Facilities, Equipment & Laboratory Services Lead

Sanofi•Waltham, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Facilities & Equipment Operations (F&E Ops) US Lead is a senior strategic role responsible for helping set the direction, standards, and operational framework for F&E Ops across global Vaccines R&D sites, with primary accountability at the Waltham, MA location. This position goes beyond site-level execution — it helps shape how F&E Ops functions as a program across the vaccines sites, drives cross-site alignment, and establishes governance models that elevate the consistency, quality, and compliance of laboratory and facility operations organization-wide. The incumbent serves as the senior subject matter authority for laboratory facility and equipment lifecycle strategy, providing expert guidance that influences decisions. This role leads the design and implementation of laboratory facility renovations, including oversight of electrical and mechanical contractors, and drives the strategy to optimize usage of the laboratory facilities and meet the evolving scientific needs. This position manages major equipment lifecycle programs — including the qualification and implementation of complex, computerized laboratory systems. The position establishes and governs general laboratory support programs (e.g., temperature monitoring systems, storage and equipment relocations) and provides strategic oversight of managed service providers for consumables inventory, laboratory support services, and equipment maintenance. At this level, the role is expected to represent F&E Ops to senior and executive leadership, lead organizational change initiatives, and set the strategic agenda for how F&E Ops supports Vaccines R&D. The incumbent will mentor and develop the talent within F&E Ops, building team capability and ensuring continuity of expertise across the function. Cross-site collaboration is not incidental — it is a core accountability: this role is expected to help identify, standardize, and institutionalize best practices across all US F&E Ops sites, not simply share them. The mission of the US F&E Ops team is to provide harmonized, strategically aligned support for facility, equipment, and laboratory services that enhances the scientific focus of Vaccines R&D. The team centralizes management and oversight of R&D infrastructure, ensures robust service delivery models, and drives alignment with Sanofi's Take the Lead strategies. F&E Ops supports equipment lifecycle, maintenance and qualification activities, laboratory facilities, space modification and renovations, and in-lab support services through managed services. The overarching goal is to improve the quality and agility of Vaccines R&D operations while reducing compliance and operational demands on scientific and technical staff — accelerating pipeline advancement and ultimately bringing vaccines to market to address unmet medical needs. This is a US-based, in-office position. The ideal candidate will live within reasonable commuting distance to Sanofi's Waltham, MA location.

Requirements

10+ years of relevant experience in facilities, equipment, and/or laboratory operations, with demonstrated progression into strategic and cross-functional leadership roles.
BS/BA (4-Year) in a Scientific or Engineering related discipline required.
Strategic Thinking — Ability to define long-term direction for F&E Ops programs, anticipate organizational needs, and translate strategy into actionable plans that span multiple teams and sites.
Cross-Functional & Cross-Site Leadership — Proven ability to lead initiatives that span multiple teams, functions, and locations; skilled at building alignment and driving outcomes across organizational boundaries.
Organizational Influence — Ability to influence decisions and shape programs at a senior level without direct authority; comfortable engaging with and presenting to executive stakeholders.
Program Governance — Experience establishing governance frameworks, operational standards, and performance management structures for complex, multi-workstream programs.
Mentoring & Developing Others — Demonstrated commitment to building team capability; experience coaching and developing junior-level professionals within a technical or operational function.
Change Management — Ability to lead organizational change, including the adoption of new service models, technologies, and operational frameworks; skilled at managing stakeholder resistance and driving sustainable adoption.
Advanced Communication (Written & Verbal) — Ability to craft clear, executive-level communications including strategic plans, program updates, governance documents, and deviation investigations. Skilled at translating complex technical topics for diverse audiences including senior leadership.
Creative and Abstract Thinking — Ability to develop innovative, scalable solutions to complex operational challenges across multiple sites and teams.
Deadline and Deliverable Accountability — Strong program management discipline; able to manage competing priorities across a broad portfolio and drive teams to meet commitments.
Advanced Understanding of Facility Management, Equipment Qualification & Lifecycle, and Managed Service Programs — Deep subject matter expertise sufficient to set standards, resolve escalations, and guide others.
Self-Directed Leadership — Operates with a high degree of autonomy; sets own agenda in alignment with organizational strategy.
Proficiency with electronic documentation systems and technical writing at a program/governance level.
Strong business acumen and ability to make strategic decisions aligned with organizational risk tolerance and accountability frameworks.
Expertise in Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Visio, Project, etc.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or equivalent leadership experience preferred.
Experience leading F&E Ops or equivalent programs in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
Experience establishing qualification standards and governance for complex laboratory systems.
Experience in biological or vaccines R&D laboratory environments.
Working knowledge of Sanofi applications including Electronic Documentation Management Systems (EDMS), Learning Management Systems (LMS), Procurement Systems (eBuy, etc.), and Facility & Equipment Management tools (SAP, Procal, Labwatch, etc.).
Experience managing and optimizing managed service provider relationships at a program level.
Ability to develop and present effective presentations and scientific publications and/or speaking engagements.

