Head of Global Research - Vaccines

About the role

The Head of Vaccines Research leads the scientific vision and strategy that transforms cutting-edge research into breakthrough vaccines, building a world-class research organization that leverages disease understanding, antigen design, immunology, AI/ML and platform science to deliver transformational vaccines and medicines.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to defining, building and delivering the short, middle and long term vision for the Vaccines GBU and Sanofi
• Engage key external stakeholders and represent Sanofi, the GBU and Vaccines R&D in external forums
• Engage leaders across all departments and levels within Sanofi and represent Vaccines R&D in internal forums
• Contribute to defining, building and delivering the short, middle and long-term vision for Vaccines R&D
• Actively partner with your peers within the VRDLT, fostering cross-team collaboration and solving challenges within and outside VRDLT forums
• Bring healthy challenge, taking ownership for proposing and preparing topics for discussion at VRDLT
• Contribute to productive discussion at VRDLT, diverging in opinions when helpful, then converging and aligning on a position and sticking to it
• Share information in a regular manner, sharing both good news and bad news in a timely manner and asking for help in an agile mode, including during our agile weekly meetings
• Provide feedback to peers and supervisor
• Engage leaders in Sanofi Pharma R&D and identify value-creating opportunities for scientific collaboration and synergies
• Identify external opportunities (services, collaborations, in-licensing, acquisitions) to strengthen our position and accelerate the delivery of our ambition
• Take accountability for delivering the activities aligned with the defined project and pipeline priorities and the long term vision of the R&D and the vaccines GBU
• Sourcing the priority activities, making trade off when needed, asking for resource when critical path activities are not adequately resourced and releasing/loaning resources when possible
• Define clear objectives for the team and assess team performance on both deliverables, behaviours and leadership traits
• Raise talent density by developing your people, hiring exceptional new talents and ensuring we have the right people at the right place
• Engage your overall team, increasing the engagement score of your direct report but also your overall organisation
• Transform whenever needed and contribute to the simplification of the organisation within and outside your perimeter
• Escalate the challenges when this is not happening
• Create the right healthy environment where people can strive based on clear objective and feedback, with clear sense of urgency and confidence
• Contribute to vaccine pipeline
• Promote a project-centric and value-creating environment where science benefits our projects and pipeline, avoiding the science for science mindset
• Deliver excellence in antigen design and immunology, pioneering new technologies and applying state of the art science and technologies to deliver concrete value for projects at short-, middle- and long-term
• Deliver in an agile manner the scientific evidence that answer key scientific questions, discharging risks and advancing our vaccines and technology programs
• Allocate resource according to established priorities and escalate potential trade-offs to VRDLT/governance in case of conflicting priorities
• Promote the innovation in vaccines platforms, including but not limited to mRNA & Adjuvants
• Support to Pharma R&D and external collaborators on our mRNA & adjuvant platforms
• In close collaboration with the Head of CMC, ensure that CQAs, manufacturability and analytical considerations are embedded into the design and selection of our vaccine candidates
• Align with Late stage immunology for the assay to be transferred and used in late stage development
• In close collaboration with the Head of QPS and Digital, build the data continuum across R&D
• Promote and embed Digital, Automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning in research activities
• Promote Sanofi scientific leadership and innovation internally and externally

Core Scientific & Technical Requirements

• Infectious disease science and platform mastery
• Deep expertise across multiple vaccine platforms (mRNA, viral vectors, protein subunit, conjugates, live-attenuated)
• Strategic vision for emerging technologies and next-generation vaccine approaches
• Able to assess platform suitability for specific pathogens and target populations
• Some knowledge of the non vaccine emerging infectious diseases platforms: antivirals, antibiotics, siRNA, Mabs, Antibody-drug conjugates, Immunology & Mechanism of Action Excellence
• Comprehensive understanding of innate and adaptive immune responses
• Expertise in correlates of protection, immunological memory, and vaccine-induced immunity
• Capability to guide rational vaccine design based on immunological principles
• Pathogen Biology & Disease Understanding
• Extensive knowledge of infectious disease mechanisms, pathogen evolution, and epidemiology
• Regulatory Science Leadership
• Mastery of global regulatory pathways (FDA, EMA, WHO prequalification)
• Some knowledge in quality by design principles and CMC development strategies
• Understanding Of Stage-adjusted Quality And Compliance Requirements
• Data Science & Digital Innovation
• Proficiency in leveraging AI/ML, bioinformatics, and computational biology
• Strategic vision for digital transformation in vaccine research and development
• Capability to integrate multi-omics data for vaccine optimization
• Portfolio Management Excellence
• Expertise in research prioritization, resource allocation, and risk assessment
• Strategic thinking for pipeline development and competitive positioning
• External Collaboration Leadership
• Proven track record in academic partnerships, public-private collaborations, and consortiums
• Expertise in managing complex multi-stakeholder research initiatives
• Ability to leverage external innovation and scientific networks effectively
• Scientific Communication & Influence
• Exceptional ability to communicate complex science to diverse audiences
• Proven publication record and recognition in the scientific community
• Capability to represent the organization at key scientific forums and regulatory interactions

About You

• Advanced scientific degree required PhD, MD/PhD, or MD in Immunology, Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Biochemistry, or a closely related life science discipline
• Postdoctoral training in infectious disease, antigen design or immunology, ideally with exposure to translational or applied vaccine research is preferred
• MBA or executive leadership training is a plus, reflecting the strategic and organizational scope of the role
• 15 years of progressive experience in vaccine research, infectious disease, or immunology, spanning both discovery and translational stages is required
• Demonstrated track record of advancing vaccine or other drug candidates from discovery to drug development
• Familiarity with digital health tools, AI-driven drug discovery platforms, or computational immunology
• Industry & Leadership Experience
• Proven experience leading large, multidisciplinary R&D teams across geographies and functions
• Prior experience as a member of an executive or senior leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy beyond functional boundaries
• Strong network in infectious disease, structural biology and immunology
• Strategic & Business Acumen
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage a research portfolio, balancing short-term deliverables with long-term innovation
• Experience in intellectual property, business development, licensing, or external partnership negotiations
• Proven capability to translate scientific strategy into operational plans with clear milestones and resource requirements
• Personal Attributes & Leadership Qualities
• Visionary scientific thinker with the intellectual courage to challenge conventional approaches
• Collaborative and inclusive leader who builds trust across diverse teams and stakeholders
• Resilient and decisive under uncertainty, with a demonstrated ability to make sound judgments in complex, fast-moving environments
• Culturally agile, with experience working across international teams and global health ecosystems
• Passionate advocate for patients and public health, with a genuine commitment to improving lives through vaccine innovation