China Search & Evaluation Head

The China Strategy & Business Development (SBD) department is a part of Sanofi Partnering, a Global Enabling Function within the Sanofi Group. The mission of China BD is to seek and execute external growth initiatives to support the Sanofi Group’s strategic priorities to support both the China-for-China mandate as well as the China-for-Global objectives. The key activities of China BD are the search, evaluation, structuring, negotiation and closing of strategic alliances with Chinese companies, involving products, product-related assets, and platforms.

Job Purpose

As Head, China Search & Evaluation, the individual will lead the China S&E team, and will be expected to contribute to and provide leadership on the strategy and execution of the business development roadmap in and from China, for global and for China. The BD roadmap will cover across therapeutic areas for the Group’s core TAs, including immunology, neurology, rare diseases, and also China core TAs such as cardiovascular, metabolic, oncology, and etc. In addition to leading and guiding the China S&E team to establish strong and trusted representatives with external parties in China, the position requires accountability for close relationships and coordination with BD colleagues and stakeholders in R&D, GBUs and other organizations in China and from Global.

Principal Job Duties

• Strategic leadership: The individual will play a key role in developing the overall China S&E strategy across therapeutic areas, including leadership for landscaping and competitive intelligence exercises. In this case the individual will help drive alignment with Global BD, the Research, Development, Commercial & Strategy functions as well as with Sanofi Venture and M&A.
• Search and Evaluation: The individual will lead a team dedicated to external search and evaluation initiatives from China for various therapeutic areas including opportunity identification and in-depth technical assessment with Research, Development, Commercial experts and other appropriate stakeholders.
• Due Diligence lead: The individual will also lead multi-disciplinary teams through formal due diligence and act as the main connection point with the potential external partner. They will also be responsible for driving due diligence through the internal governance boards prior to deal signing for some China for Global deals.
• Active deal projects: The role  will, on an individual basis as well as leadership basis to (i) identify and propose attractive deal opportunities, (ii)ensure high quality project leadership and management (iii) manage the overall interface to corporate level governance comprising where appropriate (iv) align resources and decision making throughout the deal process in collaboration with Business Development transactions colleagues and (v)provide input/guidance to optimal scientific deal structures and inflection points, minimizing contractual risk.
• Portfolio management: As a key member of the China BD leadership team the individual will be responsible for managing the China S&E portfolio, updating relevant leadership and re-shaping the pipeline in response to China external data points.

Basic Qualifications:

• PhD and/or MD degree(s) in one of the TAs, ideally in combination with demonstrated clinical development experience in corresponding areas.
• Extensive scientific experience, preferably obtained through > 12-year experience in multiple functions in the biotech and/or pharmaceutical industry. Outstanding scientific excellence demonstrated by strong publication record, as well as discovery and early clinical development expertise
• Extensive network and experience in the China biotech ecosystem
• Demonstrated experience of successful team management and talent development
• Experience in search & evaluation, business development, academic technology transfer process is highly desirable.
• Previous experience of running complex evaluations of clinical stage assets
• Demonstrated organizational and project management skills.
• Deep commitment and track record of high performance demonstrated in all aspects of work.
• Solid fluency in English – verbal and written.

Core Competencies:

• The ideal candidate has deep experience and knowledge of global drug discovery and early clinical development activities, with an excellent understanding of all aspects of preclinical drug discovery
• Strategic thinking, clarity of thought, strong multi-tasking, organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent networking ability in cross-cultural environments inside and outside Sanofi. Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills. Demonstrated experience in communication project proposals and business plans to senior stakeholders.
• Negotiation skills across all levels of the organization and with external parties.
• Excellent problem-solving, conflict-resolution, decision-making and cross-functional leadership skills in highly matrixed environments. High ethical standards, data-centric objective mindset, attention to detail, comfortable with resolution of ambiguity, poise under pressure and the ability to influence without authority.
• Ability to represent Sanofi in external scientific/academic world and to act as an ambassador for Sanofi at scientific and business conferences.
• Willingness to travel nationally/internationally as needed.