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Research and Development

R&D
Where your curiosity drives the
miracles of
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R&D - RDO - R&D Workforce Engagement Program Lead - BJ

Tokyo, Japan
Beijing, China
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At a glance

Bring your curiosity to a team where deep immunoscience meets cutting-edge innovation. Across oncology, rare diseases, neurology, and vaccines, you’ll work at the intersection of lab science and AI-powered discovery — all while collaborating across boundaries to turn breakthrough ideas into real-world impact. Whether you want to deepen your scientific expertise or grow as a leader, you’ll find the opportunity here.

Our Team:

At the heart of scientific discovery drug development and innovation lies the strength of the people driving it. Our R&D community is a diverse, dynamic population of talent, and fostering an environment where every voice is heard, valued, and empowered is essential to our success. Through a commitment to connection, inclusion, and recognition, we are not just building programs—we are shaping a culture that celebrates every individual contribution and nurtures collective growth.

The R&D Workforce Engagement team plays an essential role in ensuring that Sanofi’s R&D organization thrives through connection, inclusion, and recognition. By aligning engagement strategies with key organizational goals, the team will foster a culture where every individual feels valued, heard, and empowered to contribute to the organization’s scientific and innovation successes. Through clear KPIs and targeted deliverables, the team will continuously improve the R&D workforce experience, driving both employee satisfaction and organizational performance.

Our Team will serve as the central point of contact and accountability for transversal internal workforce engagement services. The team will provide the necessary frameworks, tools, and resources, with localized partnership from R&D department leaders or their delegates. 

Main Responsibilities

The R&D Workforce Engagement Program Lead defines and leads the development of a comprehensive strategy and ensures the execution and continuous improvement of the One R&D transversal engagements programs and events, training and talent initiatives/programs in partnership Senior Leaders (e.g., Global Head of R&D, R&D Leadership Team, R&D Country or Site Heads, P&C [Learning Institute], Corporate/R&D Communication, etc.). This role is accountable for the alignment between R&D priorities and internal engagement and skills building efforts, driving a culture of activation, learning and inclusion, and the execution of impactful internal engagements and programs for the entire R&D community.

Strategic Leadership and Transformation Support

  • Serve as primary interface with the R&D Senior Leaders to translate overall R&D vision and strategic priorities, into actionable engagement frameworks, roadmaps and initiatives

  • Define and leads the strategic vision for transversal R&D workforce engagement programs and talent initiatives

  • Partner with the respective R&D Country Lead(s) to adapt global R&D strategic objectives into locally relevant narratives while ensuring harmonization across geographies

Program Development and Execution

  • Design and lead transversal engagement campaigns and programs that drive awareness and support for high-priority initiatives (e.g., All in on AI, science excellence, R&D portfolio updates)

  • Plan and execute R&D Leadership engagements including Leadership Team meetings/offsites, site visits, senior leader meetings/forums, and townhalls

  • Oversee R&D Week activities, global awards programs, and recognition events that celebrate individual and team achievements

  • Deliver topic-specific R&D learning initiatives including webinars, forums, and podcasts (e.g., digital upskilling, immunoscience training, soft skills development)

  • Develop and implement programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across R&D

  • Collaborate with R&D Leaders / R&D Country Leads to develop an internal culture ambition and action plan

  • Develop and implement programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across R&D

Stakeholder Management and Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Build and maintain strategic relationships with R&D Leadership Team, functional leaders, and key business partners (P&C, Learning Institute, Corporate Communications, Workplace Experience)

  • Collaborate with Global and Local Communication teams to ensure alignment and consistency of messaging

  • Partner with R&D Hubs to ensure operational execution of engagement programs and recognition initiatives

  • Navigate complex stakeholder expectations and organizational dynamics across geographies and functions

  • Leverage best practices and lessons learned within the Workforce Engagement Team/R&D Hub

Measurement & Continuous Improvement

  • Monitor and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure program success and impact

  • Ensure successful delivery of engagements and events

  • Drive continuous improvement through employee feedback and data analytics

  • Adapt strategies and tactics based insights, metrics, organizational needs and evolving priorities

  • Leverage best practices and lessons learned within the Workforce Engagement Team/R&D Hub

About you

  • Bachelors or advanced degree (BS, MBA, PhD) in science and/or business and 10 years’ experience

  • Proven ability to develop and execute engagement and communication strategies that support organizational ambition, influence senior stakeholders, and lead change in complex, global environments

  • Ability to manage multiple, complex, and sometimes conflicting priorities in a fast-paced and demanding environment.

  • Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to craft compelling messages for diverse audiences, including executive leadership

  • Excellent project and change management skills are required

  • Experience in leading and delivering transversal initiatives

  • Demonstrated the ability to challenge the status quo and implement simple solutions

  • Be a positive change agent for any changes as it relates to organizational structure or processes/governance.

  • Demonstrated ability to influence across functions and levels and proactively engage with key partners

  • Strong command of modern communication platforms, digital tools, and innovative engagement approaches to connect with global, multicultural teams

  • Demonstrate the ability to work and lead independently

  • Familiarity with R&D organization, leadership engagement, and organizational culture

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

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

Pursue progress, discover extraordinary

Progress doesn’t happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. You can be one of those people. Chasing change, embracing new ideas and exploring all the opportunities we have to offer. Let’s pursue progress. And let’s 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, or gender identity.

Watch our ALL IN videoand check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com!

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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

Apply now
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Why work with us

  • Expand your horizons. Grow through curiosity, with support to move, learn, and lead in a culture that champions mentorship, mobility, and bold development.

  • Accelerate results with technology. Harness the power of AI and automation to push scientific boundaries and reimagine what's possible in drug discovery.

  • Impact through inclusive innovation. Help deliver better science and fairer outcomes by driving inclusive research that reaches more people, in more meaningful ways.

  • Turn patient needs into breakthrough science. Drive scientific breakthroughs that start with patient needs – and end in treatments that change lives.

Meet Nils Libert, Associate Scientist

Meet Nils Libert, an Associate Scientist in Belgium, where he plays a key role in advancing groundbreaking research. Learn how his work helps drive innovation, uncover new scientific possibilities, and contribute to life-changing treatments that impact patients around the world.

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EVP & Head of R&D

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