Nestled in the rural Upper Valley alongside the Vermont state line is
West Lebanon, New Hampshire. What once started as a regional hub for
rail transport has evolved over time into a thriving commerce hub.
Today, it is home to one of Novo Nordisk’s global product supply
facilities, producing lifesaving medicines that help rare disease
patients globally.
“A decade ago, we started with just 17
employees,” shares Corporate Vice President, Peter Gariepy. “Today, as
we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we are proud to have grown to
nearly 400 team members, which enables us to produce active
pharmaceutical ingredients for patients living with rare diseases.”
Applying a start-up mentality under a large corporate brand, operations in New Hampshire are running 24/7. Operators, technicians, engineers, and scientists work various shifts around the clock depending on facility and production needs.
“I went to school to be a biochemist and to work in biotechnology, which made me think I had to go live in a city somewhere,” shares Nicole Jaskiewicz, a training partner at the site. “That wasn’t a lifestyle I would enjoy, that’s why I’m happy I found an opportunity here, because it feels more like a family than a big corporation.”
With workforce development being a focus, the college system in New Hampshire is eager to partner in developing training certification programs to support the rapidly evolving life science industry landscape in New Hampshire.
“Biotech manufacturing roles within our Novo Nordisk facility provide outstanding career opportunities, as well as clearly defined paths for employee development and growth, ” shares Gariepy. “We are continuously seeking individuals who value quality to become part of our team."
Today, all over the world, Novo Nordisk production sites are running on renewable power, with the goal of achieving zero CO2 from company operations by 2030. Aligned with the company’s larger sustainability strategy, Circular for Zero, our New Hampshire site recently switched to be 98% powered by renewable energy.
“From working to protect our environment to manufacturing lifesaving medicines, people who work here really have the opportunity to make a difference in both their global and local communities,” shares Gariepy. “Our employees will attest that this is more than just a manufacturing facility, it’s also a healthy and engaging work environment where we are energized to work together. We didn’t get where we are today without the people who are here. I’m excited for our next phase to expand the site’s capabilities, so we can continue to bring more product to patients.”
