Operational Excellence Associate - VIE Contract

Operational Excellence Associate - VIE Contract 

• Location: United States of America, Waltham
• Target start date: 01/09/2026

iMove, the Sanofi VIE Program, is available to citizens of the European Economic Area (EU + Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland) aged between 18 and 28.

PLEASE NOTE that since this program is primarily an international development program, candidates cannot apply to a VIE assignment in their own country of citizenship.

PLEASE NOTE that applications that are only submitted in French cannot be considered by our non-French speaking partners at Sanofi worldwide. Therefore, only applications that are submitted in English will be considered. Please make sure to apply with your personal email address.

About the job

As Operational Excellence AssociateVIE within our R&D Vaccines team, you’ll have an opportunity to develop foundational skills in operational excellence while supporting improvement initiatives and capability-building activities. You will learn to apply Operational Excellence principles, tools, and methodologies through hands-on experience, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and performance excellence.

This VIE position offers a unique opportunity to develop your expertise in:

• Operational Excellence methodologies (Lean, problem-solving, continuous improvement).
• Change management and stakeholder engagement techniques.
• Project management and execution in a matrix organization.
• Training facilitation and coaching fundamentals.
• Cross-functional collaboration and communication.
• Performance analysis and impact measurement.
• Pharmaceutical/vaccine industry operations and quality standards.

Join the team protecting half a billion lives every year with next-gen science, mRNA innovation, and AI-driven breakthroughs. In Vaccines, you’ll help advance prevention on a global scale - and shape the future of immunization.

Ready to get started?

About Sanofi

We’re an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives.

Main responsibilities:

• Operational Excellence Support:
  • Participate in diagnostics and gap analyses with operational teams to identify improvement opportunities, under supervision.
  • Assist in data collection, analysis, and documentation for improvement initiatives.
  • Support the implementation of improvement initiatives as an active team member.
  • Help monitor and track progress of OE activities (improvement initiatives, practical problem-solving, and improvement ideas).
  • Support the preparation of progress reports and presentations for the Head of Function OE.
  • Contribute to ensuring that improvement initiatives comply with core OE principles.
  • Assist in documenting improvement processes, results, and sustainability measures.
  • Help integrate improvements into function performance management routines.
    
• Learning & Capability Building:
  • Participate in OE training programs to develop personal competencies in operational excellence methodologies.
  • Support the delivery of training sessions and workshops to operational teams.
  • Assist in preparing training materials, presentations, and documentation.
  • Help coordinate training logistics, scheduling, and follow-up activities.
  • Contribute to skill assessment processes for initiative participants.
  • Learn and apply OE standards, routines, and methodologies under guidance.
  • Develop coaching and facilitation skills through practical experience.
    
• Cross-functional Collaboration:
  • Participate in transversal and cross-functional meetings and initiatives.
  • Support communication and coordination between teams.
  • Help share best practices and learnings across functions.
  • Contribute to the OE community activities and knowledge-sharing efforts.

About you

Experience:

• At least 1-year full time experience in the field.

Soft and technical skills:

• Clear written and verbal communication, ability to present information effectively.
• Work well in teams, builds positive relationships across functions.
• Eager to learn, asks questions, seeks feedback, embraces growth.
• Able to analyze data, identify patterns, and draw insights.
• Manage tasks efficiently, pays attention to detail, meets deadlines.
• Flexible and open to change, adjusts to shifting contexts and needs.
• Take initiative within defined scope, demonstrate ownership.
• Structured approach to addressing challenges, applies root cause analysis.

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Pharmacy, Science or similar.

Languages:

• Fluent English.

Why choose us?

• Be part of a pioneering biopharma company where patient insights shape drug development.
• Work at the forefront of AI-powered science that accelerates discovery and improves outcomes.
• Collaborate beyond your expertise, sparking new ideas with diverse, multidisciplinary teams.
• Help create sustainable vaccine solutions, from reducing carbon emissions in production to increasing global access to life-saving immunizations. 
• Gain hands-on experience in state-of-the-art digital and AI-powered manufacturing facilities, where you can be part of industry-leading advancements. 
• Join a workplace where diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core, with Employee Resource Groups and leadership programs that celebrate every voice. 

iMove is a unique program tailored for European youth interested in challenging themselves with meaningful assignments across the globe. At Sanofi we have a strong ambition to invest in young talents who will drive the success of Sanofi tomorrow.

Sanofi’s Work Abroad Program, iMove, offers jobs-assignments with actual responsibilities and a perspective to grow. We provide those opportunities in various functions such as: marketing, finance, regulatory, supply chain, clinical trials, production, etc. and in more than 40 countries. Sanofi unites people who are passionate about solving healthcare needs across the world. Joining our iMove Work Abroad Program is a unique opportunity to make a difference through your work.

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