Head of Drug Product MSAT Synthetics Platform

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

Sanofi Global MSAT (Manufacturing Sciences, Analytics, and Technology) serves as the critical bridge between R&D and Manufacturing, ensuring supply continuity and enabling the successful launch of high-quality, innovative medicines. Global MSAT drives technical excellence across lifecycle management, process robustness, and performance optimization across Sanofi’s manufacturing network.

Position Overview

The Head of Drug Product – MSAT Synthetics Platform is a senior leadership role reporting to the Head of the Synthetics Platform.

The role provides strategic, technical, and operational leadership for all Drug Product (DP) activities, including:

Formulation & Process Development

Engineering & Maintenance (DP-related systems and equipment)

Quality & Compliance (DP scope)

The incumbent will lead a multidisciplinary organization based in Ambarès, France, supporting a portfolio spanning late-stage development, launch readiness, and commercial products across the GenMed GBU.

This role is accountable for end-to-end Drug Product performance within MSAT scope, from development through commercial manufacturing, across Sanofi’s internal sites and external partners.

Main Responsibilities  

Organizational Leadership & Team Development

Lead, develop, and inspire a multidisciplinary Drug Product organization, fostering a high-performance, accountable, and collaborative culture

Establish and inspire a cross - site skill area network

Define the organizational model, capabilities, and ways of working required to deliver on current and future portfolio needs.

Provide technical leadership and mentorship to a diverse team with expertise in pharmaceutical formulation, process development, scale-up, and manufacturing support for synthetics drug products.

Build and sustain strong leadership within the team, ensuring succession planning and talent pipeline development

Contribute to the Synthetics Platform's effectiveness through active participation in Global MSAT, M&S GenMed, R&D CMC Development, Industrial Product Teams, and Drug Product Manufacturing Site governance forums

Drug Product Innovation & Lifecycle Management

Define and execute the global DP strategy for the synthetic product portfolio across launch, and commercialization

Ensure robust, compliant, and efficient formulation and process development for OSD, semi-solids, liquids, and emerging formats

Drive platformization, standardization, and harmonization of DP processes, formulations, and control strategies across the network

Lead lifecycle management (LCM), including post-approval changes, cost optimization, and process improvements

Ensure all DP activities meet global regulatory expectations (ICH, FDA, EMA, etc.)

Commercial Manufacturing Support

Provide end-to-end oversight of technology transfer, validation, and commercial manufacturing support for DP processes

Ensure robust control strategies for Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs) and process performance across the lifecycle

Lead complex troubleshooting, root cause investigations, and technical decision-making at product and network level

Drive continuous improvement in yield, reliability, compliance, and cost efficiency

Ensure strong integration with MSAT transversal teams, sites, and CMOs

Innovation & Digital Transformation

Drive innovation in formulation science, process technologies, and manufacturing approaches, including:   Continuous Manufacturing, Advanced Characterization , Process Analytical Technology (PAT)

Lead implementation of digital solutions for DP development and manufacturing:   Data-driven process monitoring, Digital twins / modeling (where applicable), d ata integrity and analytics frameworks

Build external partnerships (academia, industry) to strengthen scientific and technological leadership

 

Strategic Leadership & Vision  

Define and articulate a clear vision and ambition for Drug Product within the Synthetics Platform

Influence enterprise-level decisions as a trusted technical and business leader

Contribute to the broader MSAT and M&S strategy, including operating model evolution

Drive cross-functional alignment across R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and Digital

Champion change management and transformation in a complex, global environment

Key Challenges

Managing a complex and multidisciplinary DP organization in a transforming operating model

Driving harmonization and standardization across legacy processes and sites

Delivering innovation within resource and regulatory constraints

Leading through significant organizational and cultural change

Navigating a highly matrixed stakeholder environment

About You  

Basic Qualifications  

Ph.D. or advanced degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related field

~12+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including senior leadership roles

Strong expertise in drug product development and manufacturing (formulation, process development, scale-up, validation)

Deep knowledge of CMC, GMP, and global regulatory frameworks (ICH, FDA, EMA)

Proven experience with regulatory submissions and health authority interactions

Demonstrated ability to lead in a complex, global matrix organization

Preferred Qualifications  

Experience managing broad and complex small molecule drug product portfolios

Strong track record in commercial manufacturing support and lifecycle management

Experience in digital transformation and advanced manufacturing technologies

Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional CMC/LCM teams

Exposure to continuous manufacturing, PAT, and data science applications

Strong external network within the pharmaceutical and scientific community

Leadership Profile  

Strategic & Visionary - Translates scientific and business trends into actionable strategies

Results-Oriented- Drives execution with accountability and measurable impact

Influential Leader - Aligns stakeholders across complex environments

Collaborative - Enables cross-functional and cross-site success

Decisive - Makes sound decisions in uncertain environments

Strategic - Translates key business trends and scientific developments into clear, actionable plans

Continuous Improvement Mindset - Embeds operational excellence and innovation

People Developer - Builds strong teams and future leaders

Pursue progress , discover extraordinary

Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But progress doesn’t happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. So, let’s be those people.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, ability or gender identity.

Watch our ALL IN video and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com !

The salary range for this position is :€114.800,00 - €153.067 Final compensation will be determined based on demonstrated experience, skills, location, and other relevant factors. Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs.