R&D Data Capability & Strategy Lead

About the job

Sanofi is a global life sciences company committed to improving access to healthcare and supporting the people we serve throughout the continuum of care. From prevention to treatment, Sanofi transforms scientific innovation into healthcare solutions, in human vaccines, rare diseases, multiple sclerosis, oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, diabetes and cardiovascular solutions, and consumer healthcare. More than 110,000 people in over 100 countries at Sanofi are dedicated to making a difference in patients’ daily lives, wherever they live and enabling them to enjoy a healthier life.

As a company with a global vision of drug development and a highly regarded corporate culture, Sanofi is recognized as one of the best pharmaceutical companies in the world and is pioneering the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a strong commitment to developing advanced data standards to increase reusability & interoperability and thus accelerate impact on global health.

The R&D Data Office serves as a cornerstone of this effort. Our team is responsible for cross-R&D data strategy, governance, and management. We partner with Business and Digital, and drive data needs across priority and transformative initiatives across R&D. Team members serve as advisors, leaders, and educators to colleagues and data professionals across the R&D value chain. As an integral team member, you will be responsible for defining how R&D's structured, semi-structured and unstructured data will be stored, consumed, integrated / shared and reported by different end users such as scientists, clinicians, and more. You will also be pivotal in the development of sustainable mechanisms for ensuring data are FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable).

Position Summary:

The R&D Data Capability and Strategy Lead serves as the interface between Business and Digital/Data on foundational data capabilities or needs across R&D. This senior role is responsible for identifying key use cases across R&D, high-level data solutioning (e.g., data strategy, governance/standards, management, infrastructure needs), and overseeing day-to-day operations for their specific data capability. The Lead will also manage and mentor junior data roles.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of data strategy and governance across R&D functions.
• Establish R&D standards for information structure, metadata, glossaries, and taxonomies.
• Govern information and metadata rules, ensuring taxonomy consistency.
• Define data governance processes aligned with policies and standards.

• Oversee complex programs, ensuring alignment with business needs to build robust data foundations.
• Manage initiatives and capabilities, ensuring timely delivery and proactive risk management.
• Establish effective collaboration across all partner functions for assigned initiatives.

• Collaborate with R&D stakeholders to identify needs, design data solutions, and support business priorities.
• Work with R&D Digital stakeholders to oversee data activities from ingestion to access.
• Evaluate new technologies and participate in innovation projects related to information management.

• Oversee and maintain documentation, data definitions, flows, structures, access models, and modeling methodologies.
• Educate R&D teams on standards, principles, methodologies, and best practices.
• Maintain data lineage, support root cause analysis, and ensure data governance KPIs.
• Evolve data integration standards, policies, procedures, and quality management services.

• Mentor and lead junior data roles, ensuring effective end-to-end data management.
• Oversee Data Governance councils to ensure alignment and delivery.

3. About you

• Experience: 10+ years of experience in business data management, information architecture, technology, or another related field
   
• Functional skills:
  • Develop and implement data strategies aligned with business goals.
  • Create and execute data governance operating models.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D leadership, business units, and technical experts. Lead and mentor junior team members.
  • Manage complex programs and projects. Ensure timely delivery and proactive risk management.
  • Define, document, and enforce data governance policies and procedures.
  • Ensure data quality through validation, cleansing, and enrichment activities.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Strong networking and influencing abilities.
• Technical skills:
  • Proficiency in data catalogs, master data management (MDM) systems, and metadata management tools.
  • Understanding of data integration and ETL/API tools (e.g., Informatica, Talend)
  • Knowledge in data modeling and creating data architectures.
  • Knowledge of ontologies and data standards in the life sciences
  • Understanding of big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark).
  • Experience with analytics tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
  • Knowledge of data security practices and regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).
  • Experience with implementation of data security and compliance measures.
• Education:
  • Bachelor’s Degree:
    • Required in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.
  • Master’s Degree:
    • Preferred in a related field such as Data Science, Information Technology, Business Administration (MBA), or a specialized discipline within the life sciences.
  • Certifications (Preferred but not always required):
    • Data Management Certifications:
      • Certified Information Management Professional (CIMP)
      • Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP)
    • Project Management Certifications:
      • Project Management Professional (PMP)
      • Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
    • Specialized Certifications:
      • Certification in Big Data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark)
      • Certifications in Data Governance (e.g., DAMA Certified Data Management Professional)
• Languages: English

Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.

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. You can be one of those people. Chasing change, embracing new ideas and exploring all the opportunities we have to offer. Let’s pursue progress. And let’s 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, or gender identity.
 

Watch our ALL IN video and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com!

Pursue progress, discover extraordinary

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!