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Vaccines

Vaccines
Where
extraordinary minds
help protect  
half a billion people

Senior Director & Asia Pacific Regional Lead, External R&D

Beijing, China
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Who we are

Every day, 2.5 million Sanofi vaccine doses reach patients worldwide - powered by bold ideas, cutting-edge science, and passionate people like you. Across every stage — from discovery to delivery — Sanofians are shaping the future of vaccines. In global R&D hubs, exceptional offices, and state-of-the-art manufacturing sites, we’re reimagining what’s possible. But science alone isn’t enough — it’s the extraordinary minds behind it that truly make the difference.

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/Accountabilities

·       Search & Evaluation. Systematically scan and engage with the external innovation network—including biotechnology companies, leading academic institutions, and government-sponsored research organizations—across China and the Asia Pacific region. Identify high-potential scientific and technological innovations, evaluate their strategic fit with Sanofi Vaccines' portfolio, and facilitate timely assessment for potential partnerships, licensing opportunities, or technology acquisition. Provide critical scientific and technical analyses of the external opportunities and collaborate with internal stakeholders (e.g., R&D, Medical Affairs, Franchise Strategy) to formulate the basis for recommendations on the external innovations. 

·       Participation in Networking Platforms.  As a member of the ER&D team, develop and maintain the relationships with the vast network of external organizations through participation in various platforms such as global and local partnering meetings and networking conferences, e.g., World Vaccine Congress, BIO, JPMorgan Healthcare, BIO China, etc.

·       Business Development.  Work closely with the Global Business Development and Legal teams to support business negotiations with potential external partners; provide scientific and technical input to support the constructive negotiations, accurate deal structure evaluations and appropriate deal structure; support the evaluation of the external party's confidential technical/due diligence materials by assembling the evaluation team, coordinating the interactions with the partner and contributing to the final technical due-diligence report.

·       Internal Stakeholder Engagement.  Collaborate closely with key internal stakeholders—including Research, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), Vaccine Portfolio Strategy, Vaccine Medical Affairs, and Vaccine Public Franchise—to align external engagement strategies with organizational priorities and portfolio needs. Ensure seamless cross-functional coordination to maximize strategic value and drive cohesive decision-making across the vaccines business.

·       Partnerships Governance.  Present comprehensive assessment outcomes from external company engagements to Vaccines Leadership and relevant governance bodies, including the External Innovation Evaluation Committee (EIEC) and Therapeutic Area Review Committee (TARC). Deliver strategic recommendations with clear risk-benefit analyses to facilitate informed decision-making on partnership opportunities, technology acquisitions, and portfolio prioritization.

·       Collaboration with Sanofi Innovation Teams.  Collaborate actively with cross-functional teams within the External Scientific Affairs (ESA) organization to collectively advance ESA's mission, contributing to key strategic initiatives including scouting for early stage innovations and developing or implementing AI tools to streamline external engagement process. Foster strong partnerships with Global Partnering teams to ensure alignment, synergy, and coordinated execution across all external engagement activities.

About you

·       M.D. or Ph.D. in bacteriology, virology, immunology, non-infectious disease, or other scientific discipline

·       5+ years of post-graduate experience

·       Experience in Vaccines R&D and external partnering preferred

·       Demonstrated interpersonal skills - ability to work with individuals at different levels and managing through influence

·       Resourceful, entrepreneurial, and constantly up-to-date with vaccine-relevant innovation opportunities for Sanofi Vaccines

·       Demonstrated team and negotiation skills

·       Fluent English communication skills, verbal and written and ability to work in an international context

·       Up to 15% per year of domestic or international travel

Why choose us?

Join the team protecting half a billion lives every year with next-generation science, mRNA innovation, and AI-driven breakthroughs. In Vaccines, you’ll help advance prevention on a global scale - and shape the future of immunization.  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. 

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.

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Why work with us

  • We’re problem-solvers and pioneers. United by the belief that everyone deserves a healthier future. We create best-in-class vaccines that prevent disease and protect lives.

  • Innovation drives us. From AI and mRNA to next-gen science, we push the boundaries to deliver first- and best-in-class vaccines for infectious diseases worldwide.

  • Growth happens here. With bold investments in R&D and world-class facilities, Sanofians across the entire vaccine lifecycle are shaping the future of global health.

  • We do what’s right. Sustainability and DE&I drive our positive global impact—because the diverse communities Sanofians represent are the patients we serve.

What does it take to protect the world from disease?

For over a century, we’ve been pioneering breakthroughs that help protect millions from diseases like polio, influenza, RSV, and more. And we’re not stopping there.

Powered by groundbreaking technologies - mRNA platforms, recombinant proteins, and AI-driven insights - we’re pushing the boundaries of science.

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"I’m immensely proud of the pace of our innovation – the urgency by which our teams are working to transform the practice of medicine."

Thomas Triomphe

Executive Vice President, Vaccines

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Sanofi’s mRNA Center of Excellence

Step into the future of healthcare with Sanofi’s mRNA Center of Excellence. Discover how a global team is transforming medicine with cutting-edge mRNA technology – and explore the skills, inspirations, and breakthroughs driving this revolution. Ready to shape the future?

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About Sanofi Vaccines

Explore our commitment to protecting global health through the power of vaccines. We’re building healthier communities with innovative solutions that save millions of lives each year. Dive into the future of vaccines, discover the diseases we’re tackling, and learn why vaccination is critical at every stage of life.

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