Global Head of Strategic Projects and Portfolio Management EM&S – Global Launch Center

Job title:Global Head of Strategic Projects & Portfolio Management (External Manufacturing & Supply) – Global Launch Center

• Manager: Global Head of External Manufacturing & Supply

• Business Unit: Manufacturing & Supply

• Location: Zug, Switzerland

• Legal Entity: Sanofi International AG

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.

About the job

Join a global network that powers how Sanofi delivers — seamlessly, purposefully, and at scale. In Manufacturing & Supply, you’ll help reimagine how life-changing treatments reach people everywhere, faster.

External Manufacturing and Supply manages CMOs worldwide for all technologies, all Global Business Units and all markets. As Head of Strategic Projects & Portfolio Management (SPPM), you will lead a high-performing team responsible for driving Sanofi's strategic growth through external manufacturing partnerships. You will make decisions on end-to-end management of strategic projects, from external sourcing decisions and new product introductions and launches including business development activities and associated modernization initiatives.

Your leadership will be pivotal in ensuring EM&S delivers on its ambitious growth targets while maintaining operational excellence across all GBUs (General Medicines, Specialty Care and Vaccines). You will drive the strategic direction of EM&S, ensuring seamless integration with M&S and broader Sanofi objectives, while fostering innovation and digital transformation throughout the organization. Ready to get started?

Main responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Define and execute the EM&S SPPM strategic vision, aligned with Sanofi's business objectives and integrated with M&S global strategy and R&D

• Drive senior leadership decision-making across sourcing, portfolio management, new product introductions, launches, and CMO governance, representing EM&S in key leadership forums and strategic committees

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and inspire a diverse team of 5 senior directors (20+ total members) spanning New Product Introduction, Business Development & M&A, Sourcing & Portfolio Management, and Strategy Integration & Modernization

• Foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and thoughtful risk-taking while ensuring talent density, diversity, and future leader development

Portfolio & Project Management

• Ensure right-first-time launches for innovative products at CMOs, leading excellence in execution from decision to launch within allocated budget

• Oversee the strategic EM&S portfolio with full accountability for project selection, prioritization, resource allocation, risk management, and performance reporting
  

Business Development, M&A & Sourcing

• Lead evaluation of manufacturing, supply, and financial aspects for licensing and M&A opportunities, ensuring seamless integration of acquired products, technologies, and assets

• Establish and maintain a robust external manufacturing sourcing strategy; drive make vs. buy, dual sourcing, and network optimization decisions

• Oversee financial evaluation of sourcing decisions including CAPEX, OPEX, and long-term value creation
  

Modernization & Stakeholder Management

• Champion the digital transformation of EM&S SPPM through innovative tools, advanced analytics, and data-driven decision-making

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across Sanofi (M&S, R&D, Finance, Legal, GBUs) and with external partners including CMOs

Scope:

• Leadership of a team of 5 senior directors, with a total organization of 15-20 professionals

• Oversight of 20+ CMO relationships globally (rolling)

• Management of 20+ strategic New Product Introduction projects (rolling)

• Responsibility for strategic projects with CAPEX/OPEX commitments

• Accountability for EM&S contribution to Sanofi's growth targets

About you

Education & Experience

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Pharmacy, Business Administration, or related field; MBA preferred

• Extensive experience in pharmaceutical/biotech manufacturing, with significant experience in external manufacturing and CMO management

• Proven track record in leading strategic projects and driving organizational transformation

• Extensive experience in portfolio management (New Product launch, Tech Transfers in biologics and small molecules), business development / Acquisitions), and strategic planning

• Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional teams in complex, global organizations

• Experience working across multiple technology platforms (small molecules, biologics, vaccines)
  

Key Competencies

• Exceptional strategic thinking and business acumen, with ability to translate vision into actionable plans

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex organizations through transformation and growth

• Strong decision-making capabilities, with focus on long-term value creation

• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive results in complex, matrix environments

• Financial acumen, with ability to evaluate complex business cases and investment decisions

• Exceptional leadership skills, with ability to attract, develop, and retain top talent

• Proven track record in building high-performing, diverse teams

• Strong coaching and mentoring capabilities, with focus on developing future leaders

• Outstanding communication and influencing skills, with ability to engage at all levels

• Strong negotiation skills, with proven success in complex commercial agreements

• Ability to build and maintain strategic relationships across the organization and with external partners

• Collaborative approach, with focus on creating win-win solutions

• Forward-thinking mindset, with ability to drive innovation and digital transformation

Personal Attributes & Languages

• Results-oriented with strong accountability for outcomes

• Resilience and adaptability in fast-paced, changing environments

• Global mindset, with appreciation for cultural diversity

• Fluent English required; French or German highly desirable

Why choose us?

• Shape the future of medicine and vaccine delivery with cutting-edge technology, ensuring seamless launches and a resilient global supply

• Help deliver 30+ new product launches by 2030, ensuring patients get treatments faster than ever

• Power industry-leading performance by leveraging digital, data, and AI-driven innovation – at speed and scale

• Grow, thrive, and make an impact in a workplace that empowers you to bring your best self every day, with pride

Join Sanofi’s New Launch Excellence Center in Switzerland – Where Innovation Meets Impact

Sanofi International AG, based in Switzerland, is establishing a new transformational global commercialization center— at the cornerstone of Sanofi "Launch Powerhouse" strategy.  We are building a new world-class, centralized launch engine designed to orchestrate end-to-end commercialization for breakthrough medicines and vaccines across our Immunology and Specialty Care portfolios, that will reinforce and strengthen Sanofi’s existing launch expertise and network.

This is not a traditional pharmaceutical role. You will be part of a new pioneering, entrepreneurial entity with real decision-making authority over global launch strategies, pricing corridors, market access, lifecycle management, manufacturing, supply chain, and commercial execution. Working alongside a diverse, cross-functional team of approximately 150 dedicated professionals co-located in Switzerland, you will drive standardized, data-driven, AI-powered launch excellence at unprecedented scale.

Why co-location matters: Success in this role requires seamless, daily collaboration across medical affairs, commercial strategy, regulatory, manufacturing & supply, market access, and digital teams. By working together in one location, we eliminate silos, accelerate decision-making, foster innovation through continuous coordination, and create the agility needed to transform patient access worldwide. This is where strategy meets execution—where your work directly impacts millions of patients awaiting our next generation of therapies.

PursueProgress. 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.