Strategic Operations Manager (maternity cover - one year)

-

Strategic Operations Manager (maternity cover – one year)

Location: Canada, Ontario Mississauga
Area: Medical Affairs – CMR
Type: Full‑time (Temporary one year)

About the role

We are looking for a Strategic Operations Manager to support the Medical Affairs organization through the planning, execution, and oversight of strategic and life‑cycle dependent initiatives.

This is a maternity cover role critical to ensuring continuity and operational excellence within the Medical team. Given the current team context, we are seeking someone who can ramp up quickly, take ownership, and operate with a high degree of autonomy while collaborating closely with cross‑functional stakeholders.

Reporting to the Associate Director, Medical Affairs this role will act as a key partner to the Associate Medical Director, MSL Manager, MSLs, Medical Education Manager, and Medical Advisors to drive execution of medical strategies, processes, and projects.

Key responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Lead the project management of strategic and life‑cycle dependent Medical Affairs initiatives, ensuring timely planning and execution.
• Manage and oversee Medical Affairs core processes, including budget tracking, rolling estimates, and regular financial updates within the assigned Associate Medical Director area.
• Drive execution of the annual Medical Affairs plans, ensuring alignment between strategy and tactical delivery.
• Actively support and advance the Individual Engagement Planning (IEP) strategy, enabling effective and compliant KOL engagement.
• Coordinate cross‑functional planning for national and international scientific congresses, including pre‑planning, execution, and post‑congress reporting.
• Develop and execute Medical Association strategies in close collaboration with medical and cross‑functional partners.
• Monitor project performance using KPIs and insights, communicating outcomes, risks, and opportunities to key stakeholders.
• Analyze field insights and healthcare trends to support unit strategy and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to business case development for new medical strategic initiatives requiring leadership approval and funding.

What we’re looking for

Must‑have:

• Proven +3 years of experience in strategic operations and/or project management, ideally within pharmaceutical, healthcare, or medical affairs environments.
• Strong ability to manage complex, cross‑functional projects and multiple stakeholders in a matrix organization.
• High level of autonomy, ownership, proactivity and accountability, with the ability to manage priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong communication skills, with confidence engaging senior internal stakeholders and external partners.
• University degree required (scientific background preferred).

Nice‑to‑have:

• Advanced degree (e.g., MSc, PhD, MBA).
• Experience in Medical Affairs, Strategic Operations, Market Access, CHE, or Marketing.
• PMP, Six Sigma, or other project management certifications.
• Bilingualism in English and French.
• Prior exposure to KOL engagement strategies, medical education projects, and budget ownership.

Your new department:

This opportunity offers high visibility within Medical Affairs and the chance to work on strategic, impact‑driven initiatives that directly support patient‑centric medical strategies. You’ll collaborate with experienced leaders and contribute to shaping how Medical Affairs delivers value through execution excellence.

Additional information

• This is a head‑office based role.

Working at Novo Nordisk

Every day we seek the solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. To do this, we approach our work with an unconventional spirit, a rare determination and a constant curiosity. For over 100 years this unordinary mindset has seen us build a company unlike any other. One where a collective passion for our purpose, mutual respect and a willingness to go beyond what we know delivers extraordinary results.

What we offer  

At Novo Nordisk, you’ll join a global healthcare company with a unique culture and strong results. We offer continuous learning, career development, and benefits tailored to your life and career stage. 

Salary: For this role, the annual base salary ranges from $116,680.00 - $  166,680.00. The placement in the salary range will be assessed during the recruitment process based on your skills, competencies, and knowledge, and how your relevant experience matches the position requirements. 

Benefits: The eligibility for specific benefits may vary based on the job and location. 

Learn more about our Reward Philosophy here. 

More information 

This job posting is for a full time employee as a maternity cover for a period of one year (until June end 2027).

For more information, visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

To complete your application, click “Apply now,” attach your CV, and follow the instructions. 

Application Deadline: May 3rd, 2026

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.