About this role
Senior Medical Affairs Manager, Rare Disease Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Medical Affairs, Rare Disease International Operations Shape the scientific strategy that brings life-changing treatments to patients with rare diseases across 194 countries and some of the most underserved communities in the world. This is your chance to lead with science, build with purpose, and make an impact where it matters most. Your new role As Senior Medical Affairs Manager for Rare Disease, you will be at the forefront of our scientific engagement strategy – leading how we communicate, educate, and collaborate with the medical community to advance outcomes for patients living with rare diseases.
You will own the therapy-area Medical Affairs strategy end to end, working across clinical development phases and translating science into meaningful action. Your key responsibilities will include: Leading the development and execution of the Medical Affairs strategy and scientific communication plan across all clinical development phases for rare disease. Establishing and nurturing credible, scientifically balanced relationships with Key Opinion Leaders and external experts in the rare disease space.
Driving Advisory Boards and insight-generation activities that bring the patient voice directly into Medical Affairs strategies and decision-making. Developing and executing the publication strategy, including Real-World Evidence publications, to advance the scientific narrative. Leading medical education initiatives for Healthcare Professionals through scientific meetings, congresses, symposia, and other channels.
Building strategic relationships with International Professional Associations at global and national levels to strengthen our scientific presence. Serving as a trusted medical partner to Commercial, Research, Regulatory, and other cross-functional stakeholders – providing internal medical guidance, scientific training, and support for organizational decision-making. Your new department As part of International Operations, you will join our largest operational unit.
Covering 194 countries and 95% of the world's population, more than 18,000 of us work passionately to serve 35 million patients each day. With a promise to outperform the competition, we continue to be the growth driver for Novo Nordisk, and to improve health at scale across the globe. Within International Operations, the Medical Affairs Rare Disease team plays a pivotal role in shaping how we engage the scientific and medical community around some of the most complex and underserved therapy areas.
You will join a team of dedicated professionals who combine deep scientific expertise with a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for patients who have historically had few options. Reporting to the Affiliate Medical Director, you will have both the visibility and the mandate to drive meaningful change. Your skills & qualifications We are looking for a scientifically driven leader who thrives at the intersection of medical strategy, stakeholder engagement, and patient impact.
To succeed in this role, you will bring: An advanced degree in life sciences, medicine, or a related field (MD, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent strongly preferred) Significant experience in Medical Affairs within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, ideally with exposure to rare disease or specialty therapy areas. Proven ability to develop and execute scientific communication strategies, publication plans, and KOL engagement programmes. Strong leadership experience, including coaching and developing direct and indirect reports, setting objectives, and driving performance.
Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to serve as a credible scientific partner to commercial, regulatory, and clinical teams. Experience working with International Professional Associations and leading Advisory Boards or similar insight-generation initiatives. Fluency in English and Arabic; additional languages are considered an advantage.
Working at Novo Nordisk At Novo Nordisk, your work connects directly to the lives of patients around the world – and nowhere is that connection more tangible than in rare disease. Here, you will join driven, talented colleagues who share a deep commitment to reaching the patients who have been left on the sidelines. With more than a century of scientific ambition behind us and a pipeline that continues to push boundaries, we are a company at a defining moment.
We invest in our people as whole persons – supporting your growth, your wellbeing and your sense of belonging at every stage of your career. When you join us, you become part of something bigger: a team that moves with speed and purpose to deliver extraordinary results, together. 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. Deadline 14 September 2026. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
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.