Head of Clinical Operations, Vaccines

Sanofi•Waltham, MA

9d•$293,250 - $423,583•Hybrid

About The Position

As Head of Clinical Operations within our Global Clinical Development team, you'll lead a world-class global platform to deliver the full vaccines clinical trial portfolio — shaping both the strategy and the people who make it happen. This is a defining leadership opportunity at the heart of Sanofi's Vaccines R&D engine. As the head of a global team of 80–120 people, you will be accountable for the end-to-end operational delivery of our entire vaccine clinical trial portfolio — from strategy through execution — with a budget of approximately $250M annually. You will also lead the transformation of the function, embedding AI and digital capabilities into everyday clinical operations and building the next generation of talent and ways of working. Join the team protecting half a billion lives every year with next-gen science, mRNA innovation, and AI-driven breakthroughs. In Vaccines, you'll help advance prevention on a global scale - and shape the future of immunization. Join the engine of Sanofi's mission — where deep immunoscience meets bold, AI-powered research. In R&D, you'll drive breakthroughs that could turn the impossible into possible for millions.

Requirements

A minimum of 15 years of overall professional business experience is required
A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in formal leadership position, in addition to leading and managing a team is required
Selected candidate will possess a proven track record of leading large, multifunctional clinical operations teams in the pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical industry, including experience managing global clinical trials across multiple regions
Demonstrated experience leading organizational transformation — building new capabilities, driving change, and embedding innovation into operational teams
Experience managing strategic relationships with external partners, including Clinical Research Organizations, clinical trial sites, and regulatory body
Fluency in English

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience within Artificial Intelligence (AI), respective to leading out front best in class strategies and implementation is strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Lead the operational strategy and execution of the full vaccines clinical trial portfolio across all regions, ensuring studies are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards — monitoring KPIs and milestones across all programs.
Oversee a clinical operations budget of approximately $200M annually, ensuring rigorous financial planning, resource allocation, and budget management in close collaboration with finance and planning functions.
Build and lead a global Clinical Operations platform of 80–120 professionals and contractors across the US, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture and ensuring appropriate capacity and resource planning across the team.
Manage strategic partnerships with Clinical Research Organizations (CROs), including vendor selection, governance frameworks, relationship management, and budget oversight to ensure delivery excellence across outsourced studies.
Drive the digital and AI transformation of Clinical Operations, developing new tools, building data literacy and digital skills across the team, and establishing a culture of data-driven decision-making in clinical trial delivery.
Contribute to the Global Clinical Development Leadership Team, contributing to the GCD 2030 Roadmap, championing continuous improvement in processes and ways of working, and ensuring the function evolves to meet future scientific and operational demands.
Develop and mentor the Clinical Operations leadership team and broader organization, ensuring robust succession planning, individual growth plans, and a strong pipeline of future leaders — while maintaining full regulatory compliance and quality standards across all clinical activities.