Head – Corporate Communications & CSR

About the job

Our Organization:

• Global overview: Sanofi is an innovative global healthcare company, driven by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. Our teams across the world strive to transform the practice of medicine, turning the impossible into the possible for patients. We provide potentially life-changing treatments and the protection of life-saving vaccines to millions of people, and affordable access to our medicines in some of the world’s poorest countries.\
• Local structure:
  • We are present through two legal entities, namely, Sanofi India Limited (SIL- listed) and Sanofi Healthcare India Pvt. Ltd. (SHIPL - 100% subsidiary of the parent company). From mid-2024, SIL will demerge, and a consumer healthcare company will be formed and also listed in the stock exchange (Sanofi Consumer Healthcare India Limited).
  • A mid-sized company with three Global Business Units (GBUs)- namely, GenMed (pharma), Vaccines and Specialty (rare diseases, multiple sclerosis, etc.); manufacturing facilities, a drug development center, and clinical studies unit. The Consumer Healthcare (CHC) business will be a demerged entity from mid-2024.
  • Our people (~3000 nos. overall, including 700 CHC employees)
• Our brands: we are category leaders, who also shape the market (with active support from the Communications team). Our brands like Combiflam® and Allegra® are household names trusted by generations of Indians.

• Our culture: Sanofi India has received Top Employer (five years running) recognition; we are widely appreciated in the industry for our work culture.

• Our presence in India: established since 1956.

Our Team:

We are a combined team of Communications and CSR departments. Together with Public Affairs, we form the Corporate Affairs function. The role of Communications is to engage our stakeholders by delivering impactful messages that distinguish Sanofi India Consumer Healthcare and drive desired results – always recognizing that our connection with consumers and patients inspires all we do.

Sanofi’s integrated Corporate Social Responsibility strategy aims to build a healthier, more resilient world by ensuring access to healthcare for the world’s poorest people and focus to address broader unmet needs. Integrated within the company’s ‘Play to Win’ business strategy, Sanofi’s commitment to society is based on four essential pillars of which in India, Sanofi India Consumer Healthcare is uniquely positioned to make a difference and have a greater impact in: Affordable Access, and In and Beyond the Workplace.

This position:

The CHC INDIA Corporate Communications & CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Lead is responsible for the strategic development and tactical delivery of internal and external communications as well as CSR activities related to Sanofi Consumer Healthcare in India.

The role is primarily focused on:

• External reputation management including -
  • Corporate public relations- including owned media and annual report (listed entity requirement)
  • Unbranded comms
  • Product alerts and crisis and issues management,
  • Overseeing brand public relations in collaboration with brand marketing teams
  • Manufacturing site communications
• Internal communications supporting Sanofi’s Consumer Healthcare business in India, including -
  • Local campaigns – ways of working, culture, employee motivation and engagement, amplify organisation initiatives (volunteering, product launches, category building, etc.)
  • Cascade Global campaigns
  • Change management
• CSR
  • Develop CSR plan in areas of expertise (i.e., allergy and/or diarrhoea) and/or priority (e.g., sustainability)
  • Manage and ensure programs are aligned to (a) India CSR law; (b) Sanofi global CHC’s CSR focus areas; and (c) Sanofi CHC India areas of focus – such that Sanofi CHC India’s CSR plan is curated and created to meet a CSR need in India
  • Regular updates to the CSR Board Committee (listed entity requirement)

There is a direct reporting line to the Senior Director – Communications & CSR, India, and dotted line reporting to the Communications lead for EMEA. The Head of Communications & CSR Consumer Healthcare provides strategic counsel to Sanofi Consumer Healthcare’s local Leadership Team and is a collaborative partner to Sanofi’s broader India Communications Team.

Major stakeholders include:

• Global Head of Communications CHC
• Site Director, Industrial Affairs India
• Head of Human Resources, Sanofi Consumer Healthcare India  
• Head of Sales, Sanofi Consumer Healthcare India
• Sanofi Consumer Healthcare India brand teams

To be successful, the incumbent will need to work seamlessly in a large and global matrix environment, live Sanofi values, be a role-model for Sanofi’s ‘ways of working’, while also channelizing the leadership team to champion it across the affiliate.

Main responsibilities:

Leadership communications counsel

• Work as an integral member of the Consumer Healthcare India Leadership Team and partner to the General Manager & Managing Director – Consumer Healthcare India to support the local business’ growth strategy. Provide strategic counsel on corporate and brand reputational risk and other implications of business policies, practices, and actions, as well as strategic internal communications.  
• Develop and deliver a holistic communications strategy and plan for Sanofi Consumer Healthcare India incorporating internal communications and brand, corporate public relations.

Internal communications

• Develop the yearly internal communications plan and execute the same for Sanofi’s Consumer Healthcare organization in India. Regularly test impact, and adapt to ensure communication is timely, relevant and is impactful.   
• Deliver all internal communications assets to support delivery of the plan including content for Sanofi’s enterprise social platform, Yammer, presentations for Town Halls and other content as required. 
• Deliver regular employee events including Town Halls, All Hands meetings, or major celebrations.
• Support the India Consumer Healthcare leadership team in navigating organizational or structural change by developing appropriate communications plans and supporting content.
• Work in partnership with Sanofi India’s Communications Team to ensure the Consumer Healthcare business is well represented in all Sanofi India communications.
• Work with global Consumer Healthcare Communications colleagues to ensure Consumer Healthcare India is well represented in global channels.

Brand and corporate public relations

Under the leadership of the Senior Director - Communications & CSR Sanofi India:

• Work closely with Consumer Healthcare brand teams and supporting agencies to oversee the successful delivery of brand public relations programs.

• Position the Consumer Healthcare business as a socially conscious India based leader of industry taking into consideration necessary alignment with global & local corporate messages and priorities.
• Respond to brand and corporate (CHC) media queries.
• Work as an active member of industry communications committees or policy shaping organisations, as appropriate.
• Coaching the business to build capabilities in brand and corporate public relations as well as manage crisis/issues

Corporate Social Responsibility

Under the leadership of the Deputy Director – CSR and Senior Director - Communications & CSR Sanofi India:

• Work closely with Consumer Healthcare Brand and Innovation teams and supporting agencies to oversee the successful delivery of brand public relations programs.

• Position the Consumer Healthcare business as a socially conscious India based leader of industry taking into consideration necessary alignment with global & local corporate messages and priorities.

Play to Win Behaviours

This position is required to demonstrate Sanofi’s Play to Win behaviours.

About you

Essential Skills and Experience

Essential Qualifications

• 10- 12 years in similar corporate communications roles
• Experience in corporate internal communications including leadership advisory on organizational change management. 
• Experience managing brand and corporate PR programs
• Experience in managing crises and issues
• Experience in working with media reporters and managing media
• Exceptional written skills
• Experience working with agencies to develop high quality content including videos and social content  

• Degree qualified in Communications, Public Relations, or Journalism is preferred
• Post-graduate in any discipline

• Desirable Skills and Experience
• Experience working with a consumer goods business, in particular either wellness or beauty (??)
• Experience in building and running CSR programs
• Experience working as part of a cross functional communications team
• Experience building internal communications content in-house using web-based platforms
• Soft skills: problem solving, conflict resolution, adaptability, critical thinking, time management and a ‘team’ person.
• Mindset & personality: out-of-the-box, calm under pressure, optimistic, empathetic, confident, fun, and self-starter.

At Consumer Healthcare at Sanofi, we’re building a healthier future by helping people, help themselves.   We empower people to champion better self-care for themselves, their communities and our planet, through consumer-inspired, science-based products and solutions.