Senior Director R&D Portfolio Data Strategy & Insights

Job Title:

Senior Director R&D Portfolio Data Strategy & Insights

Location:

Morristown, NJ, Cambridge, MA

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. The Global R&D Portfolio Strategy and 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, portfolio, and project investment decisions to ensure pipeline sustainability.

• Provide strategic leadership and vision for data, AI, GenAI, and Agentic AI initiatives across R&D Project and Portfolio Management, aligning digital transformation roadmaps with business objectives and operational excellence goals.
• Transform the Data and AI strategy into execution at speed and scale, together with R&D Operations and R&D Digital teams.
• Support the build and evolution of R&D Portfolio and Project Management data foundations, and democratization of data.
• Drive operational innovation through advanced analytics, machine learning models, computer vision, GenAI and Agentic AI applications to optimize project and portfolio decision‑making.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with internal stakeholders:
  Project Management, Project Resource Management, R&D Finance, Reporting, Portfolio Analytics, R&D Data Office, R&D Digital and GTMC.
• Prioritize and roadmap AI transformation initiatives across Project and Portfolio Management, partnering with Digital Product Lines Owners to balance quick wins with long‑term strategic programs.
• Lead enterprise data strategy aligned with Sanofi’s business objectives and scientific mission; define data vision, roadmap, and strategic priorities across all Project and Portfolio Management functions.
• Lead digital transformation initiatives that leverage data as a strategic asset; drive organizational change management to foster a data‑driven culture throughout the enterprise.
• Ensure consistent use of data governance practices across the enterprise to ensure reliable portfolio insights.
• Ensure quality, accuracy, and completeness of data within the project and portfolio business domain to support operational efficiency, portfolio analytics, and strategic initiatives.
• Act as the subject‑matter expert for data within the domain and provide domain‑specific expertise on the data for various projects and portfolio analytics initiatives.
• Take data ownership and/or identify data owners within the function, communicate expectations from data owners to ensure accountability for portfolio‑critical data.
• Design and implement comprehensive data governance frameworks across R&D that support portfolio analytics and strategic decision‑making.
• Lead initiatives to standardize and streamline data definitions across R&D systems and platforms to ensure consistency in portfolio reporting.
• Partner with Master Data Management, Ontology, and Controlled Vocabulary initiatives to ensure interoperability and harmonization of data/metadata supporting portfolio analytics and reporting.

• Advanced degree (Ph.D., MBA, or equivalent) in life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, Data Science, or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in portfolio data strategy, portfolio management and analytics, or related field within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Expert knowledge of data governance frameworks and methodologies.
• Strong track record in metadata management and data cataloging initiatives.
• Proven ability to lead and develop new capabilities and collaborate effectively across functions.
• Maturity and leadership skills to interact at senior levels, influence strategic decisions and work in a matrix environment.
• Strong understanding of AI and machine learning principles, particularly regarding data requirements for AI applications.
• Hands‑on ability to dive deep while pressure‑testing the technology with the team.
• Strategic…