About the Job
As a senior executive leader, you will serve as the strategic architect and accountable owner of Sanofi's External Manufacturing & Supply (EM&S) function in China. You will define and drive the long-term China EM&S strategy, shape the external manufacturing operating model, and build a high-performing organization capable of delivering Sanofi's China growth ambitions. You will hold full accountability for China CMO performance, quality, compliance, and financial outcomes, while serving as the senior representative of China EM&S in regional and global M&S leadership forums.
Your mandate spans the full breadth of China EM&S: setting up and scaling the team in alignment with business activity, leading BD & M&A initiatives to drive inorganic growth, and ensuring launch readiness for CMO-manufactured products. You will engage at the C-suite level with CMO partners, government stakeholders, and industry bodies, and will translate China's evolving external manufacturing landscape into actionable strategies for senior leadership.
We are an innovative global healthcare company with one purpose: to chase the miracles of science to improve people's lives. We're also a company where you can flourish and grow your career, with countless opportunities to explore, make connections with people, and stretch the limits of what you thought was possible. Ready to get started?
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Main Responsibilities
1. Lead China EM&S Team
•Be responsible for products supply continuity, anticipate potential issues (back-up, inventory, etc.) and develop & deliver action plans in case of unexpected supply rupture.
•Ensure a high level of HSE and Quality at CMO level in line with Sanofi standards, and be accountable for CAPAs implementation following audits.
•Select appropriate CMOs as per Sanofi guidelines and drive continuous improvement at CMO level, including through SMS deployment.
•Define and own the China EM&S multi-year organizational strategy and operating model, including headcount planning, capability building roadmap, and structural evolution in line with business growth.
•Act as the senior accountable leader for all China CMO performance, quality, and compliance outcomes, with direct escalation authority to regional and global M&S leadership.
•Foster a high-performance culture within the China EM&S team, driving talent development, succession planning, and diversity & inclusion initiatives to build a future-ready organization.
•Represent China EM&S in regional and global M&S leadership forums, actively contributing to global EM&S strategy, governance design, and best practice sharing across the network.
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2. Drive BD & M&A Topics
•Inorganic growth target is to bring 2B€ sales in China with 2 signed deals/year.
•Drive all M&A and BD projects for EM&S in China, leading end-to-end due diligence processes — including on-site assessments of target CMO facilities, GMP compliance evaluations, manufacturing capability and capacity reviews, and technology fit analysis — and provide recommendations for Go/No Go decisions, including:
•Risk assessment
•Business case review, incorporating financial health evaluation, contractual obligations, and risk-adjusted business cases
•Regulatory standing assessment of target CMOs with NMPA and other relevant authorities, identifying gaps and defining remediation roadmaps
•Recommendations for mitigations, future sourcing, integration process & contract management
•Appropriate budget anticipation
•Mobilize and manage cross-functional due diligence teams (Quality, Regulatory, Finance, Legal, Procurement, MSAT) to ensure timely and comprehensive assessment of all transactions, and prepare Go/No-Go reports for senior leadership and global M&A governance committees.
•Define post-deal integration requirements based on due diligence findings, including quality remediation plans, technology transfer timelines, and organizational integration roadmaps; lead BD/M&A project integration when the network is CMO-related.
•Lead all China CMO-related projects and develop strategy to manage future CMOs, maintaining a due diligence playbook and lessons-learned repository to continuously improve the BD/M&A assessment process in China.
•Serve as the senior executive sponsor for all China EM&S BD and M&A activities, with full accountability for deal pipeline development, executive stakeholder alignment, and governance oversight.
•Build and maintain C-suite and senior-level relationships with key CMO partners, industry bodies, and government stakeholders in China to support Sanofi's strategic positioning.
•Define the China external manufacturing growth strategy in alignment with Sanofi's global portfolio ambitions and China GBU priorities, ensuring coherence with the Play to Win strategy.
•Provide executive-level input into global M&A governance committees for all China-related transactions, ensuring China market specificities are appropriately represented and risk-mitigated.