Responsibilities

Define and drive the F&E Ops strategy for Waltham facility, setting the long-term direction for facility, equipment, and laboratory services programs — moving beyond implementation to shaping what gets built and why.
Establish governance frameworks, operational standards, and best practice models for F&E Ops activities, ensuring consistency, compliance, and continuous improvement at an organizational level.
Lead cross-site and cross-functional F&E Ops initiatives, driving alignment across Waltham and other US locations to harmonize programs, eliminate redundancy, and scale effective solutions.
Represent F&E Ops to senior and executive leadership, providing strategic updates, program performance insights, and recommendations that inform organizational decision-making.
Lead organizational change efforts within F&E Ops, including the adoption of new service models, technologies, and operational frameworks that advance the function's maturity and impact.
Mentor, coach, and develop the talent within F&E Ops, building technical and professional capability across the team and ensuring a strong pipeline of expertise within the function.
Provide strategic guidance and technical leadership to F&E Ops staff, serving as the senior escalation point for complex operational, compliance, or project challenges.
Ensure facilities and equipment remain in safe and operational condition in accordance with applicable industry and corporate requirements; set the standards by which compliance is measured and maintained across sites.
Lead laboratory facility renovation programs, including strategic planning, scope definition, contractor oversight (electrical, mechanical), and cross-functional coordination with Engineering, Maintenance, HSE, and Finance.
Drive major equipment lifecycle programs, including the strategy, implementation, and qualification of complex and computerized laboratory systems; establish qualification standards and lifecycle governance applicable across US sites.
Oversee and continuously improve general laboratory support programs, including consumables stockroom management, controlled temperature unit monitoring systems, equipment relocations, and safety compliance activities.
Provide strategic oversight of managed service providers for consumables, laboratory support services, and equipment maintenance; define service model standards and hold providers accountable to performance metrics.
Drive cross-functional alignment with key partners within US Site Management, such as USSM management, Business Office and Site Operations, as well as stakeholders including scientific leadership, Maintenance, Metrology, Engineering, Finance, HSE, and external partners (automation, digital, vendors) to ensure F&E Ops programs are integrated with broader organizational priorities.
Manage program-level timelines, budgets, and resource allocation across F&E Ops initiatives, ensuring delivery against strategic objectives and operational targets.
Track and report on operational metrics at a program level; leverage laboratory platforms and data insights to drive continuous improvement and provide regular strategic updates to senior leadership.
Develop and present effective PowerPoint presentations, build an effective network of experts, both internal and external, to continuously seek and drive continuous improvements and collaborations.
Lead the identification and institutionalization of best practices across US F&E Ops sites, translating site-level learnings into scalable, organization-wide standards.
Drive implementation of operational efficiency improvements that reduce compliance and operational burden on scientific and technical staff, enabling greater focus on research and pipeline advancement.