Global Head of Data and Digital Transformation Vx RnD

Job Title: Global Head of Data and Digital Transformation Vx RnD

Location: Cambridge, MA

About the Job

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.

This position operates within Vaccine R&D Global Transversal Operations, with the mission to architect, orchestrate, and drive the delivery of an ambitious digital, Data and AI strategic roadmap across Vaccine RD. As a key strategic advisor to senior leadership, you will shape the future direction of digital capabilities in collaboration with Digital R&D and Global RD, ensuring alignment with Sanofi's long-term business objectives.

Working at the intersection of science and technology, the incumbent collaborates with senior stakeholders to identify high-impact opportunities where digital & AI solutions can accelerate vaccine development, increase probability of success, enhance decision-making and support excellence in operations delivery.

As the Global Head of Data & Digital Transformation, you will lead a specialized team of Data Catalysts embedded within our Vaccine R&D organization, driving digital/AI transformation for vaccine R&D Labs while ensuring seamless business continuity in critical laboratory operations.

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.
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Main Responsibilities:

Your strategic leadership will be instrumental in:

• Digital Strategy Leadership: Spearhead the development and execution of the comprehensive Digital/AI strategy for Vaccine R&D, ensuring strategic alignment with Sanofi's enterprise objectives while addressing the unique needs of scientific teams. Serve as the strategic thought leader who inspires cross-functional teams to envision transformative digital possibilities. Establish governance frameworks that empower functions to develop aligned digital roadmaps while maintaining cohesive strategic direction that advances the vaccine RD mission and creates sustainable competitive advantage.

• Portfolio Strategy & Investment: Develop and manage a strategic portfolio of Vx RD digital initiatives with clear prioritization frameworks aligned to business value. Lead strategic investment decisions for digital/AI capabilities, building compelling business cases for transformative technologies. Work with RD functions to establish metrics and KPIs that demonstrate strategic ROI and business impact of digital investments.

• Workforce Transformation: Lead the cultural and capability shift required to build a digitally-fluent scientific workforce, promoting training pathways and development opportunities that enable scientists to leverage advanced digital tools

• Digital Product Implementation: Oversee the deployment of innovative Digital, Data, and AI solutions led by Lab Digital Product team reporting to you. This team drives the design right-first-time and fit-for-purpose of Lab Digital Products for Vaccine R&D across functions

• Change Management: Drive adoption of new digital ways of working through influence and collaborative leadership, navigating complex stakeholder landscapes without direct hierarchical authority

• Strategic Partnership: Serve as the primary interface between Vaccine R&D and enterprise Digital/IT functions, ensuring alignment of priorities and resource allocation

• Innovation Cultivation: Foster a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement, identifying emerging technologies with potential to transform vaccine development

• Business Continuity: Streamline Digital Support activities securing on-time delivery of critical scientific workflows for Clinical Testing & Quality Control of clinical batches, maintaining operational excellence

• Data Governance: Promote development of data culture, while implementing robust data standards across the value chain in close partnership with Pharma R&D data office enabling End-to-End Data Continuum for Vaccine R&D from Research to Clinical

Dimensions / Scope

• Financials: responsible of an averaged budget of 10 MEur/y

• Job dimensions

• •   Lead a global team of Data Catalysts (20 people) embedded across Vaccine R&D sites, providing strategic direction and professional development

  • Influence without authority across multiple scientific disciplines and geographical locations

  • Scientific Foundation: PhD or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline, with demonstrated understanding of vaccine development processes and the day-to-day realities of laboratory scientists

  • Drive digital /AI transformation initiatives with potential multi-million dollar impact on R&D efficiency and effectiveness

  • Develop and execute multi-year strategic roadmaps with 3-5 year horizon planning

  • Collaborate with senior leadership to secure investment and resources for digital initiatives

  • Represent Vaccine R&D in enterprise-wide Digital/AI governance forums and strategic planning sessions

  • Identify strategic opportunities to leverage digital capabilities for breakthrough innovation

  • Develop and track KPIs that demonstrate the business value of digital transformation initiatives

  • Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and data governance standards in all digital solutions

About You

• Scientific Foundation: PhD or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline, with demonstrated understanding of vaccine development processes and the day-to-day realities of laboratory scientists

• Strategic Thinking: Exceptional ability to connect business strategy with digital capabilities, identifying transformative opportunities that create sustainable competitive advantage

• Executive Presence: Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate with C-suite and senior leadership, serving as a trusted strategic advisor on digital transformation

• Digital/AI Expertise: Substantial experience implementing Digital, Data, and AI solutions in a scientific or healthcare environment, with a strong appetite for emerging technologies

• Strategic Vision: Proven ability to develop and execute transformational digital strategies that deliver measurable business value

• Influence Leadership: Exceptional ability to lead through influence rather than hierarchical authority, with demonstrated success in cross-functional collaboration

• Change Management: Experience guiding organizations through digital transformation while maintaining operational excellence and business continuity

• Talent Development: Track record of building high-performing teams and developing digital capabilities within scientific organizations

• Business Acumen: Strong understanding of how digital initiatives drive business value in R&D contexts, with ability to articulate ROI to senior stakeholders

• Communication Excellence: Outstanding communication skills with ability to translate between technical and scientific domains, making complex concepts accessible to diverse audiences

• Innovation Mindset: Forward-thinking approach with enthusiasm for exploring and adopting emerging technologies that can transform vaccine development

• Resilience: Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity and overcome obstacles in complex transformation initiative.

• Strategic Foresight: Proven capability to anticipate industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive dynamics to position the organization for future success

• Enterprise Perspective: Abilityto balance functional needs with enterprise-wide strategic priorities, optimizing value creation across the organization

Why Choose Us?

• Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.

• Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.

• Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.

• Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs and at least 14 weeks’ gender-neutral parental leave.

Sanofi Inc. and its U.S. affiliates are Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employers committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law.

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All compensation will be determined commensurate with demonstrated experience. Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs, and additional benefits information can be found here.