R&D Head Portfolio Strategy & Analytics

About the job
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The Global R&D Strategy and Portfolio Management team’s overarching objective is to equip Sanofi’s leaders with robust, objective and externally focused insights and recommendations they need to make better informed R&D strategy, and portfolio and project investment decisions to ensure pipeline sustainability.  

We achieve this by (1) delivering a comprehensive R&D strategy positioning the organization to embrace future opportunities and challenges, driving sustained success (2) ensuring a sustainable portfolio strategy, robust valuation and prioritization of the R&D portfolio and optimization of resources, high quality pipeline reporting, benchmarking, and scientific competitive intelligence (3) ensuring high quality investment governance incorporating decision quality and thoughtful risk taking principles.

As part of the R&D Portfolio Strategy and Management team, the Competitive Intelligence group works with key stakeholders across the organization (R&D and GBUs) to deliver robust external competitive intelligence insights and ensure data-driven decision-making.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Competitive Intelligence Lead to join our team at our offshore hub in India. In this role, you will lead a team of skilled CI analysts, providing critical insights to support key decision-making in one or more therapeutic areas, from early-stage research through to proof of clinical and commercial concept. You will collaborate with global stakeholders in order to get an in-depth understanding of Competitive Intelligence needs and implement a portfolio of services that align with ongoing business objectives.

Main responsibilities:

As a Head of R&D Portfolio Analytics and Project Management hub, you will play a strategic leadership role in shaping and driving the success of the R&D pipeline. You will be responsible for overseeing portfolio analytics, reporting and competitive intelligence teams enabling data-driven decision-making. They support project management across the R&D portfolio, ensuring timely and efficient execution through strong governance, resource and operational planning, risk management, and performance tracking.

In addition, the role involves leading continuous improvement initiatives in tools, systems, and processes that support portfolio analytics and project management. The leader should foster a culture of innovation and collaboration, while building and developing a high-performing team, driving capability development, and supporting digital transformation. You will contribute to R&D growth strategy in a variety of ways including:

1. Portfolio Strategy & Analytics

• Design and implementation of robust portfolio analytics frameworks to support R&D investment and prioritization decisions.
• Provide insights using advanced modeling techniques to simulate different portfolio outcomes, portfolio risk, resource allocation, productivity
• Drive scenario planning to support pipeline optimization           and decision-making.

• Use advanced modeling techniques to simulate different portfolio outcomes.
• Proficiency in NPV calculation and financial modelling.

2. Competitive Intelligence & External Benchmarking

• Integrate competitive intelligence and industry trends into portfolio planning.
• Provide leadership with regular updates on external benchmarks, best practices, and emerging methodologies.

3. R&D Reporting

• Develop and maintain automated, real-time dashboards and reports to provide visibility into portfolio health, project status, resource utilization, and key performance indicators.
• Drive operational reporting to support day-to-day project execution, including timelines, budget tracking, resource deployment, and milestone achievement.
• Ensure data integrity and consistency across reporting systems by standardizing metrics, aligning data sources, and driving continuous improvements in reporting tools and processes.

4. Project Management

• Oversee end-to-end project management across the R&D portfolio, ensuring delivery on time, budget, and scope.
• Ensure alignment of project plans with corporate milestones and regulatory timelines.
• Manage non asset project lifecycle, guaranteeing timely, budget-conscious, and scope-accurate delivery.

5. Resource & Capacity Planning

• Lead resource planning models to ensure optimal allocation of scientific and operational resources.
• Identify gaps and bottlenecks in capacity and propose mitigation strategies.

6. Cross-functional Leadership

• Partner with functional global teams to co-create portfolio solutions and deliver high-impact analytics while aligning priorities, and execution roadmaps.
• Act as the interface between global R&D teams and the India hub for portfolio and project-related matters.
• Foster a high-performing, collaborative culture across cross-functional teams.

7. Systems, Tools & Process Improvement

• Drive the implementation, and continuous improvement of portfolio management, reporting and analytics tools.
• Champion digital transformation and automation initiatives to enhance analytics and reporting.

8. Talent Development & Team Leadership

• Build and lead a high-performing team in portfolio analytics and project management.
• Provide mentorship, career development, and functional training.

About you

• Experience: Strong years of relevant consulting experience managing analytics and project management capabilities, with a large / top tier consulting firm, or serving as an internal consultant within the Innovative Pharmaceutical industry. Management of complex data elements; data analytics and data visualization skills. Proven experience in managing projects within Shared Services, Outsourcing, Offshoring, or optimizing back-office functions. Expertise in strategizing, designing, implementing, and optimizing service delivery models for both multi-functional and single-function entities.

• Technical & Soft Skills: Required: Experience managing teams of resources through strategy, design, and implementation of Shared Services/Outsourcing organizations. Understanding of Digital transformation. Understanding of customer experience and interactions with shared services. Financial analysis and business case development experience. Financial modeling and/or business case development. Strong storyboarding skills.

• Preferred: Strong executive presence including the ability to advise and influence at Executive level. Demonstrated ability to lead discussions with senior-level stakeholder. Demonstrated experience delivering large, complex projects for multinational organizations with multiple stakeholders. Superior critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills. Strong oral and written communication skills in English, including presentation skills; professional competence in the Microsoft Office suite, Portfolio management tools (Planisware, Microsoft project), reporting and dashboarding tools (PowerBI, Tableu) and Portfolio simulation (Planview Advisor).

• Education: Advance degree required.  Core training in data sciences a plus; additional training to understand the R&D environment in the pharmaceutical industry.