Government Affairs & Reginal Public Affairs Head KSA

Job title: Strategic Partnership Head – Vaccines GCC

• Location: Dubai, UAE / Riyadh, KSA (Dual Location)
• Work Style: Hybrid | High travel between KSA and UAE

About the job

As Strategic Partnership Head – Vaccines GCC within our Vaccines team, you'll shape and execute high-impact external partnerships that accelerate growth, access, and public health impact across the Gulf region — acting as the strategic integrator between our Vaccines portfolio and key external stakeholders to create mutual value and long-term trust. Ready to get started?

Join the team protecting half a billion lives every year with next-gen science, mRNA innovation, and AI-driven breakthroughs. In Vaccines, you'll help advance prevention on a global scale - and shape the future of immunization across the GCC region.

About Sanofi:

We're an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people's lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people's lives.

Main responsibilities

• Define and own the Vaccines partnership strategy for the GCC region, aligned with global and regional Vaccines priorities, disease prevention agendas, and public health immunization goals.
• Build and manage a prioritized portfolio of strategic partnerships with governments, health authorities, global and local NGOs, multilateral organizations (WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, foundations), and academic institutions — ensuring partnerships move beyond sponsorship to co-creation and system impact.
• Lead cross-functional orchestration with Vaccines Franchise/Commercial, Medical Affairs, Market Access & HEOR, Public Affairs/Government Relations, and Supply & Operations to ensure one-voice, one-strategy toward external partners.
• Embed partnerships into brand, access, and country strategies, driving sustainable growth and long-term system sustainability across KSA and UAE.
• Position Sanofi as a long-term, credible partner in prevention and immunization, contributing to shaping narratives around vaccine confidence and health system resilience.
• Navigate complex, multi-stakeholder ecosystems across KSA and UAE, leveraging strong influence without formal authority to drive strategic outcomes.
• Develop and execute high-level negotiations with senior external stakeholders, ensuring partnerships create mutual value and contribute to public health impact at scale.

About you

• Extensive experience in one or more of the following areas: Vaccines/Pharmaceuticals/Healthcare, Public Health or Immunization Programs, Market Access/HEOR/Government Affairs, or Strategic Partnerships/Senior commercial leadership — with a demonstrated track record in senior, strategic roles.
• Proven experience working with government and public health institutions, multilateral organizations or NGOs, and complex, multi-stakeholder ecosystems.
• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Life Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy, Biomedical Sciences, Health Economics, Public Policy, or International Relations; post-graduate degree (MPH, MBA, MPA) is a strong advantage.
• Regional or international exposure strongly preferred, with deep understanding of GCC healthcare landscapes and regulatory environments.
• Exceptional negotiation skills, stakeholder management capabilities, and cross-functional leadership experience, with the ability to influence without formal authority.
• Excellent storytelling and executive communication skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and complexity at a senior level.
• Proficiency in English is mandatory; Arabic is highly preferred.
• Collaborative and externally oriented leadership style, comfortable operating at both strategic and executional levels.
• Willingness to travel extensively between KSA and UAE as required by the role.

Why choose us?

• Work at the forefront of AI-driven research, smart manufacturing, and groundbreaking mRNA platforms that are redefining the future of immunology across the GCC region.
• Help protect half a billion people every year, contributing to one of the largest global vaccination efforts in healthcare.
• Shape the future of prevention and immunization policy across the Gulf region, working directly with governments, health authorities, and international organizations.
• Lead strategic partnerships that create lasting impact on public health outcomes and health system resilience in KSA and UAE.
• Develop your career with access to mentoring, international mobility programs, and opportunities to grow across four continents.
• Be part of breakthrough moments like the world's first RSV toddler vaccine, contributing to innovations that make the impossible possible for millions.
• Join a workplace where diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core, with Employee Resource Groups and leadership programs that celebrate every voice.

Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.

Join Sanofi and step into a new era of science - where your growth can be just as transformative as the work we do. We invest in you to reach further, think faster, and do what's never-been-done-before. You'll help push boundaries, challenge convention, and build smarter solutions that reach the communities we serve. Ready to chase the miracles of science and improve people's lives? Let's Pursue Progress and 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, gender identity, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.