Job title: R&D Strategy Director

About the job

Are you ready to shape the future of medicine? The race is on to speed up drug discovery and development to find answers for patients and their families. Your skills could be critical in helping our teams accelerate progress.

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) by 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) by ensuring high quality investment governance incorporating decision quality and thoughtful risk taking principles.

The Global R&D Portfolio Strategy and Management team works with key stakeholders across the organization (R&D and GBUs) to support decision-making aligned to our corporate strategy and agreed TA strategies.

Position overview/Primary responsibilites:

The R&D Strategy team is looking to add a team-oriented member to its internal consulting capability to drive R&D strategy and decision making. As a Leader within this group, you will gain exposure to all functions, therapy areas and come to truly understand the company-wide vision. You will develop a deep understanding of investment choices across R&D and strategic objectives the organization is aiming to achieve to enable its ambition.

The R&D Strategy Director will play a pivotal role in shaping the R&D initiatives of the organization and drive decisions for Sanofi at governance meetings (e.g., Executive Committee and Board of Director meetings). You will work closely with cross-functional senior members (such as but not limited to: R&D, Commercial, Finance, Business Development and M&A) to align R&D effort with the company’s objectives. Your ability to manage ambiguity, structure complex strategic problems and conduct complex analyses, present findings, and help facilitate decision-making will be key to the group’s success.

The main responsibilities R&D Strategy Director will include:

Develop a comprehensive R&D strategy to drive innovation, competitive advantage and that aligns with Sanofi’s near and long-term ambitions:

a. Strategic planning:

• Growth Story & rationale: articulate growth ambition, strategy and gap to meet company objectives. Safeguard integrity of the R&D strategy by challenging and influencing key decisions that could disrupt delivery
• Conduct market research and data-driven analysis leveraging AI to identify trends and market needs to guide innovation efforts in the organization
• Refine R&D vision, roadmap and priorities working with functional leaders (e.g., CMC, development) in alignment with company ambition
• Communication: articulate clear and consistent messaging with executive members (e.g., Executive Committee and Board of Directors) and stakeholders inside and outside R&D organization

b. TA and Platform:

• Integrate “Portfolio Strategic Week” (PSW) outcomes into R&D strategic direction
• Ensure cohesive messaging on areas of investment in R&D considering priorities set at PSW

c.Digital and AI:

• Foster a culture of AI-driven innovation by staying ahead of emerging digital trends (e.g., quantum computing) and encouraging teams to prioritize and leverage technologies
• Establish collaborations with universities to source talents

Collaborate with cross-Functions Leaders (e.g., Business Development, Corporate Strategy, Corporate Finance) to inform and influence strategic thinking through impact modelling.

a. Structure and perform scenarios and simulations to model and value strategic alternatives and trade-offs with the aim of maximizing efficiencies and value at a company level

b. Work closely with cross-function partners (e.g., Portfolio Management, FP&A) to leverage or generate the right set of assumptions to feed strategic planning

c. Collaborate closely with Finance and Business Development to ensure effective allocation of resources (Research and Development) on area of focus (internally and externally)

This position offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on the company’s growth trajectory while working with a team of talented professionals. This position will require deep engagement with Senior cross-functional partners (e.g., R&D leadership team). Demonstrated ability to develop, guide, and influence across senior leadership is a critical component for this position.

Please note that key responsibilities may change over time in accordance with business needs.

Location: Paris (France)

About you

Qualifications:

We are looking for motivated individuals with a hard work ethic and a track record of achievement.

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree is required
• Advanced Degree (PhD in Life Sciences, MD, Vet, Pharm D) and an MBA highly preferred
• A minimum of 5 years of professional business experience. Direct experience in the life sciences would be a significant asset.
• Experience Strategy consulting or banking would be a significant asset
• Good business judgment, problem structuring and being able to manage ambiguity plus strong analytical skills with a mastery of Excel, and a solid grasp of corporate finance principles are required
• The ability to synthesize information and present key findings in a crisp and concise manner
• Strong project management capabilities, helping to ensure team objectives are met according to timelines
• Experience in leveraging insights from Evaluate Pharma, Gartner and use of visualization tools would be significant asset
• The maturity and leadership skills to be able to interact at senior levels
• Aptitude to learn and think quickly with the ability to apply learning across multiple situations
• Position may require up to 10% overall business travel

PursueProgress. 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 our ALL IN video and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com!

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