Public Affairs Lead- National Vaccines

Reference No : R2866454

Position Title: Public Affairs Lead - National Vaccines

Department: Public Affairs Canada

Location: Toronto, Canada (remote)

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.

About the job

Join the team transforming care for people with immune challenges, rare diseases, cancers, and neurological conditions. In Specialty Care, you’ll help deliver breakthrough treatments that bring hope to patients with some of the highest unmet needs.

This is a newly created, high-impact position that brings together two critical public affairs functions under a single, integrated mandate dedicated exclusively to Sanofi's vaccines portfolio in Canada. As Public Affairs Lead -National Vaccines you will serve simultaneously as Sanofi Canada's primary relationship owner and strategist for Government relations and national patient advocacy groups and health coalitions specific to vaccines. This dual mandate reflects Sanofi's recognition that advancing vaccine confidence and immunization policy in Canada requires a unified, coordinated approach — one that connects the voices of patients and communities directly to the policy decisions that shape access to vaccines across the country.

Sitting within the Market Access & Public Affairs Canada team and reporting to the Head of Market Access & Public Affairs Canada, this role spans the full breadth of Sanofi's vaccines portfolio, including influenza, RSV/Beyfortus, meningococcal, pediatric, and adult and life-course immunization. You will be the architect of Sanofi Canada's external engagement strategy for vaccines — designing and executing integrated stakeholder engagement plans, building trusted long-term partnerships with patient organizations, and leading immunization policy advocacy efforts with federal and provincial health authorities in collaboration with provincial public affairs leads.

This is a role for a bold, strategic, and relationship-driven public affairs professional who is passionate about the power of vaccines to protect lives. You will bring together patient organizations, medical societies, government bodies, and cross-industry coalitions around shared immunization goals, and you will provide strategic counsel that shapes how Sanofi Canada shows up in the national immunization policy landscape. The successful candidate will embody Sanofi's values — Aim Higher, Act for Patients, Be Bold, and Lead Together — and will thrive in a dynamic, cross-functional environment where external impact and internal collaboration go hand in hand.

Main responsibilities:

Pillar 1 - Patient organizations and stakeholder engagement

• As the primary relationship owner for national patient organizations, this role with develop and lead the national patient organization engagement strategy for Sanofi's vaccines portfolio, building trusted, long-term partnerships with patient advocacy groups (PAGs), disease-specific associations, and health coalitions across Canada.

• Design and execute integrated stakeholder engagement plans (SEPs) aligned to vaccine confidence, disease awareness, and immunization uptake objectives, ensuring engagement activities are purposeful, measurable, and grounded in shared value with external partners.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams — including Medical, Market Access, Commercial, Regulatory, and Communications — to ensure that patient insights and community perspectives meaningfully inform brand strategy, launch readiness, and policy positions.

• Lead the development of unbranded patient-facing educational resources and disease awareness campaigns in partnership with PAGs, supporting informed decision-making and strengthening public trust in immunization.

• Represent Sanofi at national patient organization forums, immunization coalitions such as Immunize Canada, and multi-stakeholder summits, positioning Sanofi as a credible, values-driven partner in Canada's public health ecosystem.

• Ensure all PAG engagements are conducted in full compliance with Sanofi's Global Operating Procedures (GOPs), the Interactions with Patients, Patient Advocates & PAGs policy, and all applicable Canadian regulations and industry codes of conduct.

• Track and report on stakeholder engagement key performance indicators, including stakeholder behavior change, coalition creation, favorable media and digital coverage, and the receptivity of the policy environment to Sanofi's immunization priorities.

Pillar 2 - Government relations and immunization policy

• Develop and execute the national government relations strategy for Sanofi's vaccines portfolio, engaging federal and provincial/territorial health authorities, to advance Sanofi's immunization agenda across Canada. Engagement and lobbying with legislators and political offices in cooperation with the One-Sanofi Regional Public Affairs Lead.

• Supports the Regional Public Affairs Lead for engagement in Quebec with RAMQ/Drug Plan.

• Build and maintain productive, trust-based relationships with key government stakeholders, including Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) provincial and territorial Chief Medical Officers of Health, relevant parliamentary committees and health ministries.

• Monitor, analyze, and respond to the evolving Canadian immunization policy landscape, including NACI recommendations (led by medical) provincial immunization schedules, and public funding decisions such as the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program and provincial formulary listings.

• Lead policy advocacy efforts to support life-course immunization, strengthen vaccine confidence, and advance the inclusion of Sanofi vaccines in publicly funded immunization programs at the federal and provincial/territorial levels.

• Develop evidence-based policy briefs, position papers, and government submissions that articulate the public health value of Sanofi's vaccines and advance the company's immunization policy priorities in a credible and transparent manner.

• Engage with trade associations including Innovative Medicines Canada and BIOTECanada, and participate in cross-industry coalitions to amplify shared immunization policy priorities and strengthen the collective voice of the industry on vaccine access and confidence.

• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments that may impact vaccine access, pricing, or procurement, and provide timely strategic intelligence and analysis to internal stakeholders across the Market Access & Public Affairs and Vaccines Business Unit teams.

• Support vaccines pricing, contracting and business operations team, contributing a public affairs perspective to competitive positioning.

• Lead Sanofi Toronto Campus’ engagements with Municipal Affairs and the City of Toronto.

