R&D Scientific Competitive Intelligence Lead

About the job

The Global R&D Strategy and Portfolio Management team’s overarching objective is to equip Sanofi’s leaders with robust, objective and externally focused insights and recommendations they need to make better informed R&D strategy, and portfolio and project investment decisions to ensure pipeline sustainability.  

We achieve this by (1) delivering a comprehensive R&D strategy positioning the organization to embrace future opportunities and challenges, driving sustained success (2) ensuring a sustainable portfolio strategy, robust valuation and prioritization of the R&D portfolio and optimization of resources, high quality pipeline reporting, benchmarking, and scientific competitive intelligence (3) ensuring high quality investment governance incorporating decision quality and thoughtful risk taking principles.

As part of the R&D Portfolio Strategy and Management team, the Competitive Intelligence group works with key stakeholders across the organization (R&D and GBUs) to deliver robust external competitive intelligence insights and ensure data-driven decision-making.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Competitive Intelligence Lead to join our team at our offshore hub in India. In this role, you will lead a team of skilled CI analysts, providing critical insights to support key decision-making in one or more therapeutic areas, from early-stage research through to proof of clinical and commercial concept. You will collaborate with global stakeholders in order to get an in-depth understanding of Competitive Intelligence needs and implement a portfolio of services that align with ongoing business objectives.

Main responsibilities:

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of CI analysts. Participate in recruitment and onboarding, oversee staff performance, and provide technical and operational guidance to ensure the delivery of best-in-class competitive intelligence initiatives.

• Partner with Portfolio Strategy CI leaders to define the portfolio of services, identify critical activities and coordinate resources. Services will include standardized, recurrent deliverables such as competitive landscapes (target, disease, or technology), clinical data comparisons, competitor event watchlists, conference coverage, and ad-hoc competitive analysis in support of strategic initiatives.

• Communicate effectively with stakeholders regarding the agreed portfolio of services. Respond reliably to requests and ensure deliverables meet expectations in terms of content, format, and timing. Responsible for reviewing the deliverables and conducting quality checks. Manage team priorities in alignment with Sanofi’s R&D objectives and therapeutic area strategies. Regularly review delivered services and adjust/refine them to best fit evolving CI needs. Ensure cooperation with Commercial CI teams to foster synergies and share best CI practices.

• Collaborate with R&D Portfolio Analytics, Benchmarking, and Strategy to accomplish common goals.  Contribute to the enhancement of Sanofi’s CI capabilities by leveraging technical innovations, including piloting new digital tools and artificial intelligence.

About you

• Experience: Strong years of experience in pharmaceuticals/healthcare industry, specifically within innovative pharma. Strong years’ experience in Competitive Intelligence delivering insights on pipeline products (excluding generics and biosimilars), targeted mechanisms of action, modalities, technology platforms and clinical trials activities. Preferably experienced in CI aligned with Sanofi’s therapeutic areas: Immunology, Oncology, Neurology, Rare Diseases, Transplant and Cardiovascular/Metabolism. Expertise in landscaping highly innovative spaces such as engineered biologics, RNA-based therapeutics, gene therapies, is a plus.

• Soft skills: Proven leadership, autonomy, and results-oriented mindset. Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to operate effectively with cross-functional partners in an international environment. Strong stakeholder management. Agility to move with shifting priorities. Strategic thinking in a fast-paced environment

• Technical skills: Excellent knowledge of the drug development process from discovery to product launch, including clinical development and regulatory aspects.

• Experience in managing requests for competitive information from diverse R&D stakeholders, including research and early development, external innovation and early commercial teams.

• Expert knowledge of scientific and pharma data sources, including databases like Citeline, Cortellis, Evaluate. Managerial skills to lead a team of associates. Excellent oral/written communications skills. Strong project management abilities, mastering in prioritizing tasks and managing tight deadlines

• Education:  Advanced degree in Life sciences/Medicine (PhD, PharmD or MD)

• Languages: English (all data, reports and interactions with business stakeholders are managed in English)