
R&D
Where your curiosity drives the
miracles of
science
R&D - Clinical Research Director - SH/BJ
Shanghai, China
At a glance
Bring your curiosity to a team where deep immunoscience meets cutting-edge innovation. Across oncology, rare diseases, neurology, and vaccines, you’ll work at the intersection of lab science and AI-powered discovery — all while collaborating across boundaries to turn breakthrough ideas into real-world impact. Whether you want to deepen your scientific expertise or grow as a leader, you’ll find the opportunity here.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Clinical Research Director
The Clinical Research Director (CRD) is noted as the primary clinical expert for programs. The role requires a well-organized, strategic and operationally focused, resourceful individual with very good emotional intelligence, self-motivation, solid analytical skills and the ability deliver to multiple operational tasks.
The role of the CRD is to:
Interact with other CRDs in the project, Global Project Head, The PV Rep, Regulatory and other key functional reps
Take on as necessary the Associate CRD role:
Provide medical expertise to the clinical studies (except select Exploratory Pharmacology studies) and/or registries (eg: protocol, Key Results, Clinical Study Report)
Support other clinical development activities (e.g. pressure test and cluster feasibility, medical review and validation of clinical data, study risk assessment)
Contribute to the Extended synopsis and Protocol for their project
Contribute to the clinical part of submission dossier for their projects: Common Technical Document for FDA & EMA submission, filing in Japan and China andanswers to questions from health authorities
Provide appropriate medical input & support for all activities related to clinical studies such as medical training, feasibility, medical review of data, medical information for the study team, medical advisors/Clinical Project Leaders from Clinical Study Units, and investigators
Be the medical reference in the Clinical Study team, ensuring the medical relevance of the clinical data
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Key responsibilities include:
1.Leading the clinical development plan strategies:
oResponsible for the clinical development plans and clinical sections of integrated development plans (IDP)
Collaborate with other CRDs within the project, ensures leadership, builds consensus, coordinates action plans with stakeholders to resolve project-related study issues, anticipates potential issues (sharing lessons learned) across the project or study teams
Raise study or project-level issues to the project head
oContribute in the definition of the product value proposition (TVP), TPP and market access strategy (in collaboration with respective functions) and the focus of the research strategy, by providing input on existing clinical needs and approaches to clinical development strategies for research projects
oCollaborate with external partners, regulators, and diverse internal stakeholders and collaborators
oEvaluates relevant medical literature and status from competitive products
2.Lead, Support and oversee the execution of clinical development and studies activities
oReview and validate the final protocol and protocol amendments
oReview the ICF WSI and TDF
oAssisted by related functions (e.g. clinical operations, project management, and procurement), responsible for timelines, budgets and contingency/risk management plans to assure successful execution of the clinical trials in compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), applicable laws and regulations as well as applicable standard operating procedures (SOPs)
oLead the study specific committees (IDMC, steering com, adjudication …) with operational support
oCo-Develop the SAP in collaboration with bio stats
oResponsible for key results preparation
oDevelop the clinical study report
Raise study or project-level issues to the project head
§Develop the abbreviated protocol
§Develop the final protocol and protocol amendments
§Medical support to clinical operation team during the clinical feasibility
§Review and provide clinical input across different study documents written subject information, CRF, e-diary, monitoring plan
§Medical support to clinical operations team on study plans: CMP/MRP, DR & DS review
Raise study or project-level issues to the project head
§Participate in the elaboration of training material and presentations at the investigator meetings
§Ensure continuous medical review of aggregated data during clinical trial conduct (DRSR, safety, stat outputs of blinded data, …) with operational support, bio stat and GSO
§Answer to medical questions raised by EC/IRBs, sites
Support CRD trial master file documents readiness and availability, and mandatory trainings linked to the clinical function
Collaborate and communicate appropriately with all function stakeholders to ensure optimal study execution in compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), applicable laws and regulations as well as applicable standard operating procedures (SOPs), including but not limited to:
