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Head of External Manufacturing Product Team - Job Opportunity at Sanofi EU

Geel, Belgium
Full-time
Executive
Posted: August 8, 2025
On-site
EUR 120,000 - 160,000 annually based on executive-level pharmaceutical manufacturing role in Belgium with significant CMO management responsibilities, regional scope, and requirement for extensive travel and stakeholder management

Benefits

Comprehensive high-quality healthcare coverage providing extensive medical support beyond standard market offerings
Prevention and wellness programs demonstrating proactive health investment exceeding typical corporate wellness initiatives
Minimum 14 weeks gender-neutral parental leave policy significantly above EU statutory requirements and most industry standards
Thoughtfully designed rewards package with performance-based recognition systems that amplify individual contribution impact
Structured onboarding program with individualized introduction and comprehensive training ensuring accelerated time-to-productivity
Continuous learning and development opportunities including cutting-edge technology training and professional certification support
Dynamic work environment with direct financial operations impact providing clear visibility of contribution value
Career progression opportunities within Treasury and IT functions offering diverse advancement pathways
International travel opportunities up to 50% providing global exposure and network building within EU markets

Key Responsibilities

Drive enterprise-wide supply chain excellence by ensuring on-time and in-full delivery of critical pharmaceutical products from Contract Manufacturing Organizations, directly impacting global patient access to life-saving medications
Lead and transform high-performing teams through strategic influence and talent development, creating psychologically safe environments that foster innovation and operational excellence in pharmaceutical manufacturing
Architect collaborative partnerships with external manufacturers and internal stakeholders, serving as key business relationship owner for multi-million dollar manufacturing contracts and supply agreements
Execute complex financial negotiations as primary liaison for failed lot liability discussions, protecting company interests while maintaining strategic supplier relationships worth millions in annual contract value
Orchestrate comprehensive lifecycle management projects involving cross-functional resource coordination and substantial financial planning, ensuring seamless product transitions and manufacturing continuity
Champion continuous improvement initiatives across Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery and Involvement metrics, implementing performance optimization strategies that directly impact bottom-line profitability and patient safety
Provide strategic operational and financial oversight of CMO relationships including technical support delivery and contract management for complex biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes
Drive digital transformation through AI and automation tool implementation, standardizing processes that enhance manufacturing partner management efficiency and reduce operational risk
Lead proactive risk management through collaborative supply chain monitoring, developing and executing remediation strategies that prevent supply disruptions and maintain market availability
Serve as subject matter expert for complex manufacturing processes, ensuring technical changes align with regulatory requirements and maintain product quality standards across global manufacturing network

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree with scientific background and 15+ years of experience OR Master's degree with scientific background and 8+ years of experience

Experience

15+ years with Bachelor's degree OR 8+ years with Master's degree

Required Skills

Expertise in contract manufacturing and negotiations Experience in operational roles, ideally as product or functional team manager Strong knowledge of biotech/pharmaceutical operations and/or processes Excellent stakeholder management skills Excellent communication skills with a 'bottom line up front' executive communication style Ability to lead through influence and manage ambiguity Strategic thinking and results-oriented mindset Fluency in English; additional languages are a plus Willing to travel (up to 50% of the time – mainly within the EU)
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The pharmaceutical industry is experiencing unprecedented demand for external manufacturing partnerships as companies optimize their supply chains and focus on core competencies while leveraging specialized Contract Manufacturing Organizations for cost efficiency and scalability. This trend has accelerated post-COVID as supply chain resilience becomes paramount, creating high demand for executives who can manage complex CMO relationships and ensure supply continuity. Digital transformation and AI implementation in pharmaceutical manufacturing operations is revolutionizing how companies manage external partnerships, with leaders expected to drive automation and data-driven decision making to enhance visibility, reduce risks, and optimize performance across manufacturing networks. Regulatory complexity in pharmaceutical manufacturing continues to intensify globally, requiring leaders who can navigate compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions while maintaining product quality and managing technical changes across diverse manufacturing partners and supply chains.

