About this role
Who we are ?
We are Pierre Fabre Laboratories, a global leader combining pharmaceutical expertise with dermo-cosmetics to support consumers and patients at every stage of their care journey.
Our portfolio includes several medical franchises and international brands such as Eau Thermale Avène, Ducray, A-Derma, Klorane, René Furterer, and Pierre Fabre Oral Care.
By joining us, you become part of a meaningful company where the human dimension is essential. You become a participant in the "We Care Movement," a movement that values excellence and innovation within passionate teams. Together, we push the boundaries of science to unite health and beauty for the benefit of all, because Every time we care for a single person, we make the whole world better.
Present in 120 countries with a team of over 10,000 employees, we are proud to create a scientific and human impact, today and tomorrow! If caring is at the heart of your values, join Pierre Fabre Laboratories and become a key player in the “We Care Movement".
Your mission
The Head of R&D plays a critical role for the future of the Company and the Pharma Business Unit. His main missions are:
R&D Strategic Leadership:
•Consistently with Group strategic plan, define and propose to senior leadership the R&D strategy for oncology, dermatology, and rare disease portfolios, and execute it accordingly.
•Oversee all phases of drug discovery, preclinical, and clinical development.
•Identify and evaluate new scientific opportunities, technologies, and partnerships. As such, leads the various R&D bodies such as PRG (Portfolio Group)
Pharma Strategic Leadership
•Core member of the Pharma Leadership Team, provide strategic input to the division strategic roadmap and delivery
Team Management:
•Lead, mentor, and develop the R&D Leadership team and multidisciplinary R&D teams (scientists, clinicians, regulatory, etc.). 250 FTE in R&D with year on year increase and 70 FTE in regulatory
•Foster a culture of innovation, scientific excellence, collaboration, cross-fertilization and high performance across the entire Medical Care team
Project Oversight:
•Ensure timely progression of projects from discovery to clinical trials and regulatory submission until registration
•Manage R&D budgets and resources efficiently
•Undertake a systematic and organized scientific and technologic watch
Stakeholder Engagement:
•Collaborate with internal teams (regulatory, commercial, medical affairs, business development etc) and external partners (academic institutions, CROs, biotech companies).
•Represent the company at scientific conferences, regulatory meetings, and with key opinion leaders
Compliance & Quality:
•Ensure all R&D activities comply with regulatory standards (FDA, EMA, etc.) and ethical guidelines.
Technology:
•Leverage technological culture to improve time from discovery to patient access
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Who you are ?
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Context and challenges
A first 5-year-plan will be completed in 2027 to rebuild Pierre Fabre R&D ambition and capability
A new R&D strategy was established with the 2022 plan, moving from immuno-oncology to targeted therapies in oncology with a newly created Scientific Advisory Board
Dermatology and rare diseases also identified as key therapeutic area but no R&D team dedicated until now
Objectives of the plan
Establishing external discovery partnerships (acquisition of external opportunities post clinical PoC) to encompass 4-6 clinical stage assets and 9-12 discovery programs by 2027
Building internal R&D capability with a new structure dedicated to clinical development, Ph1 to registration
Optimizing support for Mature/LCM portfolio
Building data and IT state-of-the-art infrastructure to meet the pharma industry standards
Enhancing innovation in culture, operation and processes
Next phase of the R&D transformation integrated within Pharma 2032 ambition
§ R&D and BD program to sustain Pierre Fabre Pharma growth and reach 3B€ in revenue by 2035
§ Enable 1 launch every 2 years from 2030
§ Lead an R&D programs, with partners, covering worldwide rights to enable transforming from a mainly EU pharma company to international ambition
§Increase the level of investment in Medical Care R&D inline with industry at 20% of revenue. Supporting a steady-state discovery program and rich clinical programs across oncology (includin hematology) dermatology and rare diseases
§ Build dermatology R&D capabilities covering immuno-dermatology
•Key stakeholders
The Head of RD position is critical for the long term Group and Medical Care strategy
He/she must effectively engage a wide range of stakeholders to ensure successful drug development and
commercialization, while maintaining scientific excellence and regulatory compliance.
Executive Leadership (Board of Directors, Group CEO, CEO BU) For strategic alignment, reporting, and resource allocation.
Business Development: For strategic search of new assets, their assessments and interactions with partners.
Clinical Development Teams Collaboration on clinical trial design, execution, and data analysis.
Regulatory Affairs Ensuring compliance and successful regulatory submissions.
Medical Affairs For scientific communication, publications, and KOL engagement.
Commercial/Marketing Teams: Aligning R&D for new product planning and assessment ahead of critical milestones and for decision on external assets
Manufacturing & Supply Chain: For process development, scale-up, and tech transfer.
Legal & IP Teams: Managing patents, contracts, and compliance issues.
Finance Department: Budget planning, forecasting, and resource management.
Human Resources: Talent acquisition, development, and retention.
Regulatory Agencies (FDA, EMA, etc.) For approvals, guidance, and compliance.
Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) & Scientific Advisors Expert input on research direction and clinical relevance.
Academic & Research Institutions: Collaborative research, clinical trials, and technology transfer.
Contract Research Organizations (CROs): Outsourced preclinical and clinical trial activities.
Biotech & Pharma Partners: Strategic alliances, licensing, and co-development.
Patient Advocacy Groups: Understanding patient needs, trial recruitment, and feedback.
Healthcare Professionals (Physicians, Pharmacists): Clinical insights and feedback on therapies.
Profile
•Scientific Excellence:
Deep understanding of disease biology, drug development processes, and clinical trial design
Deep experience in clinical development and track record of bringing new molecule to registration and reimbursement
•Strategic Vision:
Ability to set and drive long-term R&D strategies aligned with business goals
•Leadership:
Inspirational leader, skilled in talent development, team motivation, and change management
•Communication:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to engage with diverse stakeholders
•Innovation:
Track record of driving innovation and bringing new therapies to market
•Business Acumen:
Understanding and appreciating commercial landscape, competitive intelligence, and portfolio management
•Interpersonal skills
Excellent communication and negotiation skills
Leadership and the ability to influence senior internal and external stakeholders
Diplomacy and the ability to manage complex situations
Passion for advancing science and improving patient outcomes
High ethical standards and integrity
Adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced, evolving environment
•Organizational and leadership skills
Track-record of developing state of the art market access teams and team members, through strong change management approach
•Educational background
MD in a relevant field (oncology, dermatology, immunology, molecular biology, etc.). PhD, PharmD acceptable based on track-record
Proficiency in languages (English mandatory).
•Experience
15+ years of international R&D experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, with a strong track record in oncology, dermatology, and/or rare diseases.
Proven leadership experience in managing large, multidisciplinary teams and complex projects.
Experience with regulatory submissions (IND, NDA, MAA)* and interactions with health authorities.
At Pierre Fabre Laboratories, we believe that our greatest asset is our people.
We are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local law. The information collected by this application is solely to determine suitability for employment, verify identify, and maintain employment statistics on applicants. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. Please inform the company’s personnel representative if you need assistance completing this application or to otherwise participate in the application process. Thus, we commit to considering all applications equally, without fail.