• Supports the Regional Public Affairs Lead in provincial and federal political engagement related to the Sanofi Toronto Campus.

Pillar 3 - Cross-functional integration and strategic leadership

• Serve as the vaccines public affairs lead within the Canadian Market Access & Public Affairs team, contributing to integrated brand plans, launch readiness activities, and the annual Corporate Affairs Plan for Canada.

• Represents Sanofi Public Affairs on the Vaccines Leadership Team and on Brand Teams

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive stakeholder mapping and landscape analysis for the Canadian vaccines ecosystem, providing the organization with a clear, current picture of the external environment, key influencers, and emerging risks and opportunities.

• Lead the design and execution of multi-stakeholder coalitions that bring together patient organizations, medical societies, government bodies, and healthcare professionals around shared immunization goals, fostering durable alliances that extend beyond any single product or campaign.

• Provide strategic counsel to the Head of Market Access & Public Affairs Canada and the Vaccines Business Unit leadership on external environment trends, policy risks, stakeholder dynamics, and opportunities to advance Sanofi's position as a trusted partner in Canadian public health.

• Contribute to global and MCO public affairs initiatives, sharing Canadian best practices and aligning with international vaccine confidence strategies, including Sanofi's global life-course immunization agenda.

• Manage agency partners, external consultants, and project budgets associated with public affairs activities, ensuring resources are deployed effectively and in alignment with strategic priorities.

• Ensure full compliance with Sanofi's Code of Ethics, anti-corruption policies, and all applicable Canadian lobbying regulations, including the federal Lobbying Act and relevant provincial equivalents.

About you

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Public Affairs, Political Science, Health Policy, Life Sciences, Communications, or a related field; an advanced degree (Master's or equivalent) is preferred.

• Minimum 7 to 10 years of Progressive experience in public affairs, government relations, or stakeholder engagement within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or broader health sector.

• Demonstrated experience engaging with Canadian federal and provincial health authorities, including Health Canada, PHAC, and provincial Ministries of Health.

• Proven track record of building and managing meaningful, long-term relationships with patient advocacy groups and health coalitions in Canada.

• Deep knowledge of the Canadian immunization policy landscape, including NACI advisory processes, provincial and territorial immunization programs, and public funding mechanisms.

• Experience developing and executing stakeholder engagement plans (SEPs) and policy advocacy strategies that deliver measurable outcomes.

• Strong understanding of Canadian lobbying regulations and pharmaceutical industry codes of conduct, including Innovative Medicines Canada's Code of Ethical Practices.

• Bilingual proficiency in English and French is preferred

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in vaccines, infectious disease, or respiratory health public affairs.

• Existing relationships with key Canadian patient organizations and government stakeholders in the immunization and public health space.

• Familiarity with Sanofi's Integrated Patient Engagement (IPE) framework and Global Operating Procedures governing interactions with patients, patient advocates, and PAGs.

What we offer

Landscape, advance vaccine confidence, and contribute to a public health mission that protects Canadians at every stage of life.

• A collaborative, cross-functional environment within Sanofi's Market Access & Public Affairs Canada team, with strong connections to global and MCO public affairs networks.

• Competitive total compensation and comprehensive benefits, aligned with Sanofi's global talent framework and Canada-specific programs.

• Meaningful career development opportunities, including access to Sanofi's global learning platforms, Skills Power framework, and international public affairs communities of practice.

• Flexible hybrid work arrangements in line with Sanofi Canada's Global Hybrid Work Policy and North America Supplement, supporting work-life integration and personal well-being.

AI Usage 

"Artificial Intelligence” refers to any systems that use automated processes, including algorithms and machine learning, to analyze data and make predictions, inferences, decisions, or recommendations without direct human involvement. These systems may process personal information to  identify patterns, improve services, or support decision-making. The Company may use Artificial Intelligence for purposes including, but not limited to, resume screening and hiring, scheduling interviews or meetings, conducting surveys, matching skills with potential job openings, interview scoring, ensuring compliance with regulations applicable to our industry, and activities related to performance evaluation. Information collected and processed by the Company’s Artificial Intelligence systems may include the personal information detailed above and calendar availability. It excludes the information collected and processed for monitoring purposes. You should contact Human Resources if you have a question or concern  regarding your personal information. You can also contact Canada’s Privacy Officer via Sanofi’s data subject request portal,   Data Subject Rights Webform .  The Data Subject Rights Webform can also be used to request access or correction of your personal information and file a complaint. 

Sanofi diversity commitment

Sanofi is an equal opportunity employer committed to culture, inclusion, and experience. Our goal is to attract, develop and retain highly talented employees, allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified applicants. Accommodations for persons with disabilities required during the recruitment process are available upon request. ​

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How to apply

If you are inspired by the opportunity to lead at the intersection of patient advocacy and government relations — and to make a meaningful difference in Canada's immunization landscape — we encourage you to apply. Please submit your application, including your resume and a cover letter, through Sanofi's official careers portal at sanofi.com/careers. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Sanofi is committed to a fair and transparent recruitment process and does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies.

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All compensation will be determined commensurate with demonstrated experience. Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs, and additional benefits information can be found here.

Toute compensation sera déterminée en fonction de l'expérience démontrée. Les employés peuvent être admissibles à participer aux programmes d'avantages sociaux de l'entreprise. Des informations supplémentaires sur les avantages sociaux peuvent être trouvées ici.