Vaccines
Where
extraordinary minds
help protect  half a billion people

Job title: Functional Operational Excellence Leader

About the Job

The Function OE Leader is responsible for supporting the deployment of the VRD Excellence Model (VRD EM) within their assigned function, in alignment with the global OE strategy. This role empowers operational teams to take ownership on improvement & performance initiatives by providing coaching, training, and methodological support. The Function OE Leader fosters an impact-driven and improvement-oriented culture by enabling teams to apply OE principles, tools, and routines effectively to achieve function ambitions. 

Join the engine of Sanofi’s mission — where deep immunoscience meets bold, AI-powered research. In R&D, you’ll drive breakthroughs that could turn the impossible into possible for millions.

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.

Main Responsibilities:

1. Operational Excellence Deployment within the function:

• Conduct diagnostics and/or gap analyses (business case) with operational teams to identify improvement opportunities. 

• Propose the most appropriate methodology for each improvement initiative within the function. 

• Ensure that each improvement initiative within the function complies with the core principles of Operational Excellence. 

• Support or lead improvement initiatives within the function when specific OE competencies are required 

• Pro-actively support function performance and measure the impact of the initiative 

• Guarantee the practical problem-solving (standard improvement) process and ensure consistency in the implementation of improvement ideas. 

• Monitor and report progress of OE activities (improvement initiatives, level 2 practical problem-solving and improvement ideas) to the Head of Function OE. 

• Ensure sustainability of improvements by integrating them into function performance management routines. 

• Identify impacts, define change strategy, check the gaps for efficient adoption, etc. 

2. Capability Building within the function: 

• Identify individual OE development needs required to implement the function improvement initiatives. 

• Build the training plan in alignment with the function’s Operational Excellence roadmap and its improvement priorities. 

• Deliver OE training and coaching to improvement initiative leaders and members based on the defined training plan. 

• Conduct skill assessment and validation for initiative leaders. 

• Promote feedback culture and continuous learning mindset. 

• Ensure adoption and application of OE standards, routines, and methodologies. 

3. Cross-functional Collaboration: 

• Participate in transversal and cross-functional initiatives impacting the function. 

• Share best practices and contribute to harmonization of OE efforts across functions. 

• Contribute to the OE community by promoting the replication of effective approaches. 

4. Knowledge Management: 

• Perform return-on-experience process and support capitalization efforts from past initiatives. 

• Identify, document, and share lessons learned and successful practices. 

Expected key impacts:

• Improved Function performance through better use of OE levers by operational teams. 

• Enhanced OE capabilities by developing operational teams’ skills in OE core principles, methodologies, tools and standards. 

• Stronger adoption of OE culture driven by active involvement of operational teams in improvement efforts. 

• Sustainable change enabled by teams becoming autonomous in applying OE principles. 

Job Complexity (main elements defining the complexity of the job):

• Matrix Collaboration: Operate as change agent and business partner within a matrix organization, influence without direct authority. 

• Cultural & Behavioral Change: Drives mindset shifts and OE adoption in environments where continuous improvement is still maturing. 

• Stakeholder Management: Engages a wide range of stakeholders—from shopfloor to leadership—each with differing expectations, levels of engagement, and resistance to change. 

• Sustainability of Impact: Ensures OE initiatives are not one-offs but integrated into business routines, with long-term adoption and measurable performance impact. 

About You

Education:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree with at least 5 years of experience in a relevant field (e.g., Engineering, Life Sciences, Business) or equivalent in professional experience. 

Basic Qualifications:

• Pharma research and development or clinical operations experience

• Operational excellence, agile and Lean methodologies experiences. 

• Experience working in a matrix and cross-functional environment. 

• Workshop animation: Skill in leading interactive and structured workshops to co-build solutions with teams. 

• Project management: Ability to plan and execute projects , including risk mitigation, timeline tracking, and stakeholder alignment. (finance management, resource management, business case…). 

• Problem solving: Strong root cause analysis and structured problem-resolution capabilities. 

Desirable Qualifications:

• Change management: Familiar with change models and techniques to foster adoption and engagement. 

• Training & coaching: Competency in educational training design, storytelling, and facilitation techniques to transfer knowledge and inspire teams. 

• Data analysis: Proficient in analyzing performance data to inform decisions and monitor impact. 

• Ability to bridge digital innovation with operational excellence.

Skills and Abilities:

​Soft skills:  

• Leadership & influence – Mobilizes teams, drives alignment, and inspires action. 

• Communication skills – Story- telling, Pyramidal communication… 

• Coaching & training – Develops others through structured support and feedback. 

• Conflict resolution – Navigates tensions constructively to reach shared outcomes. 

• Continuous learning – Embraces growth, curiosity, and adaptability. 

• Collaboration – Builds trust and works seamlessly across teams and functions. 

• Action-oriented – Solves problems pragmatically and drives execution. 

• Cross-functional agility – Operates effectively in matrix environments. 

• Adaptability – Adjusts style and approach to fit shifting contexts and needs. 

• Performance-oriented - Ability to understand and identify function key performance drivers.

Languages:  

• English Fluent.

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.

• Be part of a pioneering biopharma company that engages patients early in drug development and uses their insights to design studies that reflect real-world needs.

• Help improve the lives of millions of people globally by making drug development quicker and more effective.

• Work at the forefront of drug discovery, harnessing cutting-edge AI, data, and digital platforms to push the boundaries of science.

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.

Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.

Join Sanofi and step into a new era of science - where your growth can be just as transformative as the work we do. We invest in you to reach further, think faster, and do what’s never-been-done-before. You’ll help push boundaries, challenge convention, and build smarter solutions that reach the communities we serve. Ready to chase the miracles of science and improve people’s lives? Let’s Pursue Progress and Discover Extraordinary – together.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Watch 'One day at Sanofi' and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives at sanofi.com