R&D Strategy Senior Director

Job Title: RnD Strategy Senioer Director

Location: Cambridge, MA

About the Job

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible? Join Sanofi in one of our corporate functions and you can play a vital part in the performance of our entire business while helping to make an impact on millions around the world. 

The Global R&D Strategy and Portfolio Management team’s overarching objective is to equip Sanofi’s leaders with robust, objective and externally focused insights and recommendations they need to better inform the R&D strategy, organizational change and portfolio and project investment decisions to ensure pipeline sustainability. 

We achieve this by (1) delivering a comprehensive R&D strategy positioning the organization to embrace future opportunities and challenges, driving sustained success (2) by ensuring a sustainable portfolio strategy, robust valuation and prioritization of the R&D portfolio and optimization of resources, high quality pipeline reporting, benchmarking, and scientific competitive intelligence (3) by ensuring high quality investment governance incorporating decision quality and thoughtful risk taking principles.

The Global R&D Portfolio Strategy and Management team works with key stakeholders across the organization (R&D, Medical and GBUs) to support decision-making aligned to our corporate strategy and agreed TA strategies.

The R&D Strategy team is looking to add a team-oriented member to its internal consulting capability to drive R&D strategy and decision making. As a Leader within this group, you will gain exposure to all functions, therapy areas and come to truly understand the company-wide vision. You will develop a deep understanding of investment choices across R&D and strategic objectives the organization is aiming to achieve to enable its ambition.

The R&D Strategy Director will play a pivotal role in shaping the R&D including the medical affairs initiatives of the organization and drive decisions for Sanofi at governance meetings (e.g., Executive Committee and Board of Director meetings). You will work closely with cross-functional senior members (such as but not limited to: R&D, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Finance, Business Development and M&A) to align R&D efforts with the company’s objectives. Your ability to manage ambiguity, structure complex strategic problems and conduct complex analyses, present findings, and help facilitate decision-making will be key to the group’s success.

We are an innovative global healthcare company with one purpose: to chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. We’re also a company where you can flourish and grow your career, with countless opportunities to explore, make connections with people, and stretch the limits of what you thought was possible. Ready to get started?

Main Responsibilities:

Strategic planning:

• Growth Story & rationale: articulate growth ambition, strategy and gap to meet company objectives. Safeguard integrity of the R&D strategy by challenging and influencing key decisions that could disrupt delivery

• Structure and perform scenarios and simulations to model and value strategic alternatives and trade-offs with the aim of maximizing efficiencies and value at a company level

• Conduct market research and data-driven analysis leveraging AI to identify trends and market needs to guide innovation efforts in the organization

• Refine R&D vision, roadmap and priorities working with functional leaders (e.g., CMC, development) in alignment with company ambition

• Communication: articulate clear and consistent narrative and messaging with executive members (e.g., Executive Committee) and stakeholders inside and outside R&D organization

Organization:

• Challenging and optimizing our organizational structure, ways of working, processes and governance leveraging industry best practices to identify synergies, improve efficiencies, and foster interactions across departments to accelerate the delivery of high-quality drugs to market

• Navigating complex challenges and developing cutting-edge strategies to maintain our company's leadership position.

Digital and AI:

• Foster a culture of AI-driven innovation by staying ahead of emerging digital trends (e.g., quantum computing) and encouraging teams to prioritize and leverage technologies

First Priority Project. The successful candidate will support Medical Affairs’ new operating model by:

• Providing objective challenges to implementation decisions

• Incorporating relevant industry best practices to inform the decision-making process

• Ensuring alignment between Medical Affairs strategy and broader R&D and corporate ambitions

• Serving as a strategic guardrail to maintain focus on organizational priorities

This project will require a strong collaboration with cross-Functions Leaders (e.g., Commercial, Finance) to inform and influence strategic thinking through impact modelling.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on the company’s growth trajectory while working with a team of talented professionals. This position will require deep engagement with Senior cross-functional partners (e.g., R&D and Commercial leadership team). Demonstrated ability to develop, guide, and influence senior leadership is a critical component for this position.

Please note that key responsibilities may change over time in accordance with business needs.

About You

We are looking for motivated individuals with a hard work ethic and a track record of achievement.

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a Life Sciences discipline is required

• Advanced Degree (PhD in Life Sciences, MD, Vet, Pharm D) and an MBA highly preferred

• A minimum of 5 years of professional business experience. Direct experience in life sciences including medical affairs and R&D. would be a significant asset.

• Experience in strategy consulting would be a significant asset

• Good business judgment, problem structuring and being able to manage ambiguity plus strong analytical skills with a mastery of Excel, and a solid grasp of corporate finance principles are required

• The ability to synthesize information and present key findings in a crisp and concise manner

• Strong project management capabilities, helping to ensure team objectives are met according to timelines

• Experience in leveraging insights from Evaluate Pharma, Gartner and use of visualization tools would be significant asset

• Maturity and leadership skills to be able to interact at senior levels

• Aptitude to learn and think quickly with the ability to apply learning across multiple situations

• Organizational design and change management experience

• Position may require up to 10% overall business travel

Why Choose Us?

• Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.

• Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.

• Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.

• Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs and at least 14 weeks’ gender-neutral parental leave.

Sanofi Inc. and its U.S. affiliates are Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employers committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law.

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All compensation will be determined commensurate with demonstrated experience. Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs, and additional benefits information can be found here.