Research and Development - Scientific Competitive Intelligence Lead

Sanofi•Morristown, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

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. Are you ready to shape the future of medicine and drive measurable business impact? The race is on to speed up drug discovery and development to find answers for patients and their families. Your strategic insights will be critical in accelerating progress and protecting Sanofi's competitive position in high-value therapeutic areas. The Global R&D Strategy and Portfolio Management team’s overarching objective is to equip Sanofi’s leaders with robust, objective and externally focused insights and recommendations they need to make better informed R&D strategy, and portfolio and project investment decisions to ensure pipeline sustainability. We achieve this by (1) delivering a comprehensive R&D strategy positioning the organization to embrace future opportunities and challenges, driving sustained success (2) by ensuring a sustainable portfolio strategy, robust valuation and prioritization of the R&D portfolio and optimization of resources, high quality pipeline reporting, benchmarking, and scientific competitive intelligence (3) by ensuring high quality investment governance incorporating decision quality and thoughtful risk taking principles. As part of the R&D Portfolio Strategy and Management team, the Scientific Competitive Intelligence group works with key stakeholders across the organization (such as but not limited to, R&D and GBUs)—to deliver robust competitive insights that enable data-driven assessments, guide technology investments, identify white space and asset strategy decisions. Position Overview: The Portfolio Strategy & Management Team is looking to add a team-oriented member in the role of Scientific Competitive Intelligence Lead for Rare & Neurology Diseases and Ophthalmology. This role reports to the Global Head of Pipeline Reporting, Benchmarking and Competitive Intelligence and is critical in shaping R&D strategy by integrating reliable, relevant intelligence to inform pipeline positioning (with a focus on research and early development), anticipate competitive threats, and identify growth opportunities. The ideal candidate will combine deep pharmaceutical R&D expertise, with a strong scientific background, and with strategic business acumen, translating complex competitive landscapes into actionable recommendations that drive measurable business outcomes.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree with 10+ years' experience in the pharmaceutical industry, preferably R&D, or Master's degree with 5+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
Deep scientific knowledge of the drug development process from discovery to product launch, including familiarity with clinical development and regulatory aspects
Experience leading / mentoring high-performing teams is preferred
Strong analytical and strategic thinking abilities, with demonstrated capacity to translate complex data into actionable business recommendations that drive measurable outcomes
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with ability to influence senior executives and key stakeholders through compelling data storytelling.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred
Therapeutic area expertise in Rare Diseases and/or Neurology & Ophthalmology is a strong plus

Responsibilities

Deliver data-driven assessments and recommendations
Lead the development of deep, forward-looking competitive insights to inform therapeutic area strategy, portfolio decisions, and lifecycle management, directly influencing strategic decision-making.
Act as trusted CI strategic advisor to senior R&D leadership, translating critical business questions into intelligence priorities that protect competitive advantage and identify growth opportunities
Lead a team of CI analysts (on-/off-shore) delivering critical insights to support portfolio, ensuring optimal allocation of R&D resources across the pipeline
Engage in annual Portfolio Strategy Week (PSW) activities, ensuring external market perspectives are integrated and CI priorities align with the outcomes.
Collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders (R/D/C/M) on competitive intelligence investigations, integrating diverse inputs to accelerate decision velocity and improve decision quality
Demonstrate measurable CI value by quantifying how insights inform decisions, mitigate
Partner strategically with R&D Strategy, Portfolio Analytics, and Benchmarking to accomplish common goals and maximize organizational impact
Build competitive advantage by identifying and implementing opportunities to enhance CI capabilities, practices, and strategic impact—positioning Sanofi as an industry leader in competitive intelligence
Support the CI digitization roadmap including piloting the use of AI/GenAI to accelerate insights and democratize access to Sanofi competitive environment
Lead strategic CI initiatives and represent the function in cross-functional projects that impact business outcomes
Contribute to building a best-in-class CI organization within the R&D Hub
Provide leadership, mentorship, and strategic direction to off-shore CI teams for Rare & Neurology Diseases and Ophthalmology
Ensure alignment between CI outputs and stakeholder expectations; validate insights before dissemination and oversee prioritization of activities based on business impact and rgency
Participate in recruitment and onboarding of top CI talent to build organizational capability