Head of R&D Hub China

About the job The Head R&D China Hub is a critical leadership role responsible for establishing, growing, and continuously improving the R&D Hub in Chengdu, China. This position requires a dynamic, self-motivated leader who can effectively communicate at all organizational levels, implement business strategies, drive innovation in process, data and technology, and oversee day-to-day operations. The ideal candidate will set the vision for assigned teams 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 China Hub • Build and grow an effective team capable of meeting challenging transformation timelines • Collaborate with Global Head R&D Hubs and Business Operations to drive initiatives and enhance connectivity across global R&D hub network • Direct activities with a focus on high-quality results and successful execution • Collaborate with R&D functions to support transition and implementation of activities in China, building relevant expertise, capacity, and capabilities while defining service offerings as needed. • Act as the main point of contact for both RDO leadership and the China Hub Leadership team • Align local reporting structures with global R&D functions, ensuring organizational objectives are met • Position the China Hub as a strategic extension of global R&D functions, ensuring integration, visibility and shared accountability • 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 purpose-driven mindset Operational Excellence: • Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for R&D 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 appropriate use of technical tools and systems to preserve both external regulatory compliance and internal quality standards • 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 for organizational design, recruitment, retention, team development, and change management activities • 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 Chengdu hub pillars • Facilitate knowledge sharing with other R&D Hub teams (e.g., India and Hungary Hubs) • Ensure efficient onboarding and knowledge transfer for new team members • Develop and maintain strategic graduate hiring programs, identifying and establishing partnersh