
Manufacturing and Supply
Where the
miracles of
science are made
a reality for patients
SMS Program Lead - SMS Upskilling
At a glance
Our teams produce and deliver over 4 billion units of medicines and vaccines every year, ensuring every breakthrough gets to the people who need it most.
Our state-of-the-art facilities, AI-powered smart factories, and cutting-edge automation are redefining what’s possible: ensuring treatments reach patients faster, safer, and more sustainably than ever before. This is where your skills, ambition, and passion can shape the future of healthcare.
Job Title: SMS Program Lead - SMS Upskilling
Location: Swiftwater, PA
About the Job
We deliver 4.3 billion healthcare solutions to people every year, thanks to the flawless planning and meticulous eye for detail of our Manufacturing & Supply teams. With your talent and ambition, we can do even more to protect people from infectious diseases and bring hope to patients and their families.
The SMS Upskilling role serves as the cornerstone of Sanofi Manufacturing System (SMS) capability development at the Swiftwater site, focusing primarily on designing, delivering, and enhancing upskilling programs that elevate SMS competencies across the organization. This position leads the coordination and execution of comprehensive SMS upskilling initiatives—including SMS Academy, Gemba Problem Solving (GPS), and Assessor certification—while coaching personnel through their SMS certification advancement journey. As the site's accountable person for SMS methodology upskilling, this position plays a vital role in tracking certification KPIs, supporting Manufacturing & Supply (M&S) employees' development, and collaborating with SMS Area Heads to ensure upskilling initiatives align with broader SMS implementation goals and standards.
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:
Driving Performance & Transformation Initiatives for SMS 2.0 Deployment in a Dedicated Area
Serve as the primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the application of SMS and Lean concepts at the Swiftwater site
Coordinate and lead the delivery of in-person and remote SMS upskilling programs (SMS Academy 1, GPS3, SMS Assessor, etc.)
Provide feedback on the application of SMS tools in support of business processes
Work with cross-functional teams to configure, deploy, and update SMS tools in coordination with SMS Area Heads
Facilitate workshops in support of SMS Area Heads' deployment of SMS tools and SMS 2.0 ways of working
Ensuring Impact & Sustainability
Ensure SMS principles are applied consistently, effectively, and in compliance with established standards
Coordinate and conduct SMS Certification Assessments to advance site personnel’s SMS maturity
Coach site SMS Assessors during their own SMS certification advancement
Track and report on SMS certification assessment KPIs to measure progress and effectiveness
Track and report on upskilling KPIs to ensure program effectiveness
Contributing to the Development of Operating Standards in Close Partnership with Dedicated SMS2.0 Ecosystem Leaders and Supporting M&S Network
Serve as the site's accountable person for driving upskilling and coaching of SMS methodology, standards, and tools
Serve as a GPS onsite expert to provide training and lead critical investigations
Ensure alignment of SMS standards with the SMS Area Heads and the Head of SMS Program
Coordinate with SMS Area Heads to maintain alignment across implementation efforts
Continuously receive training on tools from the global network to maintain expertise
Actively participate in global training and standard referent meetings for senior trainers
About You
Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field. Accelerated advancement within SMS certification will be expected within the role.
Work Experience: 5+ years of experience in manufacturing operations or operational excellence roles. Previous experience training/upskilling employees in Lean, CI, Operational Excellence concepts. Previous experience implementing manufacturing systems or operational excellence programs.
Transformation and Change Management Skills: Knowledge of Continuous Improvement operating concepts/techniques (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, etc). Experience in transformation and change management. Skilled in facilitating cross-functional collaboration and alignment.
Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of production processes and manufacturing environments. Understand finance P&L monitoring, BOI, COGs, cash flow. Knowledge/experience within manufacturing operations.
Analytical Skills: Knowledge of manufacturing KPIs and performance measurement systems. Strong analytical skills for data-driven decision making and gap analysis. Good understanding of data management & digital products.
Project Management: Project management experience, particularly in cross-functional initiatives. Ability to develop strategic roadmaps and implementation plans.
Leadership & Coaching: Proven leadership skills with ability to influence across organizational levels. Experience in coaching and developing teams in operational excellence practices.
Communication: Excellent communication and presentation skills for conducting detailed, interactive upskilling sessions with various levels of employees in the organization. Ability to engage an audience and translate complex technical concepts to various audiences.
About You
Preferred Qualifications:
Education: Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field. Relevant change management certification and/or process improvement certifications such as Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt. Accelerated advancement within SMS certification will be expected within the role.
Work Experience: 10+ years of experience in manufacturing operations or operational excellence roles. Previous experience training/upskilling employees in Lean, CI, Operational Excellence concepts and implementing manufacturing systems or operational excellence programs within a large-scale transformational program.
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.

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Why work with us
- We’re problem-solvers and pioneers. United by the belief that everyone deserves a healthier future. We create best-in-class vaccines that prevent disease and protect lives.
- Innovation drives us. From AI and mRNA to next-gen science, we push the boundaries to deliver first- and best-in-class vaccines for infectious diseases worldwide.
- Growth happens here. With bold investments in R&D and world-class facilities, Sanofians across the entire vaccine lifecycle are shaping the future of global health.
- We do what’s right. Sustainability and DE&I drive our positive global impact—because the diverse communities Sanofians represent are the patients we serve.
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"Manufacturing and Supply is the bridge between the science that happens in research laboratories and the people and communities we serve."

Brendan O’Callaghan
Executive Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply
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