Research Lead, Vaccine Antigen Design, Bacterial Targets

Job Title: ​Research Lead, Vaccine Antigen Design, Bacterial Targets

Location: Waltham, MA

About the Job:

Are you ready to shape the future of medicine? The race is on to speed up drug discovery and development to find answers for patients and their families. Your skills could be critical in helping our teams accelerate progress.

Within the Global Antigen Design (GAD) Function, the Research Lead plays a pivotal role, strategically guiding the research activities of new vaccine projects to ensure timely and budget-conscious delivery. As the principal representative of GAD within the Global Project Team (GPT), this role is crucial for driving the scientific strategy and development plans in alignment with the high-level Vaccines R&D Strategy.  This position is instrumental in advancing Global Antigen Design’s mission to deliver next-generation, high-performing target antigens to Sanofi’s pipeline, ensuring that all activities meet the needs and accelerated timelines of the GPT.

The primary responsibilities of the Research Lead will be to transversally direct a team or teams of research scientists to achieve ambitious project goals, ensuring alignment with department and function heads and interfacing functions such as Global Immunology, mRNA Center of Excellence and Vaccines CMC Development and Supply. He/she/they will develop and execute the scientific strategy and development plan in collaboration with Heads of Platform, overseeing timelines and quality of deliverables to ensure excellence in execution. Serving as the primary interface between the GAD function and the GPT, the Research Lead will report project status, identify risks, and propose mitigation plans. Additionally, they will contribute to the vision of developing transversal design and innovation strategies, identifying new research opportunities, and maximizing synergy between projects.

We are an innovative global healthcare company that helps the world stay ahead of infectious diseases by delivering more than 500 million vaccine doses a year. Across different countries, our talented teams are exploring new technologies to protect people and promote healthy communities. We chase the miracles of science every single day, pursuing progress to make a real impact on millions of patients around the world.

Main Responsibilities:

• Lead Scientific Strategy: Direct the scientific strategy for the project within Global Antigen Design, operating within a fast-paced and agile environment to drive innovation and excellence.

• Develop Objectives: Formulate technical and research “macro” plan that align with and support the ambitious R&D strategies of Global Antigen Design.

• Support Clinical & Regulatory Dossier Preparation: Ensure GAD activities are in sync with clinical trial expectations, including IND submissions, CMC support, and toxicology testing, as required.

• Foster Collaboration: Represent Global Antigen Design through robust collaborations with project teams, project heads, and colleagues across various intra- and inter-departmental functions (CMC, clinical, regulatory, mRNA) to advance vaccine candidates into clinical trials.

• Identify Innovation Opportunities: Proactively identify and leverage internal and external innovation opportunities to drive project success.

• Solve Complex Problems: Address and resolve complex scientific and technical challenges with creativity and precision.

• Manage Risks: Evaluate, communicate, and manage risks effectively to ensure project continuity and success.

• Represent GAD: Serve as the GAD representative at governance and strategic forums, ensuring alignment and advocacy for the function's goals.

• Disseminate Data: Contribute to the internal distribution and communication of preclinical data, ensuring transparency and informed decision-making.

Context of the Job:

This position is key for achieving the mission of the Global Antigen Design group within Sanofi: pioneering, testing, and implementing innovative cutting-edge science and bringing together teams with diverse expertise in structural, computational, synthetic & molecular biology, biochemistry, mAb discovery, bacteriology, and other related disciplines.

• Reports to: Global Head, Transversal Antigen Design

• Leads: A transversal “core” team of scientists, with sub-teams as needed

• Expertise: Subject Matter Expert in a field of vaccinology, with a strong preference for Bacteriology and Structural Biology

• Interactions: Crossfunctional & within the Global Pro