Lab Head, Director, Type 2 Immunology

Job Title: Lab Head, Director, Type 2 Immunology

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.

Sanofi is seeking an accomplished, visionary, and strategic scientific leader to join our Immunology & Inflammation Research Therapeutic Area as a Lab Head at the Director level. This pivotal role will be instrumental in shaping and advancing our innovative portfolio aimed at discovering and developing transformative therapies for immune-mediated diseases. The successful candidate will lead a dedicated research laboratory, providing scientific and strategic leadership, fostering a culture of high performance and innovation, and driving drug discovery programs from novel target identification through to preclinical development. This position demands deep expertise in Type 2 immunology, a strong track record of scientific achievement, and proven leadership capabilities in a drug discovery setting.

The successful candidate will have an opportunity to leverage Sanofi’s vast Drug Discovery Toolbox and application of AI, at scale, to contribute significantly to the research efforts directed towards developing new therapeutics. Research activities will be broad with the ideal candidate having strong technical expertise in both murine and human immunology. The position will initially support our pre-clinical portfolio, supporting the generation of high quality, robust data packages for transition to early clinical development teams across dermatology, gastroenterology, respiratory and rheumatology.

This role will involve guiding matrix and local teams in in partnership with our Discovery Platform colleagues as well as teams in Development, Medical Affairs and Commercial to drive our research directions and maximize the value of these innovations.  The successful candidate will have an opportunity to leverage Sanofi’s vast technical toolbox and application of AI, at scale, to contribute significantly new and existing projects. Research activities will be broad with the ideal candidate having strong technical expertise in both murine and human immunology. A successful candidate should be experienced with novel assay development (both in vitro and in vivo) and have a track record in immunological and disease pathway exploration. Technical expertise in imaging, cell-based assays, molecular techniques (including single cell approaches), and multi-omic based technologies will be necessary to further our research ambitions. 

The candidate should be able to scientifically lead and execute research work, analyze, and present data, and have an ability to utilize excellent technical, written, and oral communication skills (across both expert and non-expert audiences), and effectively collaborate in a team environment. Experience with mentoring junior members of teams is preferable. A successful candidate should be curious in exploring new paths for scientific discoveries and bold in proposing creative experimental designs and ideas.

We are an innovative global healthcare company with one purpose: to chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. We’re also a company where you can flourish and grow your career, with countless opportunities to explore, make connections with people, and stretch the limits of what you thought was possible. Ready to get started?

Main Responsibilities:

• Scientific and Strategic Leadership
  Provide expert scientific vision, strategic direction, and operational leadership for a research laboratory focused on identifying and validating novel therapeutic targets and advancing drug discovery programs in immunology and inflammation.

• Team Leadership and Development
  Lead, mentor, and develop a team of scientists and researchers, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, collaboration, and urgency. Manage team performance and resource allocation

• Portfolio Delivery
  Drive the progression of immunology projects from target discovery and validation through to candidate selection and IND-enabling studies. Ensure robust, data-driven decision-making and timely delivery of milestones.

• Cutting-Edge Research
  Champion and implement innovative scientific approaches and cutting-edge technologies to address critical questions in immunology and enhance our drug discovery capabilities. Stay at the forefront of scientific advancements in the field.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with other research teams, therapeutic areas, platform groups (e.g., molecule discovery teams, target discovery and systems biology teams, translational medicine), and clinical development functions to ensure seamless project transitions and strategic alignment.

• External Engagement and Innovation Sourcing
  Establish and manage external collaborations with academic institutions, biotechnology companies, and key opinion leaders to access novel science, technologies, and therapeutic opportunities.

• Scientific Communication and Visibility
  Ensure high-quality internal and external scientific communication, including presentations at international conferences, publications in peer-reviewed journals, and contributions to patent filings and regulatory submissions. Represent Sanofi at external scientific forums.

• Resource Management
  Effectively manage laboratory resources, including budget, equipment, and personnel, to ensure optimal productivity and scientific output.

• Contribution to Therapeutic Area Strategy
  Actively contribute to the overall strategy and portfolio prioritization within the Immunology & Inflammation Research Therapeutic Area.

ABOUT YOU

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree plus minimum 15 years of immunology research experience in an academic or biopharmaceutical setting OR Master’s Degree plus minimum 12 years of immunology research experience in an academic or biopharmaceutical setting OR PhD plus minimum 10 years of immunology research experience in an academic or biopharmaceutical setting.

• Demonstrated track record of outstanding scientific achievement in immunology, particularly in the Type 2 immunology space evidenced by high-impact publications, patents, and successful advancement of drug discovery programs.

• Proven experience in leading, managing, and mentoring a team of scientists, with a clear ability to inspire and develop talent.

• Deep expertise in one or more areas of immunology (e.g., autoimmunity, inflammation, specific immune cell biology, signaling pathways) and a broad understanding of the field.

• Extensive experience in target identification, validation, and preclinical drug discovery across various modalities (e.g., biologics, small molecules).

• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and engage scientists and leaders across a complex organization.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a matrixed environment and lead cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in successfully leading drug discovery programs that have progressed to clinical development.

• Expertise in translational immunology and the application of human immunology insights to drug discovery.

• Experience with novel therapeutic modalities in an immunology context.

• Established network within the academic and industry immunology community.

• Experience in managing external collaborations and alliances.

Why Choose Us?

• Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.

• Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.

• Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.

• Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs and at least 14 weeks’ gender-neutral parental leave.

Sanofi Inc. and its U.S. affiliates are Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employers committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law.

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