About the job
The Head R&D China Hub is a critical leadership role responsible for establishing, growing, and continuously improving the R&D Hub in Chengdu, China. This position requires a dynamic, self-motivated leader who can effectively communicate at all organizational levels, implement business strategies, drive innovation in process, data and technology, and oversee day-to-day operations. The ideal candidate will set the vision for assigned teams and collaborate with R&D leadership and Sanofi hub towers to set goals, drive process efficiencies, and enhance overall operational effectiveness.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Hub Development:
- Translate global R&D strategy into actionable plans for the China Hub
- Build and grow an effective team capable of meeting challenging transformation timelines
- Collaborate with Global Head R&D Hubs and Business Operations to drive initiatives and enhance connectivity across global R&D hub network
- Direct activities with a focus on high-quality results and successful execution
- Collaborate with R&D functions to support transition and implementation of activities in China, building relevant expertise, capacity, and capabilities while defining service offerings as needed.
- Act as the main point of contact for both RDO leadership and the China Hub Leadership team
- Align local reporting structures with global R&D functions, ensuring organizational objectives are met
- Position the China Hub as a strategic extension of global R&D functions, ensuring integration, visibility and shared accountability
- Manage a strategic resourcing model to meet R&D portfolio demands
- Accountable for measurable business impact aligned with R&D portfolio priorities
- Drive cultural change initiatives, fostering a purpose-driven mindset
Operational Excellence:
- Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for R&D Hub setup and ongoing operations
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement in end-to-end processes
- Implement best practices to enhance operational effectiveness
- Champion digital transformation initiatives and AI-enabled workflows to enhance productivity and decision-grade insights
- Oversee budget management, resource allocation, and performance evaluation
- Support management of third-party partnerships as needed
- Ensure staff adherence to appropriate use of technical tools and systems to preserve both external regulatory compliance and internal quality standards
- Lead and/or represent R&D in special initiatives
- Manage demand for FTEs on a quarterly and/or yearly basis, ensuring proper team utilization
- Establish robust governance model with global R&D leadership including performance reviews, risk dashboards and escalation pathways
- Ensure inspection readiness and compliance with global regulatory and data governance standards
Team Development and Leadership:
- Lead and develop a team of direct reports across various R&D activities
- Collaborate with P&C for organizational design, recruitment, retention, team development, and change management activities
- Design and implement comprehensive training programs to enhance team capabilities
- Identify opportunities for internal talent development and new skill acquisition
- Build succession pipeline for critical leadership and technical roles
- Foster a culture of team excellence and collaboration
Stakeholder Management:
- Maintain effective relationships with key R&D stakeholders, local team members and Chengdu hub pillars
- Facilitate knowledge sharing with other R&D Hub teams (e.g., India and Hungary Hubs)
- Ensure efficient onboarding and knowledge transfer for new team members
- Develop and maintain strategic graduate hiring programs, identifying and establishing partnerships with leading universities as needed to build sustainable talent pipelines
Qualifications and Skills:
- Master's degree or equivalent in sciences, business, project management, or related field
- 10+ years of pharmaceutical industry experience, including team management
- Extensive knowledge of global regulatory guidelines and clinical trial requirements
- Strong understanding of R&D processes and deliverables
- Proven success in leading teams and managing people in a matrix environment
- Excellent project management skills, including the ability to lead complex projects
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to cultivate internal and external relationships
- Proficiency in AI / digital tools usage and implementation
- International experience is an asset
Requirements:
- Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed
- Capability to operate with discretion and confidentiality regarding sensitive data
- Experience in leading cross-functional teams and interacting with external partners
- Ability to work effectively across time zones and cultures
- Excellent English language skills – both written and spoken
Pursue progress, discover extraordinary
Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But 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. So, let’s be those people.
At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, ability or gender identity.
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