feasibility managers for feasibility preparation and validation of feasibility results
Medical Writers to develop, review and finalize WSIs, study protocols and reports
Clinical Scientists, Medical review team and Coding
Pharmacovigilance (GSO, CME)
CTOMs, Biostatisticians
CSU medical advisors for the best knowledge of the study, compound, protocol
TA Experts, senior CRDS, global clinical lead, GPHs and medical affairs
CROs
Regulatory affairs
Collaborates with other CRDs within the project, ensures leadership, builds consensus, coordinates action plans with stakeholders to resolve project-related study issues, anticipates potential issues (sharing lessons learned) across the project or study teams. He/she raises study or project-level issues to the global project head and clinical lead
Provide operational expertise to project clinical sub team, as needed
3.Responsibilities related to regulatory and safety documents and meetings:
oReview and/or contribute in the the clinical section of the Investigator’s brochure, CTA, IND, DSUR, INDAR, DRMP, RMP
oContribute in the clinical sections of the BLA/CTD, Briefing packages for regulatory meetings, PSP/PIP
oEnsures clinical data meets all necessary regulatory standards
oParticipates in Advisory Committee preparation
4.Scientific Data evaluation and authorship:
oParticipate and author manuscripts and abstracts
oSupport the planning of advisory board meetings
oEstablish and maintains appropriate collaborations with knowledge experts
oContribute on an ad hoc basis to specific tasks such as the evaluation of potential in-licensing candidates for I&I therapeutic area and serves as the clinical advisor to research teams
Experience
oUnderstanding of pharmaceutical product development and life cycle management gained through ~6 years of development and medical experience
oVery good Scientific and medical/clinical expertise
oVery good expertise in clinical development and methodology of clinical studies
oVery good communication skills (verbal and written) for interactions across functional areas and for interactions with key regulatory agencies
oDemonstrated capability to challenge decision and status quo with a risk-management approach
oAbility to negotiate to ensure operational resources are available for continued clinical conduct
oFluency in written and spoken English
oVery good teaching skills, demonstrated ability to assist and train others
oAbility to work within a matrix model
oInternational/ intercultural working skills
oOpen-minded to apply new digital solutions
Minimum Level of any Required Qualifications:
At least 6 years of experience in Clinical Drug Development for a large pharmaceutical or a biopharmaceutical company
Strong medical background particularly within the therapeutic domain, background in Hametology and Neurology will be perferred
Excellent understanding of the drug development processes and the regulatory framework for clinical trials.
Strong team player with Experience in leading multiple, diverse clinical development programs.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, fluency in English, ability to work transversally
Ability to interpret clinical data accurately
Good understanding of biostatistics, pharmacokinetics, regulatory environment (China and Worldwide)
Ability to analyze and summarize scientific and clinical data and develop recommendations that affect the conduct of studies and the content of regulatory submissions.
Cross-cultural experience in Clinical Drug Development
Quality and Compliance oriented
Ability to drive change and innovation
Ability to work independently and think strategically
Result-oriented and decision-making mindset
Behavioral excellence
Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.
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.
Watch 'One day at Sanofi' and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives at sanofi.com
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Why work with us
- Expand your horizons. Grow through curiosity, with support to move, learn, and lead in a culture that champions mentorship, mobility, and bold development.
- Accelerate results with technology. Harness the power of AI and automation to push scientific boundaries and reimagine what's possible in drug discovery.
- Impact through inclusive innovation. Help deliver better science and fairer outcomes by driving inclusive research that reaches more people, in more meaningful ways.
- Turn patient needs into breakthrough science. Drive scientific breakthroughs that start with patient needs – and end in treatments that change lives.
Meet Nils Libert, Associate Scientist
Meet Nils Libert, an Associate Scientist in Belgium, where he plays a key role in advancing groundbreaking research. Learn how his work helps drive innovation, uncover new scientific possibilities, and contribute to life-changing treatments that impact patients around the world.

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EVP & Head of R&D
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