M&S People Business Partner - Greater China

Position Overview

The People Business Partner (PBP) for Manufacturing & Supply (M&S) Greater China serves as a strategic P&C leader and trusted advisor to the M&S leadership team across Greater China. This role is pivotal in driving Sanofi's landmark InsuLINK investment — the company's largest-ever single investment in China — while orchestrating the people agenda across 3 mature manufacturing sites (Suzhou, Hangzhou, Beijing) and 1 greenfield IFB site (Beijing), as well as Greater China Supply Chain and Quality functions.

Reporting to the Global Head of People, Manufacturing & Supply, this role operates in a complex matrixed environment, partnering with China P&C, site heads, Global SCM, and Global Quality to deliver transformational people outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Business Partnership

• Serve as the primary P&C strategic advisor to M&S Greater China leadership (L4+), translating business strategy into actionable people plans
• Partner with Global M&S PBP Head and China P&C leadership to align people strategies with M&S modernization and "China for Global" manufacturing transformation
• Provide expert P&C counsel on complex, multi-site organizational challenges spanning distinct lifecycle stages (mature operations + greenfield)
• Contribute market intelligence and local business insights to global P&C CoE program design

2. Organizational Design & Transformation

• Lead organizational design and right-sizing initiatives across all M&S Greater China sites in alignment with TOM evolution
• Drive change management for M&S modernization programs, including manufacturing digitalization and IFB scale-up
• Shape and execute P&C plans for major business transformations (e.g., InsuLINK greenfield launch, supply chain restructuring)
• Anticipate future capability needs and provide expert consultation on optimal organizational structures

3. Talent Strategy & Workforce Planning

• Develop and execute strategic workforce planning across M&S Greater China, covering IFB scale-up and manufacturing digitalization talent requirements
• Build and maintain talent pipelines for critical M&S roles, partnering with Talent Acquisition for proactive talent mapping
• Drive talent density initiatives: identify gaps, activate internal mobility, optimize succession plans for critical positions (L4+)
• Collaborate with Talent & Learning CoE to design capability-building programs aligned with M&S transformation needs
• Advise senior leaders on build/buy/borrow talent strategies

4. Leadership Coaching & Development

• Coach and develop M&S site heads and functional leaders on leadership effectiveness, Sanofi behaviors, and culture
• Facilitate high-impact people decisions with data-driven insights and strategic recommendations
• Support leadership team development across multi-site, multi-cultural manufacturing environment
• Lead and develop a team of 4 direct reports, ensuring consistent P&C delivery across all sites

5. Performance & Rewards Management

• Guide M&S leaders through performance management cycles, calibration processes, and incentivization frameworks
• Partner with Rewards & Performance CoE to ensure competitive and equitable compensation structures across manufacturing sites
• Drive performance culture aligned with Sanofi's Play to Win strategy

6. Compliance & Employee Relations

• Ensure full compliance with China regulatory requirements (NMPA) and international standards (FDA, EMA, PMDA, TGA) from a people and labor perspective
• Navigate complex employee relations matters across multi-site manufacturing operations
• Ensure all P&C practices align with China labor law and Sanofi global standards
• Manage labor relations and social compliance across Greater China M&S sites

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 15+ years of Progressive HR/P&C experience
• 8+ years as Senior PBP or HR Director in pharma, biologics, or high-end manufacturing environments
• 5+ years managing P&C teams with proven leadership capability
• Demonstrated track record of strategic partnership with country/site leadership (L4+) and global functional leaders (Quality, Operations, Supply Chain)
• Proven experience in transformation and change management in complex, matrixed organizations
• Deep understanding of China regulatory environment and manufacturing strategy

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Thinking (Advanced): Designs scalable, systemic solutions; builds strategic talent pipelines and ecosystem partnerships
• Business Partnership (Advanced): Trusted advisor to senior leaders; translates business needs into P&C strategies
• Workforce Planning (Advanced): Orchestrates talent development across complex, multi-site operations
• Organizational Design (Advanced): Shapes operating models for transformation and growth
• Change Management (Advanced): Leads people through complex organizational transitions
• Data & Insights (Experienced): Leverages people analytics for strategic decision-making
• Cross-Cultural Management (Advanced): Navigates global matrix with local execution capability
• Stakeholder Management (Advanced): Manages complex stakeholder landscape across global and local functions

Education

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field preferred

Language

• Bilingual: Mandarin and English (both written and spoken) required

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct manufacturing site HR experience (greenfield launch, product lifecycle, or major capital investment)
• Experience with global supply chain or "China for Global" manufacturing models
• International assignment or global mobility experience
• Exposure to biologics or insulin manufacturing environments
• Experience navigating multi-regulatory environments (FDA, EMA, NMPA concurrently)