R&D Strategy Director

Le contenu du poste est libellé en anglais car il nécessite de nombreuses interactions avec nos filiales à l’international, l'anglais étant la langue de travail.

This job offer is accessible to all, regardless of gender.

Job title: R&D Strategy Director

• Location: Paris

• Job type: Permanent

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About the job

Our Team:

The Global R&D Strategy team’s overarching objective is to equip Sanofi’s leaders with robust, objective and externally focused insights to develop R&D strategy and make smarter strategic portfolio and project decisions. We achieve this by ensuring rigorous valuation and prioritization of the R&D portfolio and optimization of resources.

The team operates as an internal strategic advisory capability to R&D leadership, engaging directly with our R&D leadership team to shape high-impact decisions.

In this capacity, the team is expected to operate with the rigor, independence, and executive presence , while embedding long-term value creation within Sanofi.

The team’s remit includes:

• Shape R&D strategy and support critical governance decisions

• Lead high-impact, project-based strategy work that strengthens R&D competitiveness, scientific innovation, and organizational effectiveness.

• Provide an objective, trusted outside-in perspective that proactively challenges assumptions and surfaces emerging risks and opportunities.

• Operate as an in-house consulting engine delivering top-tier strategic rigor internally, reducing reliance on external consulting.

• Ensure endorsed strategic initiatives transition effectively into operationalization in close partnership with R&D Operations and the Chief of Staff, safeguarding strategic intent.

Main Responsibilities

The R&D Strategy Director will independently lead enterprise-visible strategic initiatives and executive discussions, acting as both a catalyst for change and a trusted advisor to senior R&D leadership.

• Lead complex, high-impact strategic initiatives with direct RDLT visibility.

• Structure ambiguous strategic problems and develop actionable recommendations that shape long-term R&D direction.

• Prepare and moderate executive-level discussions, including RDLT, Board, and SciCom-related forums.

• Challenge assumptions constructively through data-driven analysis and competitive benchmarking.

• Ideate and execute 4–8 high-impact strategic initiatives annually that strengthen competitiveness, modernization, and organizational effectiveness.

• Deliver measurable outcomes and ensure initiatives transition effectively to R&D Operations for sustainable implementation.

• Structure scenario analyses and strategic trade-offs that optimize long-term enterprise value.

• Maintain a pragmatic, collaborative tone while acting as R&D’s trusted strategic conscience.

About You

As a member within this group, you will gain exposure to enterprise-level strategic topics and contribute directly to shaping the long-term direction of Sanofi R&D.

You will operate with independence, executive maturity, and strong analytical rigor, balancing objective challenge with collaborative partnership.

Experience

• Typically 6–8+ years of professional experience in strategic roles within life sciences.

• Significant exposure to complex strategic problem solving and executive-level interaction.

• Experience in top-tier strategy consulting, or comparable high-performance environments is strongly valued.

• Demonstrated experience leading high-impact strategic initiatives from ideation through executive framing.

Soft Skills

• Strong business judgment and ability to structure ambiguous strategic problems.

• Demonstrated ability to independently engage and influence senior executive stakeholders.

• Strong executive presence and facilitation skills in high-level forums.

• Exceptional synthesis and communication skills.

• Disciplined prioritization and project leadership capability.

• Intellectual agility and strong outside-in perspective.

Technical Skills

• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills.

• Ability to leverage data, competitive insight, and AI-enabled tools to inform strategic decisions.

• Experience with advanced analytics and digital tools is a strong asset.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• Advanced degree (PhD, MD, PharmD, MBA) strongly preferred.

Language

• Fluent English (written and spoken) required.

Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.

Join Sanofi and step into a new era of science - where your growth can be just as transformative as the work we do. We invest in you to reach further, think faster, and do what’s never-been-done-before. You’ll help push boundaries, challenge convention, and build smarter solutions that reach the communities we serve. Ready to chase the miracles of science and improve people’s lives? Let’s Pursue Progress and 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, gender identity, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.  

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.

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