R&D
Where your curiosity drives the
miracles of
science
Head of R&D Modernization
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 title: Head of R&D Modernization
Location: Gentilly, France
About the job
As Head of R&D Modernization within our R&D Operations team, you'll lead transformative initiatives that accelerate innovation and deliver breakthrough medicines to patients faster. Ready to get started?
Join the engine of Sanofi's mission — where deep immunoscience meets bold, AI-powered research. In R&D, you'll drive breakthroughs that could turn the impossible into possible for millions.
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:
- Lead strategic translation of R&D priorities into actionable operational plans with clear milestones and success metrics
- Design and execute large-scale modernization initiatives across global R&D functions and cross-functional teams
- Establish robust governance frameworks and lead steering committees to ensure effective decision-making and stakeholder alignment
- Drive disciplined execution of transformation programs, managing risks and ensuring seamless integration into business operations
- Support local implementation across R&D sites, including change management and stakeholder engagement strategies
- Monitor performance against KPIs and implement mitigation strategies to secure value realization
- Coach and coordinate transformation project leaders across multiple streams and geographies
About you
- Experience: Minimum 7 years in Life Sciences with strong pharmaceutical R&D understanding; top-tier strategy consulting experience highly preferred
- Soft and technical skills: Strategic mindset, excellent stakeholder management, strong financial acumen, proven ability to present to executive leadership, experience driving large-scale transformations
- Education: Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, or Business highly preferred
- Languages: Fluent English required; working proficiency in French strongly preferred
Why choose us?
- Work at the forefront of AI-powered science that accelerates discovery and improves outcomes for millions of patients worldwide
- Lead transformative initiatives that shape the future of pharmaceutical R&D and drive meaningful change at global scale
- Collaborate beyond your expertise, sparking new ideas with diverse teams across science, clinical, and digital fields
- Accelerate your professional development with structured career paths designed for both scientific and leadership advancement
- Achieve genuine work-life balance in a supportive R&D environment with outstanding benefits and flexible working options
- Be part of a pioneering biopharma company that engages patients early in drug development and uses their insights to design studies that reflect real-world needs
PursueProgress. 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!
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nullPursue 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
Find out more about this location
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.
"At Sanofi, we are building an R&D engine powered by the best science, digital innovation, and a commitment to transforming the lives of patients around the world."
Houman Ashrafian
EVP & Head of R&D
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Our R&D focus areas
Discover how we're reshaping the future of medicine through immunoscience – unlocking bold, cross-disease breakthroughs that were unimaginable just a decade ago.
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