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South Africa Medical Head & Africa PPH/PMED Medical Franchise Head - Vaccines

Johannesburg, South Africa
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At a glance

With us, you’ll break new ground across a growing and diverse portfolio – from established medicines that millions rely on to pioneering breakthroughs in immunology and chronic disease care. Imagine the scale: your work will help deliver treatments to people around the world who live with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and complications arising from transplant.

Fueled by groundbreaking advances in technology, we are accelerating innovation and expanding access faster than ever. If you’re ready to push boundaries, embrace the power of AI and digital tools, and shape the future of healthcare, this is where your ambition meets impact.

ABOUT THE JOB:

To provide medical and scientific support which will assist the company in developing its vaccine activities for Africa MCO as a Medical Franchise Head and for South Africa as a Medical Head.

To assist with any medical support required for the policy, marketing, sales, access or other associated Sanofi Vaccines teams. This includes but is not limited to KOL management, interactions with different Health Authorities, interactions with Key Decision Makers, management and support of clinical studies, carrying out of epidemiological studies at the local level, medical spokesperson for relevant topics and medical presentations.

Africa PPH/PMED Medical Franchise Head:

The Africa Medical Vaccines Team at Sanofi is a high-performing team of medical leaders who are a trusted source of scientific and medical information and shared insights; effective and innovative strategic partners to our internal and external stakeholders; and dedicated to public health. We represent diverse experiences and backgrounds which strengthens our team and mirrors the healthcare communities we engage.

South Africa Medical Head:

This role will be leading the medical organization at South Africa level. The Medical Head will have multiple responsibilities: Country Medical representative (internally and externally) and Country Medical coordinator of the different Medical Franchises located at South Africa level. The South Africa Medical Head will report to the Vaccines Medical Head Africa zone and will be member of the South Africa Leadership Team.

DIMENSIONS

Manage Medical Operational Expenditure Budget. Prepare and present budget exercises aligned with the Sanofi financial calendar.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES ANDENVIRONMENT

Africa PPH/PMED Medical Franchise Head:

The Africa PPH/PMED Medical Franchise Head will lead the Medical and scientific (non-promotional) strategy for the [Africa MCO, PPH/PMED Franchise] portfolio/therapeutic area in close partnership with the other functional franchise heads and in alignment with the overall franchise strategy.

Strategy:

  • Be accountable for the development and execution of the PPH/PMED Franchise Africa MCO Medical Roadmap, integrated Medical Action Plan and integrated Evidence Generation Plan (iEGP).
  • Provide strategic leadership and oversight of projects and activities for the medical team and work in close collaboration with other departments including brand teams and Public Affairs.
  • Work with various internal stakeholders to align on strategy including:
    • Field Medical to ensure alignment of office-based and field-based activities as part of the PPH/PMED Franchise Africa MCO Medical Roadmap.
    • Country Medical Heads.
    • Global Medical Team to ensure alignment of the PPH and PMED Franchise Medical strategy.
    • Additional cross-functional internal stakeholders to develop strategic imperatives and downstream strategies and tactics to support franchise goals.
  • Maintain portfolio mindset, serving as primary point of contact for near-term business and development licensing opportunities for the franchise.
  • Provide strategic guidance and insights on complex product and medical issues.
  • Lead and drive the development of advanced Medical and scientific strategies for the portfolio therapeutic area, incorporating franchise-specific details and increased complexity.
  • Participate in the co-creation of the global medical evidence generation plan and ensure medical needs are accounted for and addressed.
  • Closely collaborate with evidence generation advisor and cross-functional partners to generate a large and complex evidence portfolio to support products in pre-/peri-launch phases.
  • Cultivate innovation mindset in supporting evidence generation plans for candidates in early development and providing country level insights for the long-term portfolio/franchise strategy.

People Leadership:

  • Lead PPH/PMED Franchise Africa MCO Medical team through indirect management of medical advisors/managers responsible of the PPH/PMED Franchise.
  • Create a best-in-class talent pipeline by developing, identifying, and attracting talents.
  • Serve as a role Model that embodies Sanofi’s culture.
  • Provide mentorship and guidance for those overseeing the development of advanced educational materials and presentations for use by the medical team.
  • Foster growth and development through clear performance expectations and regular coaching/feedback, encouraging a culture of continuous learning, and improvement.
  • Facilitate a positive and inclusive team culture that values diversity, excellence, and collaboration.

External Stakeholder Engagement:

  • Conduct and maintain in-depth stakeholder engagement plan.
  • Identify and address challenges to optimal patient care through partnership with Systems of Care, Academic Medical Centers, HCPs, and other Professional Societies.
  • Provide a high scientific level of expertise within the PPH/PMED Franchise Africa MCO team; develop and lead collaborations with key experts in the field.
  • Maintain relationships with key professional societies and key experts.
  • Provide guidance on PPH and PMED Franchise Africa MCO products and related medical issues and seek impactful insights.
  • Provide scientific education on disease states, epidemiology, and clinical trials of PPH and PMED Franchise Africa MCO products when relevant.
  • Lead external advisory boards focused on PPH/PMED Franchise Africa MCO products and pipeline.
  • Foster collaborations with key experts in the field, leveraging advanced scientific expertise.

