R&D - Head of Intrépide China

Sanofi Intrépide Research Laboratories is a new initiative designed to identify, incubate, validate and advance science, technology and business opportunities that are deemed to be crucial for Sanofi’s near-, mid- and long-term pipeline strategy. It has a global presence, China and US.

The Sanofi Intrépide China initiative is designed to allow Global Research to gain deep insights into the local ecosystem and ensure scientific rigor in evaluating external opportunities that are critical to our Research pipeline ambitions. It will focus on three strategic areas: (1) supporting Global Research through collaboration with global Therapeutic Area teams and Business Development to identify and pursue in-licensing opportunities; (2) conducting preliminary evaluations and Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) validations to accelerate global pipeline expansion; and (3) leveraging China's Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and biotech innovation platforms to address capacity and capability gaps in global Discovery programs.

We are seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking, and experienced drug hunter and innovative leader to build a high-performance team and effectively execute the Sanofi Intrepid mission in alignment with our global research strategy. The ideal candidate will drive scientific rigor, foster a practical, goal-oriented culture with urgency, and actively engage with local ecosystem players to build close and trusted relationships, positioning Sanofi as a preferred business partner and innovation leader. They will drive productive collaborations with our global teams to create maximum synergy between global operations and Intrepid China initiatives, leveraging China's innovation ecosystem to its fullest potential. This role offers the opportunity to make concrete contributions to Sanofi's global Research pipeline, driving forward our mission to discover breakthrough therapies for patients worldwide.

Main Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Innovation

• Craft and execute Sanofi Intrépide China's strategy, identifying opportunities in the Chinese biotech ecosystem that align with Global R&D pipeline strategy and Research Therapeutic Areas priorities.
• Represent Intrépide China by actively engaging with ecosystem players, assessing opportunities to capture breakthrough innovation, and promoting Sanofi's image as a preferred business partner and innovation leader.
• Drive breakthrough innovation through strategic partnerships with local biotech startups, academic institutions, and technology hubs while representing Intrépide China.
• Provide insights into global Research Therapeutic Areas and Platforms regarding innovation trends and potential growth opportunities in China

Execution Leadership & Culture

• Build and lead a high-performing, diverse, cross-functional team combining scientific expertise with an entrepreneurial and competitive mindset to deliver results and enhance the Research portfolio.
• Orchestrate all functions at Intrépide China to ensure synchronized efforts toward our common goal.  Foster a cohesive yet agile culture that encourages creative thinking while maintaining strategic alignment, ultimately maximizing our collective team potential.
• Oversee the execution of all activities and ensure full alignment with global Research goals and priorities.
• Cultivate a "fail-fast, fail-better" environment while maintaining compliance and high-quality standards.
• Enforce scientific rigor, urgency and value-driven execution across the organization
• Create opportunities to recruit, development and retain talent while driving an entrepreneur culture.

Operational Excellence

• Create and implement meaningful KPIs for Intrépide China projects.
• Manage Intrépide China's budget and resources efficiently to achieve high productivity
• Establish SMART goals to drive team performance and measure success
• Implement agile project management methodologies to accelerate innovation cycles
• Be responsible for and accountable for the protection and management of intellectual property risk arising from interfaces with external partners
• Collaborate with Legal and IP Departments to safeguard the company's interests
• Be accountable for adherence to company compliance policies
• Ensure smooth interfaces with all internal business partners (e.g. P&C, Finance, Legal, IP, Procurement, Communication, etc.)

About You

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in life science
• 15+ years of extensive drug discovery experience in biotech, biopharma and/or pharmaceutical companies, including head-on experience, functional project team and strategic leadership roles
• Track record of building high-performance teams from the ground-up (desired)
• Ability to read and speak Mandarin
• MBA (desired)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven record of scientific publications in high impact journals
• Extensive drug discovery experience across multiple modalities
• Deep understanding of China innovation ecosystem potential and agile business operating models
• Ability to identify promising research opportunities and technologies
• Strong leadership skills to build and drive a high-performance, multi-functional teams
• Ability to build mutually beneficial relationships with external stakeholders
• Entrepreneurial mindset and experience working in fast-paced, dynamics environments
• Track record of driving innovation culture and breakthrough thinking
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and stakeholder engagement abilities
• Experience in working across internal organizational functions (Therapeutic Areas, Platforms, Portfolio Strategy, Business Development, External Innovations, Legal and IP)

Why Choose Us?

• Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.
• Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.
• Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.
• Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs and at least 14 weeks’ gender-neutral parental leave.