Head of North America Occupational Health

Sanofi•Cambridge, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Head of North America (NA) Occupational Health serves as the sole Occupational Health (OH) Physician for the NA region, head of the NA OH Organization, and NA Key Medical Doctor (KMD) globally. This role carries full accountability for the strategic vision, clinical governance, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence of OH services across all Sanofi and affiliate sites in North America. As department head, this role provides executive-level leadership over clinical operations, budget management, program development, and team performance — functioning as the highest clinical authority in the region while aligning NA practices with global OH standards.

Requirements

Medical Doctorate (M.D. or D.O.) from an accredited institution
Board Certification in Occupational Medicine (ABPM)
Minimum 15 years of progressive Occupational Medicine experience in industrial, pharmaceutical R&D, and corporate settings
Minimum 10 years of leadership and people management experience in a corporate or matrixed environment
Demonstrated experience in regulatory compliance (OSHA, NIOSH, ADA, HIPAA, workers' compensation, medical surveillance)
Experience developing post-exposure protocols and medical surveillance programs
Active, unrestricted medical license in (at least one) New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and other states as operationally required
Eligibility and willingness to obtain additional state licensures as business needs evolve

Nice To Haves

Additional board certification in a primary care specialty
Experience in clinical care practice and global/multinational organizations
Strong strategic thinking with ability to align departmental goals with enterprise priorities
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with ability to translate complex clinical and regulatory topics for non-medical audiences
Experience with digital health technologies, EMR systems, and health data analytics

Responsibilities

Serve as the only Occupational Health Physician in North America, providing direct clinical oversight and medical decision-making across all sites and business units (manufacturing, R&D, commercial, and corporate)
Provide clinical governance and medical supervision to OH nursing staff and allied health professionals, ensuring standards of care, scope of practice compliance, and clinical quality
Serve as the clinical escalation point for complex medical cases, fitness-for-duty determinations, and high-risk situations
Authorize and oversee specialized medical clearances, including respirator fitness, hazardous materials work, confined space entry, and international travel
Design and deploy medical surveillance programs and post-exposure protocols (biological, chemical, and other hazards) aligned with regulatory requirements and evidence-based practices
Provide consultative support on occupational health cases in partnership with People & Culture (P&C), Legal, and Risk Management
Oversee emergency response programs, including AED management, first responder coordination, and site-level crisis medical protocols
Represent North America in global OH governance structures, medical leadership forums, and cross-regional initiatives
Align NA practices with global OH frameworks, adapting standards to meet US and Canadian regulatory requirements
Contribute to global health trending and epidemiological analysis, providing NA insights to inform enterprise-wide strategy
Collaborate with global KMD peers on policy development, program harmonization, and pandemic preparedness
Maintain full accountability for OH regulatory compliance across NA, including OSHA, NIOSH, and other applicable agencies
Ensure appropriate interfaces with workers' compensation (WC) carriers, TPAs, and Risk Management to coordinate care and manage claims
Serve as the primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) for OH regulatory matters, advising HSE, P&C, Legal, Risk Management, Finance, and business leadership
Lead and support compliance audits, providing expert guidance and driving corrective actions
Identify workplace health risks and drive corrective and preventive actions in partnership with HSE and site leadership
Lead the design and deployment of OH programs across NA, including workers' compensation management, health screenings, wellness initiatives, and occupational disease prevention
Champion digital health transformation, including serving as business owner for implementation of a new Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system with AI capabilities, digital health tools, and self-service portals
Partner with All Well to deliver integrated on-site wellness programs aligned with enterprise strategy
Develop and implement OH policies, standards, and procedures to protect employees and ensure compliance
Oversee local teams in managing contracts with outsourced service providers (clinical staff, vendors, EMR, fitness center operators)
Serve as the medical authority for crisis management involving health-related incidents, outbreaks, or emergencies across NA
Provide medical leadership during public health emergencies and pandemics, coordinating with HSE, P&C, and site leadership
Participate in business continuity planning and emergency preparedness, ensuring medical readiness across all NA sites
Act as primary medical liaison to public health authorities and regulatory agencies during crisis events
Lead, manage, and develop a team of approximately 9 nurses/NPs, fostering a high-performance, employee-centered culture
Provide coaching, mentorship, and performance management, supporting professional development and succession planning
Drive talent management strategies with P&C to attract, retain, and develop top OH talent
Own the NA OH department budget, including all internal/external resources, services, and capital expenditures
Conduct monthly financial analysis, forecasting, and variance reporting with the finance department
Develop and monitor KPIs and performance dashboards tracking clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction
Identify cost optimization opportunities without compromising quality or compliance
Champion for change management, digital transformation, and continuous improvement
Serve as trusted advisor to senior leaders across HSE, P&C, Legal, Risk Management, Finance, and business units on all OH and medical matters
Represent Sanofi externally to peer organizations, industry groups, and regulatory authorities
Serve on key internal governance committees