Lead, US Public Affairs & Patient Advocacy Rare Diseases

Job Family Group: US Public Affairs & Patient Advocacy | Job Category: Rare Disease Patient Advocacy

About the Role

Sanofi believes the US healthcare system should understand and solve for what matters most to patients. We are committed to working with patient advocacy organizations to accelerate research and development of medicines that address unmet needs, and to developing solutions that overcome barriers, so people have affordable and sustainable access to the right treatments.

The Rare Disease Patient Advocacy Lead is responsible for supporting and contributing to patient advocacy strategies across rare disease therapeutic areas. This role sustains trusted relationships with rare disease patient advocacy groups and other key public affairs stakeholders to amplify the patient voice in Sanofi's internal and external initiatives. The role operates in close collaboration with cross-functional teams including Corporate Affairs, Medical Affairs, Commercial, and R&D to ensure patient-centric approaches are embedded throughout the product lifecycle. The primary focus will be on Rare and Rare Blood Disorder pipeline or related disease areas, with operational contributions across Sanofi’s rare disease portfolio and pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Manage strategic partnerships with rare disease patient advocacy organizations, foundations, and caregiver networks. Develop and execute partnerships that align organizational goals with Sanofi's rare disease priorities, ensuring relationships are built on transparency, trust, and shared commitment to patient outcomes.
• Lead, manage, and support Sanofi’s key Public Affairs and Patient Advocacy initiatives and projects in relationship to pipeline development. Develop advocacy landscape assessments that identify key stakeholders, trends, and opportunities for engagement. Manage projects and ensure Sanofi is capturing key metrics and data to demonstrate impact and develop meaningful impact reports.
• Support the Head of US PA&PA Rare Diseases to implement comprehensive patient advocacy strategies for rare disease therapeutic areas. Manage budgets, timelines, and metric reporting.
• Serve as a point of contact and relationship manager for patient advocacy organizations, disease-specific foundations, rare disease coalitions, and patient community leaders. Represent Sanofi at rare disease conferences, patient summits, advisory boards, and advocacy events.
• Act as the patient advocacy liaison to internal cross-functional teams including Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, Market Access, Health Economics & Outcomes Research (HEOR), Clinical Development, Commercial, and other functions of Corporate Affairs. Ensure the patient perspective is embedded throughout the product lifecycle.
• Ensure all patient advocacy activities are conducted in full compliance with Sanofi's policies, industry codes, and applicable regulations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Public Health, Communications, or related field. Advanced degrees (JD, PharmD, MPH, MD, PhD) a plus.
• Minimum 2-4 years of experience in patient advocacy, public affairs, or a related function within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, with preference for experience in the rare disease community.
• Demonstrated experience working with rare disease patient communities and advocacy organizations.
• Proven ability to build and sustain trusted relationships with external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling narratives.
• Demonstrated AI-native ways of working, using AI tools daily as core instruments of strategy, analysis, writing, and decision-making.
• 25% travel required (conferences, conventions, and meetings).
• A working command of the compliance frameworks governing industry interactions with advocacy and healthcare organizations, including funding and transparency requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in clinical trial and pipeline development and/or related diseases.
• Experience with project management, impact reporting, and budgeting.

Benefits

• Make your work count by supporting a company that brings life-changing treatments to millions and is committed to doing right by patients, communities, and the planet.
• Drive progress from within by helping simplify, scale, and modernize how a global biopharma business delivers smarter, faster, and more sustainably.
• Support teams across science, medicine, and operations by building better systems, shaping bold strategies, and enabling innovation at speed.
• Make an impact across borders and functions, collaborating with leaders to turn complex challenges into real-world solutions.
• Advance your career through stretch roles, cross-functional moves, and development opportunities designed to match your ambition.
• Thrive in inclusive, high-performing teams where every role matters and every voice helps shape what’s next.