Associate Director
Ascendis Pharma
Associate Director
Ascendis Pharma
Biopharmaceutical company developing long-acting prodrugs
Ascendis Pharma · Hellerup, Denmark · Full-time · Posted 2026-08-21
Workplace: on_site
Department: Product innovation
Are you passionate about finding new drug opportunities? Do you love understanding disease biology to guide the best possible drug design? Are you a seasoned professional and looking for the next step?
If so, now is your chance to join Ascendis Pharma as our new Associate Director, Product Innovation.
Ascendis Pharma is a global biopharmaceutical company committed to making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Guided by our core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, we are applying our innovative TransCon® technology platform to fulfill our mission of developing new therapies that demonstrate best-in-class potential to address unmet medical needs.
At our headquarters in Hellerup, Denmark, research facilities in Heidelberg, Germany, and additional offices across Europe and the United States, we are advancing programs in our Endocrinology Rare Disease and expanded portfolio. We also collaborate with partners on the development of TransCon-based products in other therapeutic areas and markets.
Ascendis Pharma is expanding our Product Innovation department and searching for an Associate Director to help drive the future pipeline and the company’s growth towards 2030 and beyond.
The Product Innovation department’s primary objective is to conduct analysis and propose new potential products for the company pipeline. With Patients in mind, new lead finding is based on thorough analysis which typically includes disease biology, unmet medical need, market assessment, competitive intelligence, FTO and assessment of path to FiH. With “Science” as a fundamental corporate value, analysis is rooted in a deep biological understanding of the disease, available (pre)clinical data, Mode of Action across modalities/lines of treatment and the impact a given molecular design/TPP will achieve. As a critical function to building Ascendis Pharma’s future, the Product Innovation department has high exposure to executive management and works closely with adjacent functions.
The Associate Director Product Innovation will play a critical role in Ascendis' success in Endocrinology Rare Disease as well as novel therapeutic areas. She/He will be the driving force behind providing high-quality analysis and pitch decks which enable value-oriented and informed decision-making by the EMT. By gathering, analyzing, and transforming data into concise, actionable ideas, you will play an important role in shaping the future pipeline.
You will be joining the Product Innovation team and report directly to Steffen Nyegaard, Director, Product Innovation who is based in Hellerup_._ You will also be based in Hellerup.
Your key responsibilities will be:
Qualifications and Skills:
You have a PhD in life sciences and preferably post doctorial experience from a leading university or group. The ideal candidate has significant experience in lead finding and drug development and knows how to leverage their knowledge into actionable outcomes. The candidate possesses a strong biological profile, which enables them to quickly learn and understand novel biological systems, identify critical issues and unmet needs, and generate analyses with high level take-home and next-step recommendations.
Ideally, you have:
Key competencies:
You are a strong team player, analytical, and have a can-do attitude.
You possess an entrepreneurial mindset and can thrive in an informal, open environment where innovation and change are key.
You are passionate about science, love learning and have a deep understanding of disease biology
To succeed in this role, we also expect you to demonstrate strong stakeholder management and communication skills, high personal and scientific integrity and the ability to navigate complex environments.
Travel: 20-30days per year.
Office: Tuborg Boulevard 12, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark
Apply now.
We evaluate applications when received, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Please note that we conduct interviews on a rolling basis and reserve the right to remove the job posting at any time.
To ensure your application is reviewed, please submit it through the specified platform - applications sent by email or other channels will not be evaluated.
For more details about the position or the company, please contact Steffen Nyegaard, Director Product Innovation, [email protected]
You can learn more about Ascendis by visiting our website www.ascendispharma.com
Applications must be submitted in English and will be treated confidentially.
A note to recruiters:
We do not allow external search party solicitation. Presentation of candidates without written permission from the Ascendis Pharma HR team (specifically from: Talent Acquisition Partner or Human Resources Director) is not allowed. If this occurs, your ownership of these candidates will not be acknowledged.
Powered by Workable
Biopharmaceutical company developing long-acting prodrugs
Ascendis Pharma uses its TransCon technology to create long-acting prodrugs for rare endocrine diseases, with expansions into oncology and ophthalmology. The platform temporarily attaches an unmodified drug to an inert carrier and releases the active drug in a predictable, sustained way after injection, reducing how often patients must dosing. It differentiates itself through a proprietary delivery system and a track record that includes marketed therapies like SKYTROFA for pediatric growth hormone deficiency and YORVIPATH for hypoparathyroidism, along with collaborations such as a Novo Nordisk deal. The company aims to improve patient outcomes by enabling easier, less frequent dosing while expanding its pipeline across rare endocrine diseases, cancer, and eye diseases.
Explore more opportunities at Ascendis Pharma