the lost cells with new insulin-producing cells derived from stem cells, thus avoiding daily multiple insulin injections as well as numerous blood glucose tests. This treatment may also offer better blood glucose control, which is crucial to avoid late-stage complications such as blindness and kidney failure. In this project Novo Nordisk will generate new stem cell lines to be used in future cell therapies to treat Type 1 Diabetes, Parkinson’s and chronical heart failure.  Are you ready to make a difference?

The Position

Novo Nordisk, a global health care company, is committed to discovering and developing innovative medicines to help people living with diabetes lead longer, healthier lives. To support this, Novo Nordisk is conducting research in cell therapy which raises hopes for improved treatment of Type 1 Diabetes and other chronic diseases.

The Core Facility Manager is responsible for overseeing the Core Laboratory operations and personnel management. The role focuses on ensuring efficient laboratory operation, maintaining equipment, and ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality cells to support research and development activities. Initially, this position will involve managing a team of temporary staff.

Relationships

The Core Facility Manager will work at the Cell Therapy R&D facility located in Fremont, Ca.  The Manager will report to a member of the Cell Therapy Leadership Team. Internal stakeholders include Cell Therapy in Novo Nordisk A/S (Denmark), Novo Nordisk Research Center Seattle, Inc. (NNRCSI) and Novo Nordisk Quality.

Essential Functions

• Manage daily laboratory operations for smooth workflow
• Hire and staff the core laboratory
• Lead, mentor, and develop staff, managing schedules, timesheets, and performance reviews
• Act as the primary contact for internal communications with support groups and stakeholders
• Develop and plan daily operational schedules to optimize lab activities
• Establish strategies for coordinating and sharing of facility and equipment with MSAT team and streamlining sample submission to the Assay Services team
• Foster a culture of safety and continuous improvement, ensuring compliance with relevant safety regulations and company policies
• Conduct regular safety audits and risk assessments, implementing corrective actions as required
• Support team with hands-on lab activities as needed, managing and tracking inventory of produced samples, cells, and reagents
• Coordinate equipment maintenance, calibration, and repair schedules to minimize downtime, forecasting raw materials and consumable needs
• Anticipate, troubleshoot, and resolve operational issues, including lab emergencies
• Optimize laboratory workflows, processes, and procedures to maximize operational efficiency
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to prioritize and allocate resources effectively, supporting project timelines by ensuring timely delivery of lab services and supplies
• Train and mentor new lab technicians, ensuring accurate documentation and reporting of production data
• Develop, write, and review technical documents, including protocols and reports
• Prepare and present production results and operational updates to management
• Lead technology transfer activities for new processes introduced to the laboratory, coordinating outgoing lab deliveries and shipments

Physical Requirements

Up to 10% overnight travel required.

Development of People

Supervisory

Ensure that reporting personnel have individual development plans (IDP), with annual goals and measurements that are consistent with the priorities of the business, and that interim reviews are held so that their work is focused on those priorities, and they understand their level of accountability for results and the measurement process.

Ensure that the IDP forms include completed learning and aspiration plans and are in place for all reporting personnel to enable the achievement of goals and capability to assume increased levels of responsibility.

Manage the application and communication of all Novo Nordisk policies, procedures, and Novo Nordisk Way.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (degree in the life sciences field preferred), minimum of an associate degree required. 
  • Associate’s degree with 10+ years of experience may also be considered
  • Advanced degree (ie. Masters) may be substituted for experience as appropriate
• Required experience
  • Experience within cell culture; hands-on experience in cell culture, and aseptic handling
  • Experience writing technical protocols, reports, and standard operating procedures
  • Demonstrated ability to identify, challenge, and implement potential improvements to work procedures
  • Ability to lead and work in cross-functional teams
  • Proven ability to thrive in a results-oriented dynamic research and development environment
  • Ability to communicate to all levels of the organization, cross-functional teams, and various knowledge levels 
• Preferred experience:
  • Degree in the life sciences field
  • 3 years of leadership experience, can be combination of people and project management
  • Ability to lead teams consisting of members with different degrees of knowledge or ability

The base compensation range for this position is $121,050 to $175,000. Base compensation is determined based on a number of factors. This position is also eligible for a company bonus based on individual and company performance. 
 
Novo Nordisk offers long-term incentive compensation on the position's level or other company factors. 
 
Employees are also eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs including medical, dental and vision coverage; life insurance; disability insurance; 401(k) savings plan; flexible spending accounts; employee assistance program; tuition reimbursement program; and voluntary benefits such as group legal, critical illness, identity theft protection, pet insurance and auto/home insurance. The Company also offers time off pursuant to its sick time policy, flex-able vacation policy, and parental leave policy.

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.

At Novo Nordisk we recognize that it is no longer good enough to aspire to be the best company in the world. We need to aspire to be the best company for the world and we know that this is only possible with talented employees with diverse perspectives, backgrounds and cultures. We are therefore committed to creating an inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity of our employees, the patients we serve and communities we operate in. Together, we’re life changing.

Novo Nordisk is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations.

If you are interested in applying to Novo Nordisk and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply, please call us at 1-855-411-5290. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.