Head of R&D Hub China

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