Data Generation:

  • Empower Medical advisor team/evidence generation advisor to oversee the design and execution of Sanofi-sponsored studies, including Ph 4 post-marketing and observational studies.
  • Coordinate investigator-initiated study (IIS) Progress with Evidence Generation Advisor and Country Study Lead.
  • Work with R&D and Clinical Development teams to provide medical input to design integrated evidence generation plans (iEGP) encompassing clinical development (Ph1-3) and post-marketing clinical trials (Ph4).

Medical Operations:

  • Provide Medical guidance to internal Sanofi customers, including contribution of medical information and clinical trial data for pharmacovigilance (PV) reports to health authorities.
  • Oversee creation of educational materials and presentation for use by the medical team, development scientific communication and education initiatives using scientific/Medical expertise, customer insights, and understanding of launch strategy; train and educate internal and external stakeholders.
  • Develop and oversee the franchise budget, ensuring optimal resource allocation and cost-effective approaches are used to achieve strategic objectives.

SA Medical Head:

The South Africa Medical Head will lead the Medical and scientific (non-promotional) strategy in-country for the South African Affiliate cross-portfolio/therapeutic area (non-franchise specific) in close partnership with the other functional in-country heads from other departments and in alignment with the overall franchise strategy and country roadmap.

In addition to the Africa PPH/PMED Medical Franchise duties (described above) applicable in-country, he will:

  • Drive the overall medical strategy for the South African affiliate, in alignment with the business strategy.
  • Lead in-country medical activities by collaborating with the in-country Sanofi Vaccines teams on all activities as required e.g safety reporting, training, promotional material review and development, article creation, medical queries etc.
  • Assume senior manager role in Country Vaccines Management Team(s)
  • Lead in-country Medical Manager/Advisor team(s) through direct management.
  • Foster people engagement, and continuously develop team, talents, and capabilities.
  • Be accountable for coordinating the execution of medical plans, resource allocation, audits preparation and management and medical performance.
  • Support the efficient growth acceleration as per global franchises guidance.
  • Drive innovative solutions/models answering specific patient needs, pioneer new operating models and ways of working.
  • Foster learning and encourage thoughtful risk taking within the South African teams by sharing best practices and innovative initiatives.
  • Build synergies and continue to challenge low impact activities across the Country medical perimeter to improve efficiencies.
  • Share strategic advice to the MCOs Medical teams.
  • Coordinate stakeholder engagement initiatives at the country level.
  • Represent South Africa at MCO level.
  • Contribute to shaping the environment to ensure access to innovation and sustainability.
  • Role model and champion Play-to-Win behaviours, corporate commitments, and compliance guidelines.
  • Represent the company within South Africa in all relationships with external stakeholders.

ABOUT YOU:

PROFILE AND REQUIREMENTS

  • Education, Training and Qualifications
  • Doctorate level education: MD or equivalent medical degree preferred, PhD or PharmD.
  • 5+ years experience in Medical Affairs, ideally with relevant Vaccines Medical.
  • 3+ years experience in people management.
  • Fluency in English (written and spoken).
  • Ability to travel up to 20-30% of the time.

Preferred:

  • Clinical experience with relevant background in immunology/vaccinology/infectious diseases.
  • Ideally recognized by other Vaccines Medical or PPH/PMED experts as being expert in Vaccines Medical or PPH/PMED or a related discipline.
  • Vaccines Medical or country experience either from academia/research and/or preferably from the pharma industry with relevant customer knowledge.
  • Strong understanding of Africa’s Healthcare systems.

Technical and Soft Skills

  • Ability to effectively manage a team.
  • Ability to successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously; plan, prioritize and implement actions using a self-dependent and structured working style.
  • Ability to effectively engage with key external stakeholders and build long-term partnerships with medical authorities, hospitals, physicians/specialists, opinion leaders and pharmacists.
  • Ability to embrace innovation and analyse information and emerging trends, including social, policy and access-related information, incorporate them into the MCO Medical Plans.
  • Be innovative:  have the ability to champion the development, acquisition and implementation of innovative ideas, technologies, etc.
  • Understand customer and market trends, identifying and adopting innovative practices to constantly increase productivity and performance.
  • Medically and scientifically sound background and experience is essential.

Pursue progress, Discover Extraordinary
Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But 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. So, let’s be those people. 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!

Sanofi IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER If you are interested in applying for this vacancy and you are confident that you meet the criteria set out in the advertisement kindly click on the link below.
https://sanofi.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/SanofiCareers
#LI-AFR

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 'One day at Sanofi' and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives at sanofi.com

Apply now
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Why work with us

  • Do the never done before. We push the boundaries of what’s possible: expanding access, accelerating innovation, and finding new ways to improve everyday health for millions.

  • Drive the transformation. We’re leading the shift to AI-powered healthcare, using digital tools to reinvent how medicines are developed, manufactured, and delivered worldwide.

  • Deliver at scale. Our reach is unmatched—we bring trusted treatments to millions worldwide, ensuring broad access and real-world impact at every stage of care.

  • Make an impact that matters. From tackling global health challenges to advancing sustainable, inclusive healthcare, everything we do is driven by purpose.

Who ignites your potential?

For Sam, it was her mom—teaching her to listen, push boundaries, and put patients first. At Sanofi, we know your inspiration drives your impact. Bring your passion, and together, we’ll chase the miracles of science.

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"Each disease, each country, each person brings opportunities that challenge us to push the boundaries, to think of better ways to look at healthcare and pioneer new possibilities."

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Executive Vice President, General Medicines

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