Vx RD Global Head Project Management

Mass Digital Health; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanofi Vaccines is seeking a Vx RD Global Head of Project Management to lead the global project management function for New Vaccines R&D. The role drives strategy, governance, and AI-enabled practices to accelerate portfolio delivery and ensure alignment with corporate objectives.

You will manage a 20+ team with 4 direct reports, overseeing cross-functional delivery, risk management, and financial planning across multiple R&D sites worldwide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master's or PhD preferred.
• 10 years of related experience in pharmaceutical R&D project/program management.
• 3 years of people leadership experience required.
• PMP/Agile or equivalent certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for Vaccines R&D project management by establishing best-in-class standards, governance frameworks, and AI/Digital-enabled practices across the portfolio.
• Drive portfolio execution by overseeing end-to-end delivery against scope, schedule, cost, and quality baselines — monitoring pipeline health and ensuring timely escalation and corrective action.
• Lead risk management and compliance across all New Vaccine projects, ensuring proactive risk identification, robust lessons learned processes, and readiness for internal audits.
• Enable effective governance through transparent Stage Gate processes, acting as TARC Secretary and key liaison between Vaccine R&D and Corporate Portfolio Management.
• Inspire and develop talent by leading a global team of 15+ project managers, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and digital innovation.
• Oversee financial and resource planning, providing strategic input to resources and cost forecasts as well as ensuring alignment across R&D, Franchise, and Manufacturing & Supply.

Skills

Strategic Thinking

People Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Change Management

Decision Making

Budget & Forecasting

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

PhD

PMP Certification

Agile Certification

Tools

PMBOK

Agile

Hybrid

Job description

Job title: Vx RD Global Head Project Management

Location:Swiftwater, PA, Waltham, MA, Washington DC

About the Job

To support sustainable growth, Sanofi Vaccine’s ambition is to build and deliver an innovative first and/or best in class New Vaccine portfolio. This ambition is coupled with the necessity to continuously look at optimizing our operating model to accelerate our portfolio delivery to bring transformative vaccines faster to our patients. This implies to continuously rethink our ways of working, optimizing our interfaces and collaboration to ensure agile and optimal operating model.

Our specific mission in Vaccine RD Transversal Operations team is to provide optimized support and services to Vaccine RD functions.

The Head of Vaccine Global Project Management leads New Vaccines R&D project management function, translating corporate strategy into executable project plans while ensuring strategic alignment, operational excellence, and delivery of complex vaccine development programs.

You will be responsible for establishing best-in-class project management standards, governance frameworks, and AI/Digital-enabled practices across the portfolio — with the ultimate goal of delivering vaccines at optimal time-to-market, within budget, and in full alignment with Sanofi's strategic objectives.

You will lead a team of 20+, with 4 direct reports:

• Head of France Project Management
• Head of North America & International Project Management
• Risk & Compliance Manager
• Administrative Support

Join the engine of Sanofi’s mission — where deep immunoscience meets bold, AI-powered research. In R&D, you’ll drive breakthroughs that could turn the impossible into possible for millions.

About Sanofi

We're an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people's lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system — and innovative pipeline — enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people's lives.

Main Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for Vaccines R&D project management by establishing best-in-class standards, governance frameworks, and AI/Digital-enabled practices across the portfolio
• Drive portfolio execution by overseeing end-to-end delivery against scope, schedule, cost, and quality baselines — monitoring pipeline health and ensuring timely escalation and corrective action
• Lead risk management and compliance across all New Vaccine projects, ensuring proactive risk identification, robust lessons learned processes, and readiness for internal audits
• Enable effective governance through transparent Stage Gate processes, acting as TARC Secretary and key liaison between Vaccine R&D and Corporate Portfolio Management
• Inspire and develop talent by leading a global team of 15+ project managers, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and digital innovation
• Oversee financial and resource planning, providing strategic input to resources and cost forecasts as well as ensuring alignment across R&D, Franchise, and Manufacturing & Supply

Dimensions / Scope

• Strategic Visibility: Direct interface with Vaccines R&D Leadership Team Corporate Portfolio Management, and external funding entities (BARDA and others)
• Global Impact: Lead an international team across multiple R&D sites (4 direct reports, total of 15+ Project Managers, Functional lead for Project planning Managers in Budapest)
• Innovation at the Forefront: Drive the integration of AI and digital tools into the future of project management for Vaccine RD project Management
• Leadership Platform: Build and develop the next generation of project management talent within Sanofi's Vaccines organization

About You

Education

• Bachelor's Degree required; master's or PhD in Life Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering, or equivalent preferred
• Professional certification: PMP, Agile, or equivalent preferred
• 10 years of related experience in pharmaceutical R&D project/program management required
• 3 years of people leadership experience required

Knowledge & Technical Expertise

• Deep knowledge of the end-to-end vaccine/pharma development value chain (Research → Clinical → Industrialization → Registration → Launch)
• Proven leadership in complex, global, matrixed environments
• Expertise in PM methodologies: PMBOK, Hybrid, Agile preferred
• Proven expertise in Risk Management
• Business acumen and financial management in high-investment pharmaceutical contexts
• Experience in digital planning tool or AI/digital solution rollout

Key Skills & Abilities

• Strategic & Tactical Thinking — Translates strategy into execution frameworks
• People Leadership — Mobilizes global teams and inspires action
• Influence & Stakeholder Management — Communicates effectively at operational and executive levels
• Change Management — Guides teams through transformation with confidence
• Decision-Making & Prioritization — Acts with clarity under pressure