Head Project Management

About the job

As Head of Project Management within Sanofi Business Operations (SBO) Medical, you will lead and develop a global team of 60??70 project managers across Bogota (Colombia), Hyderabad (India), and potentially Budapest (Hungary) and other Business Operations locations. Reporting to the Head of Stakeholder and Project Management, you will establish and drive a center of excellence in project management, ensuring consistent, high-quality delivery of Medical Affairs and Market Access activities across all therapeutic areas and geographies.

Main responsibilities:

1. Project Management Leadership

• Lead and develop a global team of 40??50 project managers across Bogota, Hyderabad, and potentially Budapest and other BO locations, ensuring excellence in delivery and operational performance
• Establish and maintain a Project Management Center of Excellence, driving enterprise-wide standardization and economies of scale
• Implement standardized project management methodologies, tools, and best practices (Agile, Waterfall, hybrid) to be applied consistently across portfolios and regions
• Ensure consistent delivery quality across all geographies, therapeutic areas, and project types ?? from budget management to congress and events activities
• Drive operational excellence and cost optimization through standardization, shared services models, and continuous improvement
• Develop scalable project management frameworks adaptable to different project sizes, complexities, and therapeutic areas

2. Team Management & Development

• Directly manage Team Leads based in Bogota and Hyderabad, providing clear direction, performance management, and development support
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and structured performance feedback to build a high-performing, globally distributed team
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and capability-building initiatives to ensure the team is equipped to meet evolving business needs
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable culture across distributed teams spanning multiple time zones and cultures
• Ensure adequate resource allocation, capacity planning, and workload balance across all locations
• Support potential expansion of the team to Budapest and other BO locations as the organization scales

3. Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner closely with Account Managers to support the delivery of Medical Affairs and Market Access objectives across all therapeutic areas and geographies
• Collaborate with Medical leads, HEVA, and Commercial teams to ensure project management capabilities are aligned with business priorities
• Coordinate with the Global Meetings and Events team to anticipate and plan for congress activities and related deliverables
• Support budget management processes, ensuring financial discipline and transparency across all managed projects
• Serve as a key point of escalation and resolution for project delivery issues, maintaining proactive and transparent communication with all stakeholders
• Ensure alignment between project management activities and the priorities of internal stakeholders across GBUs

4. Process & Governance

• Develop and implement robust PM governance frameworks that ensure consistency in delivery, resource allocation, and risk management across all geographies and disease areas
• Establish clear metrics, KPIs, and reporting mechanisms to track project delivery performance and drive accountability
• Create and maintain project management tools, templates, and training programs to elevate capabilities across the organization
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, identifying and eliminating operational inefficiencies and duplication
• Ensure compliance with Sanofi quality standards, regulatory requirements, and internal policies across all project management activities

5. Strategic Planning & Innovation

• Contribute to the strategic planning and evolution of the project management function within SBO Medical
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, automation, and digital enablement to enhance team productivity and delivery quality
• Stay current with project management industry trends, emerging best practices, and innovations relevant to medical affairs and market access
• Support business development initiatives by demonstrating the value and scalability of the project management function

About you:

Experience & Expertise

Minimum 10+ years of project management experience in a multinational company (pharmaceutical, medical affairs, or medical communications is a plus)

Proven experience managing large, geographically distributed teams (30+ people preferred), including direct management of team leads across multiple countries

It is desired to have strong knowledge of Medical Affairs and Market Access activities, including budget management, congress and events planning, publication planning, and cross-functional medical deliverables

Demonstrated ability to build, scale, and lead operational capabilities including centers of excellence or shared service functions

Experience managing teams across multiple countries and cultures, with sensitivity to diverse working styles and regulatory environments

Proven track record of delivering operational excellence and cost savings through standardization and process optimization

Skills & Competencies

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization
• Proficiency in project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, hybrid) and associated tools and platforms
• Excellent organizational, planning, and prioritization skills in a complex, fast-paced global environment
• Demonstrated ability to drive change and continuous improvement across distributed teams
• Strong analytical mindset with experience establishing metrics, KPIs, and governance frameworks
• Collaborative leadership style with a focus on team development, coaching, and performance management

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MSc, or scientific discipline) preferred
• PMP or equivalent project management certification highly preferred
• Fluent in English (required); Spanish proficiency is a strong advantage given the Bogota team management responsibilities