External Innovation & Science Partnering Lead* – Cross-brands & Platforms (all genders*)

External Innovation & Science Partnering Lead* – Cross-brands & Platforms

Frankfurt / Neuilly sur Seine

ABOUT THE JOB 

 At Sanofi Consumer Healthcare, we have one shared mission – we work passionately, every day, to ‘serve healthier, fuller lives’ now and for the generations to come.  

In order to do so, we strive to act as a force for good by integrating sustainability along our business and employees’ mission and operate responsibly from both a social and environmental point of view. 

Everything we do is centered around people’s interests – our consumers, our customers, healthcare professionals, and our employees – across the world.  

We are building loved brands that serve 1bn consumers worldwide, through our key platforms: Allergy, Physical & Mental Wellness, Pain, Digestive Wellness and Cough, Cold & Flu. 

We aspire to become the best Fast Moving Consumer Health (FMCH) company In & For the world and we aim to build a work environment where people can thrive, grow, enjoy and be at their bes t. 

This role entails intelligence gathering, supervising scouting engagements, coordinating technical evaluations and due diligence for licensing and scientific partnerships, and converting opportunities into products/solutions to fuel our brands pipeline.

Your mission as an External Innovation & Science Partnering Lead is to enhance consumer self-care experiences through innovative solutions that blend differentiated APIs, cutting-edge formulations, packaging, digital advancements, and device technologies via strategic collaborations. All initiatives are rooted in science, fueled by consumer insights, developed with agility, and executed at scale.

Main responsibilities: 

• You will lead the development and execution of Sanofi's R&D external innovation and partnership strategy, catering to the key cross-brands science and technology platforms and to your portfolio of Sanofi CHC brands. Additionally, you will serve within your scope as the primary liaison and "external face" of Sanofi CHC for potential partners throughout the screening, opportunity evaluation, and potentially, transactional phases.

• You will lead the translation and implementation of an impactful external innovation and partnering strategy for Sanofi’s CHC science and technology platforms and your brands’ portfolio, driving substantial business growth and competitiveness for Sanofi CHC.

• You will lead the Sanofi CHC Open Innovation Portal, ensuring efficient ways of working, science challenges sourcing and opportunities assessments.

• You will develop and execute business development and licensing (BD&L) initiatives to support your brands portfolio.

• Your responsibilities encompass watching, scouting, and identifying disruptive and emerging scientific and technological prospects relevant to Sanofi CHC brands and portfolio. This includes delivering precise assessments, benchmarking, and technical positioning of these prospects.

• You will establish, lead, and sustain comprehensive screening processes, and coordinate multifunctional evaluations for external opportunities.

• You will collaborate internally with stakeholders to prepare and present decision-enabling scientifically grounded assessments, preliminary business cases, due diligence reports, and recommendations to your management. Moreover, you will be responsible for negotiating deal terms.

• You will monitor the performance of partnership initiatives.

• You will be present at external conferences, events or organizations to position Sanofi as a preferred and reliable partner for external innovation institutions and companies.

About you

• We seek a candidate with a deep understanding of the consumer healthcare and/or pharmaceutical industry, with a scientific background, and who preferably possesses an MBA degree or entrepreneurial/intrapreneurial experience.

• A 10+ years proven track record of business development, licensing, external innovation, partnering, and /or successfully launching innovative projects or products to consumers.

• Proficiency in managing partnerships and interfacing with partners, along with a solid grasp of the pharmaceutical industry's licensing process. Experience in licensing transactions, including structuring, negotiating, and finalizing deals, is a must.

• Possession of, or the ability to develop, a strong network within the external innovation community (e.g., academia, biotechs, startups, investors, etc.).

• Entrepreneurial mindset coupled with scientific and business acumen.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, good presentation skills, and a high level of fluency in written and spoken English.