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3. Ensure Launch Readiness in China for Products Manufactured by CMO
•Lead all activities related to CMOs (i) located in China, and (ii) liaise with respective EM&S teams for CMOs located outside China, and associated business partners (Finance, Procurement, MSAT):
•Ensure, in collaboration with Procurement and EM&S operations, key commercial deal terms readiness for any TT activities and commercial activities
•Define budget and ensure budget adherence
•Provide and maintain proactive risk management and mitigation plans in launch preparation, including projections for supply ramp-up
•Ensure lean governance, performance measurements, associated communication, and efficient accountability (using DAI model – Decision maker – Advisors – Informed stakeholders)
•Ensure appropriate coordination with all stakeholders: China launch leader, R&D, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, internal sites, and Commercial operations.
•Be accountable for the end-to-end China CMO launch readiness framework, including governance design, KPI definition, performance dashboards, and executive-level reporting to regional and global leadership.
•Drive strategic alignment between China EM&S and global/regional supply chain, regulatory, and commercial leadership to ensure seamless, on-time product launches across the China portfolio.
•Oversee and approve all major contract negotiations with CMOs for commercial supply, technology transfer, and launch activities, ensuring terms are aligned with Sanofi's strategic and financial objectives.
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4. Strategic Leadership & External Engagement
•Define and communicate a compelling China EM&S vision aligned with Sanofi's Play to Win strategy and China ambitions, ensuring organizational clarity, motivation, and strategic direction across the team.
•Represent Sanofi externally in China pharmaceutical manufacturing forums, regulatory consultations, and industry associations, enhancing Sanofi's reputation and influence in the China external manufacturing ecosystem.
•Proactively identify and assess emerging trends in China's external manufacturing landscape — including regulatory shifts, geopolitical developments, and technological disruptions — and translate these into strategic recommendations for regional and global senior leadership.
•Champion digital transformation and innovation within China EM&S operations, including the adoption of advanced analytics, automation, and AI-driven supply chain tools to drive efficiency, resilience, and competitive advantage.
•Ensure robust business continuity and crisis management frameworks are in place across all China CMO operations, with clear escalation protocols and executive oversight mechanisms.
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About You
Qualifications & Experience
•Advanced degree in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Engineering, or related field; MBA or equivalent executive education strongly preferred.
•15 years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing or supply chain, with deep project and program management expertise.
•Deep understanding of GMP, NMPA regulations, and global regulatory expectations (FDA, EMA, etc.).
•Proven experience managing complex CMO networks in China.
•Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
•Fluent in Mandarin and English.
•Demonstrated track record of leading large, complex, multi-site external manufacturing organizations at a Senior Director level or above.
•Proven experience in executive-level stakeholder management, including C-suite engagement with CMO partners, government bodies, and internal senior leadership.
•Experience in P&L ownership and financial accountability for large-scale manufacturing or supply chain operations.
•Track record of successfully leading M&A integration and BD deal execution in the pharmaceutical sector in China.
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Key Competencies
•Strategic Supply Chain Leadership
•GMP & Regulatory Compliance
•Supplier Relationship Management
•Risk Management & Business Continuity
•Cross-functional Collaboration
•Operational Excellence (Lean, Six Sigma)
•People Development & Change Leadership
•Executive Presence & Senior Stakeholder Influence
•Strategic Vision & Long-Term Planning
•P&L Ownership & Financial Acumen
•Enterprise-Level Change Management
•External Representation & Industry Engagement
•Digital Transformation Leadership
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Why Choose Us?
•Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.
•Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it's through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.
•Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.
•Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs and at least 14 weeks' gender-neutral parental leave.
Pursue Progress . Discover Extraordinary .
Progress doesn't happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. You can be one of those people. Chasing change, embracing new ideas and exploring all the opportunities we have to offer. Let's pursue progress. And let's discover extraordinary together.
At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity.
Pursue progress , discover extraordinary
Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But progress doesn’t happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. So, let’s be those people.
At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, ability or gender identity.
Watch our ALL IN video and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com !