M&S People Business Partner - Greater China
Position Overview
The People Business Partner (PBP) for Manufacturing & Supply (M&S) Greater China serves as a strategic P&C leader and trusted advisor to the M&S leadership team across Greater China. This role is pivotal in driving Sanofi's landmark InsuLINK investment — the company's largest-ever single investment in China — while orchestrating the people agenda across 3 mature manufacturing sites (Suzhou, Hangzhou, Beijing) and 1 greenfield IFB site (Beijing), as well as Greater China Supply Chain and Quality functions.
Reporting to the Global Head of People, Manufacturing & Supply , this role operates in a complex matrixed environment, partnering with China P&C, site heads, Global SCM, and Global Quality to deliver transformational people outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Business Partnership
Serve as the primary P&C strategic advisor to M&S Greater China leadership (L4+), translating business strategy into actionable people plans
Partner with Global M&S PBP Head and China P&C leadership to align people strategies with M&S modernization and "China for Global" manufacturing transformation
Provide expert P&C counsel on complex, multi-site organizational challenges spanning distinct lifecycle stages (mature operations + greenfield)
Contribute market intelligence and local business insights to global P&C CoE program design
2. Organizational Design & Transformation
Lead organizational design and right-sizing initiatives across all M&S Greater China sites in alignment with TOM evolution
Drive change management for M&S modernization programs, including manufacturing digitalization and IFB scale-up
Shape and execute P&C plans for major business transformations (e.g., InsuLINK greenfield launch, supply chain restructuring)
Anticipate future capability needs and provide expert consultation on optimal organizational structures
3. Talent Strategy & Workforce Planning
Develop and execute strategic workforce planning across M&S Greater China, covering IFB scale-up and manufacturing digitalization talent requirements
Build and maintain talent pipelines for critical M&S roles, partnering with Talent Acquisition for proactive talent mapping
Drive talent density initiatives: identify gaps, activate internal mobility, optimize succession plans for critical positions (L4+)
Collaborate with Talent & Learning CoE to design capability-building programs aligned with M&S transformation needs
Advise senior leaders on build/buy/borrow talent strategies
4. Leadership Coaching & Development
Coach and develop M&S site heads and functional leaders on leadership effectiveness, Sanofi behaviors, and culture
Facilitate high-impact people decisions with data-driven insights and strategic recommendations
Support leadership team development across multi-site, multi-cultural manufacturing environment
Lead and develop a team of 4 direct reports , ensuring consistent P&C delivery across all sites
5. Performance & Rewards Management
Guide M&S leaders through performance management cycles, calibration processes, and incentivization frameworks
Partner with Rewards & Performance CoE to ensure competitive and equitable compensation structures across manufacturing sites
Drive performance culture aligned with Sanofi's Play to Win strategy
6. Compliance & Employee Relations
Ensure full compliance with China regulatory requirements (NMPA) and international standards (FDA, EMA, PMDA, TGA) from a people and labor perspective
Navigate complex employee relations matters across multi-site manufacturing operations
Ensure all P&C practices align with China labor law and Sanofi global standards
Manage labor relations and social compliance across Greater China M&S sites
Required Qualifications
Experience
15+ years of Progressive HR/P&C experience
8+ years as Senior PBP or HR Director in pharma, biologics, or high-end manufacturing environments
5+ years managing P&C teams with proven leadership capability
Demonstrated track record of strategic partnership with country/site leadership (L4+) and global functional leaders (Quality, Operations, Supply Chain)
Proven experience in transformation and change management in complex, matrixed organizations
Deep understanding of China regulatory environment and manufacturing strategy
Skills & Competencies
Strategic Thinking (Advanced): Designs scalable, systemic solutions; builds strategic talent pipelines and ecosystem partnerships
Business Partnership (Advanced): Trusted advisor to senior leaders; translates business needs into P&C strategies
Workforce Planning (Advanced): Orchestrates talent development across complex, multi-site operations
Organizational Design (Advanced): Shapes operating models for transformation and growth
Change Management (Advanced): Leads people through complex organizational transitions
Data & Insights (Experienced): Leverages people analytics for strategic decision-making
Cross-Cultural Management (Advanced): Navigates global matrix with local execution capability
Stakeholder Management (Advanced): Manages complex stakeholder landscape across global and local functions
Education
Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field preferred
Language
Bilingual: Mandarin and English (both written and spoken) required
Preferred Qualifications
Direct manufacturing site HR experience (greenfield launch, product lifecycle, or major capital investment)
Experience with global supply chain or "China for Global" manufacturing models
International assignment or global mobility experience
Exposure to biologics or insulin manufacturing environments
Experience navigating multi-regulatory environments (FDA, EMA, NMPA concurrently)
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