New Product Development Lead (Galenic Formulation and Process Development)

Opella, the Consumer Healthcare business unit of Sanofi, is the purest and third-largest player globally in the Over-The-Counter (OTC) & Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements (VMS) market.  

We have an unshakable belief in the power of self-care and the role it can play in creating a healthier society and a healthier planet.

That’s why we want to make self-care as simple as it should be by being consumer-led always, with science at our core.  

Through our unique and balanced portfolio of more than 100 loved brands, including 15 global and local high-growth challengers such as Allegra, Dulcolax and Buscopan, we deliver our mission: helping more than half a billion consumers worldwide take their health in their hands.  

This mission is brought to life by an 11,000-strong team, 13 best-in-class manufacturing sites, and 4 specialized science and innovation development centers.  

We are also proud to be the first major fast-moving consumer healthcare company to achieve B Corp certification.  

Join us on our mission. Health. In your hands.

Join our Compiegne Development Center as New Product Development Lead (Galenic Formulation and Process Development) and you can help make it happen. Your job? This role drives end-to-end product development across a diverse brand portfolio, collaborating with R&D, Marketing, and Manufacturing teams to deliver science-backed, consumer-focused health innovations. Overseeing a team of 5-10 in Formulation Development and Process Scale-up, you foster a consumer-centric culture aligned with Opella’s vision of being a top Fast Moving Consumer Health company globally and a Quality by Design approach ensuring that the process parameters and raw material attributes are well understood to deliver the critical quality attributes on the OTC products. The position also focuses on enhancing the development center's capabilities by integrating unique technologies, new raw materials, and innovative product forms through partnerships. Additionally, it ensures quality and safety standards at the Compiegne Development Center in coordination with Quality and HSE teams.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Line management accountability for employees in the Galenic Development team (Formulation and Process Development)

Ensures that the right talent is in place. This includes recruitment, training and development, retention, and succession planning.

• Delivery of the Innovation pipeline

Ensures delivery of key New Product Innovation or Business Protection Projects, for global and regional brands within the OTC medicine category. Anticipates potential technical issues, ensure robust development and scale-up plans, guide teams through trouble shooting when issues occur, and ensures transparency of communication with key stakeholders.

• Develops the roadmap of Differentiated Capabilities

Identifies critical capabilities needed to deliver a superior innovation pipeline and implements them. This might include development and curation of knowledge into Best Practices and Intellectual Property generation, selection and implementation of new equipment/technologies and/or building new systems, procedures and infrastructures.

• Accountable for Quality and Safety

Partners with the Quality and HSE organizations to deliver the right levels of quality for all development programs and safety for all employees. Monitors KPIs, ensures that action plans are in place and that the development center culture reaches the desired quality and HSE maturity.

• Builds an Ecosystem of partners

Develops a network of Academic partners, suppliers, vendors, CDMOs, which can be inspire and support the innovation capabilities of the development center and spark new innovation.

Key Relationships:

• Global and Regional R&D Brand leads.

• Global and Regional Marketing Innovation Leads.

• Global and Regional Project Managers

• R&D Leads including Platforms, Consumer Science, Packaging, Sustainability.

• Manufacturing & Supply Colleagues

• Quality and HSE teams.

• External Network of development Partners and Experts

About you

Education and Qualifications

Master or PhD degree in Science (Pharmacy, Chemistry, etc…)

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in Consumer HealthCare or Fast-Moving Consumers Goods.

• Experience in OTC solutions is a desirable, but experience in cosmetics, VMS or consumer goods will also be considered.

• Track record of bringing products to market in full and on time.

• Demonstrated experience is Formulation and Process Development

• Experience with the Quality By Design framework or the Methodology of Process Development framework (definition of critical quality attributes, process parameters, material attributes, understanding process variability, design of experiments, validating process capability etc…).

• Experience in leading and developing teams of 5-10.

• Agility to work in a Matrix environment.

• Risk Management ownership, proactive communication and management for formulation and scaleup risks.

Language Skills

English is mandatory, and a high level of French will be necessary.

Cultural Traits & Behaviors

At Opella, we’re committed to driving the next health revolution and making self-care as easy as it should be. Our culture is the heart of what we do, grounded in the Challenger Mindset—a set of behaviors that pushes us to challenge ourselves and our industry every day:

All in together: Keep each other honest, have each other’s back.

Outcome obsessed: Be personally accountable, driving sustainable impact and results with integrity.

Courageous: Break boundaries, take thoughtful risks with creativity.

Radically Simple: simple for us, simple for consumers, as simple as it should be.

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.

Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.

Progress doesn’t happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. You can be one of those people. Chasing change, embracing new ideas and exploring all the opportunities we have to offer. Let’s pursue progress. And let’s discover extraordinary together.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity.

Watch our ALL IN video and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com