Head of Research & Development Hub

Head R&D Hub India

• Job Title: Head R&D Hub India

• Location: Hyderabad, India 

• Travel: Domestic & International as needed

Our Team

About Business Operations 

Our ambition: Deliver best-in-class enterprise services enabling Sanofi to chase the miracles of science to improve people's lives.  

Sanofi has been building the foundations of enterprise services over the past few years. With the creation of Business Operations, we have elevated our commitment to innovation & excellence and we are now taking this organization to the next level as an innovative business partner, creating value to Sanofi and modernizing the way we work.

An expert leadership team, passionate about leading high performance - We are building for the long term. We bring people together, simplify processes, break down barriers and rapidly cross-fertilize the best ideas across Sanofi. 

About the job

The Head R&D India Hub is a critical leadership role responsible for establishing, growing, and continuously improving the R&D Hub in Hyderabad, India. This position requires a dynamic, self-motivated leader who can effectively communicate at all organizational levels, implement business strategies, drive innovation in process-data-tech, and oversee day-to-day operations. The ideal candidate will set the vision for a large highly talented team based in Hyderabad and collaborate with R&D leadership and Sanofi hub towers to set goals, drive process efficiencies, and enhance overall operational effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Hub Development:

• Translate global R&D strategy into actionable plans for the India Hub

• Build and grow an effective team capable of meeting challenging transformation timelines

• Direct activities with a focus on high-quality results and successful execution

• Collaborate with Business Operations to support transition and implementation of activities in India (e.g., Biostats, Programming, Clinical Data Management, Clinical Study Support, competitive intelligence, Data operation, Regulatory)

• Align local reporting structures with global R&D functions, ensuring organizational objectives are met

• Position the India Hub as a strategic extension of global R&D functions, ensuring integration, visibility and shared accountability

• Create and manage a strategic resourcing model to meet R&D portfolio demands

• Accountable for measurable business impact aligned with R&D portfolio priorities

• Drive cultural change initiatives, fostering a "Play-to-Win" and purpose-driven mindset

Operational Excellence:

• Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for Hub setup and ongoing operations

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement in end-to-end processes

• Implement best practices to enhance operational effectiveness

• Champion digital transformation initiatives and AI-enabled workflows to enhance productivity and decision-grade insights

• Oversee budget management, resource allocation, and performance evaluation

• Support management of third-party partnerships as needed

• Ensure staff adherence to technical tools and compliance requirements

• Lead and/or represent R&D in special initiatives

• Manage demand for FTEs on a quarterly and/or yearly basis, ensuring proper team utilization

• Establish robust governance model with global R&D leadership including performance reviews, risk dashboards and escalation pathways

• Ensure inspection readiness and compliance with global regulatory and data governance standards

  

Team Development and Leadership:

• Lead and develop a team of direct reports across various R&D activities

• Collaborate with P&C and Talent Acquisition for recruitment, retention, and managing attrition rates

• Design and implement comprehensive training programs to enhance team capabilities

• Identify opportunities for internal talent development and new skill acquisition

• Build succession pipeline for critical leadership and technical roles

• Foster a culture of team excellence and collaboration

• Stakeholder Management:

• Maintain effective relationships with key R&D stakeholders, local team members and Hyderabad hub pillars

• Facilitate knowledge sharing with other R&D Hub teams (e.g., Hungary, China)

• Ensure efficient onboarding and knowledge transfer for new team members

• Develop and maintain graduate hiring programs, partnering with universities as needed

About You

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in senior leadership & people management roles in pharmaceutical/healthcare industry

• Proven track record of managing a large multi-layered team & managing people in a matrix environment

• Experience in leading cross-functional teams and interacting with external partners

• Ability to work effectively across time zones and cultures

• International experience is an asset

Soft and technical skills: 

• Extensive knowledge of global regulatory guidelines and clinical trial requirements

• Strong understanding of R&D processes and deliverables

• Capability to operate with discretion and confidentiality regarding sensitive data

• Excellent project management skills, including the ability to lead complex projects

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to cultivate internal and external relationships

• Proficiency in MS Office suite and relevant software applications

Languages: 

• Excellent knowledge of English language (spoken and written)

Education: 

• Advanced degree (Ph.D or Master's degree) in Life sciences/pharmacy/similar discipline or medical degree is preferred.

Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.

Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But 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. So, let’s be those people.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity.

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

Pursue progress, discover extraordinary

Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But 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. So, let’s be those people.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, ability or gender identity.

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

Experience Level

Executive Level