R&D Transformation Program Lead, M&A and Footprint

Job Title: R&D Transformation Program Lead, M&A and Footprint

Location: Cambridge, MA

About the Job

Are you ready to shape the future of medicine? The race is on to speed up drug discovery and development to find answers for patients and their families. Your skills could be critical in helping our teams accelerate progress. Join our R&D Global Operations team as Head R&D Transformation Program Management and you’ll be a critical pillar to meet the ambition and to build and operate efficient, scalable, optimized, and agile R&D Services.

The R&D Global Operations team is committed to optimizing the organization’s end-to-end functionality across the value chain. By driving transformation and ensuring operational excellence, we enable R&D Functions to deliver science and medicines to patients efficiently. This role will report to the Head of R&D Transformation Program Management.

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Program Lead to drive M&A governance, streamline ways of working, and ensure seamless integration of acquired assets within our R&D organization. This role is critical to enhancing organizational efficiency, enabling effective cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring successful project integration. The Program Lead will work closely with transversal R&D teams, Business Development (BD), the integration team, and other stakeholders to align strategies, optimize processes, and deliver measurable value across the R&D portfolio.

We are an innovative global healthcare company with one purpose: to chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. We’re also a company where you can flourish and grow your career, with countless opportunities to explore, make connections with people, and stretch the limits of what you thought was possible. Ready to get started?

Main Responsibilities:

Project Management for Integrations

• Serve as the primary project manager for high priority R&D integrations, driving through post-deal integration.

• Create detailed project plans, including timelines, deliverables, and resource allocation, to ensure seamless integration.

• Coordinate cross-functional collaboration across R&D, BD, integration teams, and other corporate functions (e.g., finance, legal, and commercial).

• Identify, mitigate, and escalate risks associated with integration projects, ensuring alignment with R&D priorities.

• Track and measure the progress and success of integration efforts, reporting to senior leadership on milestones and value realization.

M&A Governance Development

• Responsible for the continuous upkeep and improvement of the M&A Playbook and lessons learned, templates, tools, and standardized workflows to support M&A governance and decision-making.

• Design and implement a robust governance framework for M&A activities within R&D to ensure alignment with corporate objectives and strategic priorities.

• Establish clear decision-making processes, accountability structures, and reporting mechanisms for integration projects.

• Act as a liaison between R&D and BD teams to ensure the early involvement of key stakeholders in pre-acquisition planning and due diligence activities.

• Develop and execute change management plans, ensuring that impacted teams are engaged, informed, and equipped for success

R&D Footprint Management

• Support the alignment of the R&D footprint Strat Plan with the organization’s strategic plan to optimize resource allocation and operational efficiency.

• Collaborate with R&D leaders and strategy teams to evaluate and prioritize site and functional activities globally.

• Support the development and execution plans for site consolidations, expansions, or transitions in line with strategic priorities.

• Ensure footprint management supports key objectives, including innovation, collaboration, cost management, and talent retention.

• Monitor and report on the impact of footprint-related changes, ensuring alignment with broader organizational goals.

Portfolio Tracking and Value Realization

• Collaborate with R&D teams to design and implement improved systems for tracking projects and their status across the portfolio.

• Enhance visibility into project milestones, resource allocation, and value realization through centralized tools and dashboards.

• Ensure that portfolio tracking aligns with R&D’s strategic priorities and delivers actionable insights for decision-making.

• Develop metrics and KPIs to measure the impact of M&A activities and process improvements on organizational outcomes.

Stakeholder Management and Communication

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment on integration goals and priorities.

• Act as the key point of contact for M&A governance and integration activities within R&D.

• Regularly communicate progress, challenges, and opportunities to senior leadership, providing strategic recommendations as needed.

• Champion cultural transformation by embedding change management practices and fostering an agile mindset.

About You

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business administration, or a related field;

• 5+ years of experience in R&D operations, program/project management, M&A, or a related discipline within the pharmaceutical/biotech industry.

• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, PhD) preferred.

• Proven experience managing large-scale integrations and cross-functional projects.

• Strong understanding of the drug development lifecycle and R&D functions.

• Demonstrated expertise in process optimization, change management, and stakeholder engagement.

• Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Proficiency in project management tools and portfolio tracking systems.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Leadership: Ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders at all levels.

• Operational Excellence: Commitment to driving efficiency, accountability, and measurable outcomes.

• Adaptability: Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with changing priorities.

• Collaboration: Builds strong relationships and fosters a culture of teamwork and transparency.

• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Leverages data and insights to inform strategy and drive continuous improvement.

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.