Role Significance

Likely managing 15-25 direct and indirect reports across multiple product lines and geographic regions, with matrix management responsibilities extending to cross-functional teams including procurement, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and supply chain operations
Senior executive position with significant P&L responsibility and strategic impact on global pharmaceutical supply chain operations, directly affecting patient access to critical medications and company financial performance through multi-million dollar CMO contract management

Key Projects

Large-scale CMO network optimization and consolidation initiatives Digital transformation projects implementing AI and automation across manufacturing partner management Lifecycle management transitions for major pharmaceutical products Cross-border supply chain resilience and risk mitigation programs Regulatory compliance harmonization across multiple manufacturing sites

Success Factors

Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships with external manufacturing organizations while balancing cost optimization with quality and compliance requirements Strong financial acumen combined with deep technical understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes to make informed decisions on complex technical and commercial issues Change management expertise to drive digital transformation initiatives while managing stakeholder concerns and ensuring business continuity during system implementations Crisis management and problem-solving capabilities to handle supply disruptions, quality issues, and regulatory challenges that could impact patient access to critical medications Cultural intelligence and communication skills to work effectively across diverse geographic regions and organizational cultures within the EU pharmaceutical manufacturing landscape

Market Demand

High demand due to pharmaceutical industry's increasing reliance on external manufacturing partnerships and critical need for executives who can manage complex CMO relationships while ensuring supply chain resilience and regulatory compliance

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Contract manufacturing expertise is absolutely essential as the role centers on managing complex CMO relationships worth millions in annual contract value, requiring deep understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, regulatory requirements, and commercial terms to effectively negotiate and manage these partnerships Stakeholder management skills are critical given the matrix organization structure and need to influence outcomes across multiple internal and external organizations without direct authority, requiring exceptional communication and relationship-building capabilities Strategic thinking combined with operational execution capability is essential to balance long-term partnership development with daily operational requirements and crisis management in fast-paced pharmaceutical environment

Beneficial Skills

Additional European language skills beyond English would provide significant advantage given the multi-country scope and need to build relationships across diverse cultural contexts within the EU manufacturing network Digital transformation and AI implementation experience would be highly valuable as the pharmaceutical industry accelerates adoption of advanced technologies for supply chain management and manufacturing optimization Regulatory affairs knowledge across multiple European jurisdictions would enhance effectiveness in managing technical changes and ensuring compliance across diverse manufacturing partners and regulatory environments

Unique Aspects

Role combines strategic leadership with hands-on operational management of external manufacturing partnerships, requiring unique blend of technical pharmaceutical knowledge and business acumen
Position offers significant geographic flexibility with multiple location options across key European pharmaceutical hubs, providing exposure to diverse regulatory environments and manufacturing ecosystems
Direct involvement in AI and digital tool implementation represents cutting-edge aspect of pharmaceutical manufacturing management, positioning incumbent at forefront of industry transformation
High travel requirement (50%) provides exceptional networking opportunities and deep exposure to European pharmaceutical manufacturing landscape

Career Growth

3-5 years for advancement to broader VP-level roles given the strategic nature of current position and comprehensive exposure to global pharmaceutical manufacturing operations

Potential Next Roles

Vice President of Global Manufacturing Operations Chief Supply Chain Officer General Manager of Manufacturing Division Executive Director of External Manufacturing Strategy

Company Overview

Sanofi EU

Sanofi is a multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in France, ranking among the world's top 10 pharmaceutical companies by revenue with a strong focus on specialty care, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products, maintaining significant manufacturing and research operations across Europe and globally.

Global pharmaceutical leader with strong market position in specialty care and biologics, consistently ranked in top tier of pharmaceutical companies worldwide with substantial R&D investment and diverse therapeutic portfolio spanning multiple high-growth areas
This role represents a critical European hub position within Sanofi's manufacturing network, with responsibility spanning multiple EU countries and serving as key link between global strategy and regional execution in one of the company's most important manufacturing regions
Large pharmaceutical company culture emphasizing regulatory compliance, patient safety, and operational excellence, with strong focus on professional development and career progression, typically offering structured advancement paths and comprehensive benefits packages
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