Workplace Experience Operations Lead

• Location: Gent, Belgium
• Job type: Permanent, Full time

About the job

This role is part of the Workplace Experience team in the Ghent R&D site of Sanofi. The mission of this department is to “offer the best workplace experience to all Sanofi employees to allow them to bring the best version of themselves at work”. It is our ambition to “transform our Facility Management model towards Hospitality Management through innovation, digitalization and a new mindset to enhance the user experience”.

The Workplace Experience Operations Lead plays a strategic leadership role in realizing Sanofi's mission by ensuring that both people-oriented services and technical systems are consistently aligned with Sanofi's high standards for workplace experience. The Operations Lead drives innovation, service excellence, and continuous improvement across all facility functions, including hospitality services (like catering, reception, security & cleaning) and technical systems (like HVAC, electricity, laboratory gases, fire safety and other critical building infrastructure).

The Workplace Experience Operations Lead plays a pivotal role within the Workplace Experience team at the Ghent R&D site, serving as a key liaison with internal partners such as HSE, Security and IT to ensure seamless coordination and service integration. This role acts as the primary coordinator for maintenance planning and service dispatching, with a key focus on the proactive management and upkeep of laboratory assets, which is essential to ensure the operational continuity and scientific productivity of the R&D environment.

The Operations Lead participates in the "on call duty" rotation schedule every few weeks to ensure availability for urgent and unforeseen interventions that are critical to maintain the proper and safe functioning of the organization. This position is designed with built-in redundancy, as each Operations Lead serves as backup for their counterpart, ensuring comprehensive coverage across all facility services.

Main responsibilities:

• Oversee vendor management, ensure contractual obligations are being met.
• Champion innovation in service delivery through data-driven analysis and stakeholder feedback.
• Ensure enterprise-level compliance with all relevant QHSE standards and regulatory requirements.
• Handle stakeholder communications and complaint resolution.
• Project-manage high-impact Facility Management initiatives from conception to implementation.

Main interactions:

• Internal: Facility Management, HSE, Business Process Operations, IT, Global Security, Scientists, ...
• External: Landlord, Service providers, Auditors, ...

About you 

• Bachelor's degree in Facility Management, Hotel Management or related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in:
  • soft services management and/or hospitality.
  • managing building systems and/or supervising maintenance contractors.
• Fluent in Dutch (native preferred) and English, both written and oral.
• VCA certification (Safety for Operational Supervisors).
• Experience with QHSE management systems.
• Computer literacy (MS Office, CAFM/CMMS systems).
• Valid driver's license.
• Strong vendor/contract management skills.
•  Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Customer service orientation.
• Problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Asset lifecycle and infrastructure management.
• Risk assessment and mitigation.
• Knowledge of relevant regulations and standards.
• Demonstrated organizational and project management capabilities.

Why choose us?

• At Sanofi, we believe in continuous learning and development. We encourage innovative thinking and welcome fresh ideas for process improvements and system optimizations.
• An international work environment, in which you can develop your talent and realize ideas and innovations within a competent team.
• An individual and well-structured introduction and training when you onboard.
• You can create your own career path within Sanofi. Your professional and personal development will be supported purposefully.
• As a globally successful and constantly growing company, Sanofi provides international career paths as well.
• We offer a dynamic work environment where your contributions will have a direct impact.
• 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.
• Drive implementation science, powerful crowdsourcing and open innovation , discovering the ways to bring science to live faster, contributing to a patient first mindset.
• 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.

#LI-EUR