Global Head of RnD Data and Computational Science

Job Title: Global Head of RnD Data and Computational Science

Location: Barcelona, Spain; Paris, France

About the Job

At Sanofi, we’re committed to providing the next-gen healthcare that patients and customers need. It’s about harnessing data insights and leveraging AI responsibly to search deeper and solve sooner than ever before. 

The Global Head of Data and Computational Science will lead Sanofi's enterprise-wide data science and computational capabilities, driving innovation at the intersection of digital technology and R&D. This strategic role sits within the Digital organization while orchestrating cross-functional collaboration between enterprise Data & AI teams, R&D business functions, and software engineering teams to accelerate scientific breakthroughs and optimize R&D outcomes.

Key success measures for the role include :

• Accelerate drug discovery and development timelines through computational approaches

• Optimize R&D investment decisions through data-driven insights

• Foster a culture of digital innovation across scientific disciplines

• Establish Sanofi as an industry leader in computational R&D approaches

• Drive measurable improvements in R&D productivity and success rates

Working as a core member of the Digital R&D Leadership Team, a member of the Digital Extended Leadership Team, and a frequent collaborator with the Digital Data & AI Leadership Team, this role ensures seamless integration between computational science capabilities and enterprise data and AI standards.

We are an innovative global healthcare company with one purpose: to chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. We’re also a company where you can flourish and grow your career, with countless opportunities to explore, make connections with people, and stretch the limits of what you thought was possible. Ready to get started?

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Main Responsibilities

Relentlessly focus on business objectives and customer needs, while aligned with the overall global Sanofi digital strategy:

• Enable scientific breakthroughs and business transformation through best-in-class computational methods, novel in-silico workflows, and operational excellence that empower R&D teams to optimize experimental designs, focus capital allocation, and accelerate the pathway of new molecules to patient impact.

• Translate R&D digital strategies and scientific objectives into a coherent and value-based computational science strategy with clear roadmaps across data science, AI technologies, and in-silico workflows enabling scientific discovery, patient-centric drug development, and R&D decision making.

• Lead a diverse, global community of computational scientists, data scientists, and AI experts, both direct and matrixed, to high degrees of team engagement and scientific excellence. Be accountable for performance management, talent development, and capability building to keep pace with rapidly evolving computational technologies and scientific advancements.

• Engage externally as a thought leader and representative for Sanofi's computational science and AI-driven R&D initiatives, fostering collaborations and enhancing Sanofi's reputation in the field.  Manage R&D data and computational science publications and patents adherent to applicable policies and communications guidance.

• Directly manage R&D's Guiding Coalition for Computational Science and AI Innovation as the main decision body for R&D AI methods, validation, and scaling approaches. Apply strategic aims set by Digital R&D governance to prioritize investments. Monitor progress to sustain value delivery and scientific impact. Manage "pivots" as needed as computational technologies evolve and new scientific opportunities emerge.

• Operationally plan delivery through in-house expertise, academic partnerships, and industry collaborations, fostering Agile ways of working across multidisciplinary teams.  Be accountable for maintaining accurate and up-to-date information on plans, progress, and returns on investment.

• In collaboration with legal, quality, and compliance teams, monitor the global regulatory and scientific landscape to anticipate changes affecting computational approaches in R&D and responsible application of AI/ML across scientific use cases. Balance innovation with risk mitigation to maintain steady progression of novel methodologies.

• Monitor advancements in computational science, bringing an advisory point of view to build/buy/partner decisions, applicability of advanced AI tools and methods in R&D, engaging in Digital strategic partnering initiatives as needed.

• Be accountable for oversight and quality delivery by academic partners, technology vendors, and consultancies working in the computational science and AI space within R&D.

• Foster alignment between computational approaches and enterprise data architecture standards, promoting integration of wet lab and in-silico workflows.

About You

Job Requirements

• PhD in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Data Science, or a related field required.

• A minimum of 12 years of pharmaceutical/vaccine/biotech industry or academic R&D experience with deep understanding of scientific workflows.

• A minimum of 8 years of experience leading computational science, data science, or AI initiatives within large, complex R&D organizations.

• Demonstrable expertise in advanced computational approaches (simulation, modeling, machine learning, deep learning) and their application to drug discovery and development challenges.

• Business acumen, strategic mindset, and proven track record of delivering computational solutions that drive tangible scientific and business impact (e.g., accelerated timelines, improved success rates, optimized resource allocation).

• Demonstrable experience integrating computational approaches with experimental workflows and translating in-silico insights into actionable R&D decisions.

• Knowledge and experience engaging with academic institutions, technology providers, and computational science innovators to build effective partnerships and collaborations.

• Direct experience leading multidisciplinary teams of computational scientists, data scientists, and domain experts with demonstrable skills developing people and capabilities in a matrixed, multi-cultural, global organization.

• Ability to be present in Sanofi offices compliant with policies, currently 2-3 days per week on average.

• Ability to travel up to 30% overall to Sanofi headquarters and major R&D centers globally.

• Native Fluency in English.  (Business fluency in French a plus.)

• Seasoned team player with outstanding communication skills, positive attitude, and confident demeanor.

• Successful at building a culture of performance and accountability with an orientation to measurable results.

Why Choose Us?

• Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.

• Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.

• Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.

• Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs and at least 14 weeks’ gender-neutral parental leave.

Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.

Join Sanofi and step into a new era of science - where your growth can be just as transformative as the work we do. We invest in you to reach further, think faster, and do what’s never-been-done-before. You’ll help push boundaries, challenge convention, and build smarter solutions that reach the communities we serve. Ready to chase the miracles of science and improve people’s lives? Let’s Pursue Progress and Discover Extraordinary – together.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

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!