Head of Center of Excellence for Project Management

At Bavarian Nordic, we are committed to saving and improving lives by unlocking the power of the immune system. Our commercial portfolio includes market-leading vaccines against smallpox/mpox, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis, typhoid fever, and cholera. We excel in R&D innovation, manufacturing, and commercialization, working every day to protect people’s health and quality of life and protect our tomorrow.

We are looking for an experienced leader for the Head of Center of Excellence (project management) role in our Strategy Execution department who combines strategic thinking, strong change management capabilities, and a genuine passion for building organizational capability. In this role, you will not only define how projects are governed and delivered but also drive the adoption of new ways of working across a global organization.

About the role
This is a broad and hands-on role spanning project leadership and organizational capability building within project excellence. A key aspect of the role is driving organizational change by ensuring that project management frameworks, tools, and processes are successfully adopted, understood, and embedded across the business. In this dual role, you will balance being Head of Center of Excellence while managing high-impact cross-functional projects yourself. Just as importantly, you will turn standards into practice by designing and delivering training, facilitating sessions, coaching colleagues, and creating engagement across the organization.

You will work across R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, commercial, and corporate functions. The portfolio may include merger and acquisition activities, development projects, vaccine launches, technology implementations, and other enterprise-wide transformation initiatives. Success requires someone who enjoys moving between strategic planning, practical implementation, and visible facilitation in front of an audience.

The position is based in Hellerup, Denmark. You will join a team of +20 Project Managers, Program Leads, and Student Assistants and report to the VP of Strategy Execution Office.

Key responsibilities

• Own and continuously strengthen project management standards, governance, tools, templates, and ways of working across the organization
• Lead complex, cross-functional strategic projects, including initiatives connected to M&A, product development, vaccine launches, and enterprise transformation
• Drive adoption of project management methodologies and support organizational change through stakeholder engagement, communication, training, and coaching
• Develop project management capability through structured training, facilitation, coaching, and hands-on knowledge sharing across different functions and seniority levels
• Serve as a visible ambassador for project excellence, translating methodology into clear, practical, and engaging learning experiences
• Partner with senior stakeholders to create alignment, transparency, sound decision-making, and clear ownership throughout the project lifecycle
• Drive disciplined planning, risk management, resource coordination, and execution, supported by strong use of project and portfolio management tools

What you bring
You bring extensive experience leading complex projects within pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, vaccines, or another highly regulated healthcare environment. You also bring change management expertise combined with hands-on delivery experience. Besides this, we are looking for someone with the following background;

• A genuine interest in the full scope of project management excellence, from strategic framework design and governance to practical implementation and organizational training
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills, with the confidence and energy to stand in front of an audience, engage participants, and make complex methods practical and relevant
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders, create buy-in, and lead through complex global and cross-functional environments
• Strong knowledge of PMI-based project management practices. PMI/PMP certification is an advantage - other relevant certifications are also valued
• Experience with merger and acquisition projects
• A relevant master’s degree within life sciences, engineering, supply chain, business, or a related field
• Advanced expertise in Smartsheet combined with experience with Microsoft Project is an advantage

Why join us?
This role gives you the opportunity to influence both how strategic projects are delivered and how project management capability is built across Bavarian Nordic. You will combine high-impact project leadership with the chance to shape standards, develop colleagues, and create a lasting project excellence culture in a purpose-driven global vaccine organization.

If you are motivated by strategy and execution, enjoy building practical solutions, and feel energized by training and engaging others, we would love to hear from you.

Caught your interest?
Apply now and join Bavarian Nordic in our mission to improve health outcomes and foster sustainable growth.

We do not offer any relocation packages for this role. Please note that employment is contingent on residing and working in Denmark.

We kindly request that headhunters or recruitment agencies refrain from contacting us regarding this position.

Bavarian Nordic is a global vaccine company with a mission to improve health and save lives through innovative vaccines. We are a preferred supplier of mpox and smallpox vaccines to governments to enhance public health preparedness and have a leading portfolio of travel vaccines. We are headquartered in Denmark and have manufacturing, research, and sales offices across Europe and North America.

Bavarian Nordic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

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Location: Hellerup, Philip Heymans Alle 3