Global Lead Buyer (Senior Director)

Ready to push the limits of whats possible? Join Sanofi in one of our corporate functions and you can play a vital part in the performance of our entire business while helping to make an impact on millions around the world.

Within Sanofi, the Procurement function is a powerhouse maximizing savings to fund the companys future growth. The Chief Procurement Officer is reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, member of the sanofi executive committee. The Procurement organization is divided into five Domains (Manufacturing & Supply, Marketing & Sales, Professional Services, Scientific & Medical and Digital) leveraging Global Procurement Operations and the Procurement Center of Excellence & Transformation. The yearly spend coverage is around 15B with a special focus on Procurement excellence, Supplier Diversity and Sustainability. Closely collaborating with Finance, Business Operations and Business Units, Procurement is instrumental in achieving cost efficiency and savings. Procurement plays a critical role in optimizing Business Operational Impact with a focus on driving simplification, efficiency, and productivity. It forges strategic partnerships with suppliers, prioritizing innovation and data driven solutions.

Main Responsibilities

• Preferred Partner Selection for R&D and Platform Sourcing: Identify, evaluate, and select preferred partners in alignment with each Raw Material subcategory strategy. This includes thorough assessment of capabilities, reliability, and compatibility of suppliers with our business goals. Early engagement to the Bill of Material process will be key.
• Implementation and Adherence to Platform Sourcing by stakeholders: Oversee the implementation of preferred partner agreements and ensure strict adherence and compliance to selection standards set by Sanofi functions/ business units.
• Platform Sourcing: Lead pre-aligned platform sourcing initiatives applicable to R&D, industrialization, commercialization, and life cycle management phases. Drive continuous improvement and optimization of sourcing processes to enhance efficiency, effectiveness a lower future cost through harmonized supplier, harmonized specification. Create additional contractual benefits/levers with preferred suppliers, when platform sourcing is in place.
• Optimized Supply Chain Management for pre-agreed Catalogues: By proactively sourcing raw materials in advance and collaborating closely with suppliers, the lead ensures that the necessary materials are available in sufficient quantities and meet the required quality standards to support product launch timelines. Measure current performance of existing suppliers and identify success factors for selection. Create consignment stocks for R&D and MSAT for hosted catalogue raw materials with selected partners, for helping optimize the supply chain, reducing lead times, minimizing inventory holding costs, and improving overall supply chain efficiency for R&D and MSAT.
• Supplier Collaboration: Coordinate Sanofi visits to supplier innovation labs or vice versa. Foster strong collaborative relationships with preferred partners, focusing on supply chain optimization, material science advancements, and manufacturability elements. Encourage innovation and knowledge-sharing to accelerate time-to-market and improve cost efficiency.In addition, activate the regulatory support through supplier collaboration, since timely access to high-quality raw materials can facilitate smoother regulatory approval processes by ensuring consistency and reliability in product formulations and manufacturing processes. This can help expedite regulatory submissions and approvals, leading to faster market entry for new pharmaceutical products.
• Joint Innovation Workshops: Organize joint innovation workshops or brainstorming sessions with key suppliers across RM subcategories to identify opportunities for improvement and innovation. Encourage open dialogue and creative thinking to generate new ideas and solutions. Implementing innovative solutions developed through collaboration with suppliers can differentiate our company in the market and enhance its value proposition. This can lead to increased market share, higher customer satisfaction, and ultimately, greater revenue generation.
• Technology Scouting: Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends relevant to raw material procurement and manufacturing processes. Work closely with suppliers to evaluate and adopt innovative technologies that can enhance efficiency, quality, and sustainability.
• Supplier Hackathons: Organize supplier hackathons or innovation challenges where suppliers are invited to propose solutions to specific business challenges or opportunities both in R&D and M&S space.
• Performance Monitoring and Reporting: Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to monitor supplier performance and track progress towards strategic collaboration goals. Provide regular reports and updates to senior management on supplier collaboration initiatives and outcomes.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of preferred supplier and specification.

About You

Experience:

• Strategic Sourcing within R&D and Raw Materials space in the automotive, pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry

Qualifications:

• Supplier landscape know-how & demonstrated track record of achieving significant cost savings

Soft Skills/ Technical skills:

The position requires sourcing professional skills with a strong ability to engage and align stakeholders at all levels of the organization, and to have transversal / project management skills in a multi-cultural environment:

• Ensure proper Business Partnering at corporate level with R&D,CMC, MSAT and Suppliers.
• Strong understanding of raw materials procurement value chain from R&D up to LCM, contracting, supply chain dynamics and industry trends
• Good knowledge of R&D Phases, Launch enablement and Life Cycle Management
• Leverage E2E Technology platforms to ensure procurement strategies are applicable across the board.
• Assertive, high-level communicator, good organizational skills, excellent presentation skills, Team player with excellent interpersonal sensitivity
• Experienced and confident in managing complex and undefined business situations.
• Influential management, ability to convince and persuade others regarding appropriate solutions
• Transversal Management skills are required for this position.
• High sense of Ethics, Business integrity and compliance in doing business

Education:

• Minimum University degree from an accredited College or University.
• Procurement certifications are plus.

Language:

• Excellent command of English is a must. French is a plus.

SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS [note: bold skills and certification are required]
R&D Procurement
Raw Material Procurement
Leadership (Management) experience
Strong Business Partnering with Business Partnering at corporate level with R&D, CMC, Suppliers
Strong negotiation skills