Head of Procurement Japan

Location: Japan, Tokyo

About the job:

As Head of Procurement Japan within our Procurement team, you'll take ownership of procurement performance across Japan, spanning both COGS and Indirect spend, while leading the transformation of how we deliver value through strategic partnerships and innovative supplier solutions. Ready to get started?

Join the team that powers Sanofi from within — streamlining how we work, scaling bold ideas, and accelerating impact across the business. In our Hubs, you'll shape smarter ways of working that help bring life-changing treatments to people everywhere.

About Sanofi:

We're an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people's lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people's lives.

Main responsibilities:

• Strategic Business Partnership – Act as the single point of contact for country leadership, ensuring global category strategies are adapted to local realities, driving local execution and maintaining strong relationships with Japan management.

• Value Creation & Cost Management – Deliver commercial value through local supplier initiatives, support global cost reduction, and align procurement with budgeting, forecasting, and growth priorities.

• Supplier Relationship Management – Lead local SRM activity, govern supplier segmentation, strengthen local supplier relationships, and identify innovative partners for wider group leverage.

• Compliance, Risk & Continuity – Ensure adherence to global policies, manage local compliance and audit support, and own Japan procurement business continuity planning.

• Transformational Leadership & Change Management – Lead the embedding of new ways of working, drive sustainable behavioral change, and ensure transformation benefits are locked in across the operating unit.

• Knowledge, Communication & Influence – Maintain accurate knowledge repositories, lead local procurement communications, and actively influence cross-functional teams for the benefit of the operating unit.

• People Development & Talent – Promote a strong procurement culture, support organizational design, and enable cross-functional and transversal talent development.

• External Manufacturing Support – Support the local External Manufacturing team for all Procurement matters to ensure CDMO performance in Japan, including market analysis, spend analysis, RFI/RFP/RFQ, supplier evaluation, contract negotiation, risk management, and compliance.

About you:

• Language – Fluent in both Japanese and English, written and spoken.

• Strategic & Transformational Leadership – Proven ability to lead transformation, embed change, and influence at country and executive levels for the benefit of the operating unit.

• Matrix Influence & Stakeholder Management – Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority in complex matrix environments, aligning global, regional, and local teams to deliver outcomes for the operating unit.

• Procurement Expertise – Strong knowledge of best-in-class procurement practices; experience in Japan market, matrix or hub-led models preferred.

• Communication & Networking – Confident communicator with strong internal and external stakeholder influence.

• Analytical & Change Capability – Highly analytical with demonstrable experience delivering and sustaining change.

• Professional Attributes – Independent, resilient, ethically strong, comfortable challenging the status quo, and willing to travel up to 10%.

• External Manufacturing Procurement – Knowledge in external Manufacturing Procurement is a plus.

Why choose us?

• Work where global operations meet bold ambition — supporting critical functions that help bring life-changing treatments to patients faster.

• Own meaningful work from day one, with the freedom to shape smarter solutions and lead change across a global business.

• Bring bold ideas to life using the latest tech — from AI and automation to digital tools that transform how we work.

• Accelerate your career through internal gigs, cross-functional moves, and international mobility designed to grow your impact.

• Collaborate with curious minds across borders, functions, and cultures in a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment.

• Thrive in a workplace designed for you — with vibrant, flexible spaces and benefits that support your well-being, growth, and sense of belonging.

PursueProgress. DiscoverExtraordinary.

Join Sanofi and step into a new era of science - where your growth can be just as transformative as the work we do. We invest in you to reach further, think faster, and do what's never-been-done-before. You'll help push boundaries, challenge convention, and build smarter solutions that reach the communities we serve. Ready to chase the miracles of science and improve people's lives? Let's Pursue Progress and 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, gender identity, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.