MES DevOps Manager

Role Overview:

• The MES DevOps Manager is responsible for leading the delivery, design/ build/ implementation and continuous enhancement of global end-to-end Manufacturing Execution System (MES) solutions at Sanofi. This role focuses on team mgt/leadership, technical mgt/expertise, and delivery excellence to ensure MES configurations meet the needs of Sanofi's manufacturing operations while adhering to quality, regulatory, and cybersecurity requirements. The manager will manage a team (functionally, technically and administratively)of MES DevOps Engineers and MBR developers, take the ownership/ leadership of technical delivery of the team to answer to the requirements of manufacturing sites and align with the expectations of the product owner (Werum Pas-X, Opstrakker) and capability manager.

Main MES Systems:

• Systems & Processes in Scope
• Werum PAS-X Product (Korber)
• Opstrakker (elogbook/eforms)
• Business Processes Covered:
• Master data management (items, user rights, equipment, locations, work orders)
• Master batch record design & approval (including workflows)
• Master batch record review & approval (by Exception)
• Templates for elogbook (Opstrakker)
• Production execution
• Weighing & Dispensing
• Communication to equipment or SCADA systems
• Equipment management
• Material flow management
• Traceability / Genealogy
• Labelling
• Reporting
• Interface with ERP, quality, logistics & shopfloor systems (LIMS, Documentation, Deviation management, Serialization, eOEE)

Main Responsibilities:

• Team Leadership and Management:
• Lead and manage a team of MES DevOps Engineers and MBR developers
• Facilitate onboarding and integration of team members as they join the organization
• Drive knowledge building and skill development within the team. Foster a culture of continuous learning and best practice sharing among team members
• Ensure team members are prepared and able to travel to Sanofi industrial sites globally (Europe, NA, Asia) where MES is in use. And ensure team members are developing a closed partnerships with sites users & business system owners to guarantee a full understanding of business requirements, stakes, challenges, constraints & ultimately build efficient solutions
• Managing the priorities of the team, Facilitating resource allocation and management for various MES projects across Digital Manufacturing & Supply
• Taking the ownership/ leadership of technical delivery of the team, ensuring knowledge transfer, and contributing to operational excellence to answer to the requirements of manufacturing sites and align with the expectations of the product owner (Werum Pas-X, Opstrakker) and capability manager.
• Technical Expertise and Team Development:
• Assess and enhance the technical capabilities of the team
• Identify skill gaps and implement targeted training and development programs
• Establish mentoring relationships to accelerate team members' growth and expertise
• Create a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and problem-solving
• Ensure the team stays current with evolving MES technologies and industry best practices
• Develop leadership & accountability at each individual level
• Technical Configuration and Solution Design:
• Oversee the design and build of MES configurations, ensuring alignment with standard market solutions and Sanofi best practices
• Coordinate / align with expectations of Product Owner (Werum Pas-X, Opstrakker) to support configuration, implementation, and deployment projects
• Guide the team in developing MBRs, Process Instructions, blocks, and templates according to functional specifications
• Establish configuration strategies that leverage market solutions and align with industry best practices and Ensure configurations align with the Core model and operational excellence standards
• Delivery and Quality of Services:
• Drive timely and high-quality delivery of configuration projects while maintaining robust, cost-effective solutions
• Establish and maintain delivery frameworks that ensure consistent, predictable outcomes
• Implement delivery metrics and KPIs to track performance, quality of service, and team productivity
• Lead risk mitigation strategies to address potential delivery challenges proactively
• Coordinate cross-functional implementation activities to ensure smooth deployment of configurations across different industrial sites
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements (GxP, Data Privacy, SOX, etc.)
• Establish delivery governance to maintain transparency and accountability throughout the delivery lifecycle
• Oversee the implementation of various MES projects, including product builds and data foundations, maintaining accountability for the results delivered by MES DevOps Engineers and MBR developers
• Work closely with product owners and across MES teams to develop and implement strategies supporting product build and configuration, delivery, implementation projects
• Ensuring optimal resource allocation and project outcomes

Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement:

• Drive the implementation of best practices in MES configuration and development
• Identify opportunities for process optimization and efficiency improvements
• Lead initiatives to streamline workflows and enhance productivity
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align MES configuration with broader organizational goals
• Promote a culture of quality and continuous improvement within the team and across projects
• Develop culture of empowerment, ownership, Thoughtful risk taking
• Stakeholder Management:
• Collaborate with MES Product Owner, Service manager, capability manager and lifecycle manager and users/ manufacturing sites
• Work with Enterprise Architects, solution architects, Quality and the Cybersecurity team to review & qualify configuration designs
• Communicate effectively with Digital management teams, staff, and business stakeholders
• Oversee trainings & knowledge transfer and best practice sharing between the team and sites
• Ensure the team provides effective functional & technical support throughout the solution lifecycle
• Business Alignment and Innovation:
• Analyze business requirements for various processes, providing direction to challenge, consolidate, and develop solutions expandable to multi-business unit use cases
• Develop strategies to maximize customer satisfaction while minimizing build and maintenance costs and risks
• Guide the strategic evaluation of configuration options and assess/manage associated risks
• Remain current on technology trends and benchmark with other companies to bring innovative inputs to solutions
• Lead initiatives to evolve GxP Validation approaches to simplify and adapt to next-generation technologies

Required Skills and Qualifications:

Experience & Knowledge:

• 12+ years of work experience in Digital Manufacturing domain, with 8+ years of experience in MES specifically Werum Pas-X Product (Korber) and Opstrakker (elogbook/ eforms)
• Strong team management experience with demonstrated success in leading and developing technical teams
• Proven track record of successful delivery of complex technical solutions in regulated environments
• Demonstrated experience in managing delivery timelines, resources, and quality simultaneously
• Experience in multicultural, multilanguage environments and matrixed organizations
• Broad knowledge of manufacturing processes in pharmaceutical industrial plants
• Strong MES experience: market standards knowledge (solutions, technologies, integration, architecture)
• Experience & understanding of core product/model concept

Technical Skills:

• Expertise in MES solutions: Werum Pas-X (Korber) and Opstrakker (elogbook/ eforms)
• Strong knowledge of Manufacturing Execution Systems, including Master Batch Record and Review by Exception business processes
• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes in pharmaceutical plants
• Strong knowledge of pharma industry regulatory context (GxP)
• Knowledge of solution architecture, integration, and infrastructure technologies
• Knowledge of Automation layer (SCADA, DCS, PLCs, industrial protocols)
• Knowledge of scripting (VB etc.) is a plus but not required

Soft Skills:

• Strong leadership capabilities with proven ability to inspire and develop teams
• High degree of accountability and proactive problem-solving mindset
• Results-oriented approach with strong focus on delivery excellence
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships across all organizational levels
• Customer-centric approach with focus on delivering value
• Collaborative team leader & player with experience in matrix organizations
• Change management expertise and ability to adapt to dynamic environments
• Strategic thinking with strong decision-making abilities
• Agile methodology practitioner
• Ability to manage competing priorities and resilience to deliver under pressure

Education:

• Engineering degree or Master's in Computer Science or related field (or equivalent experience)
• MBA or equivalent business management qualification is a plus

Language:

• Fluency in English, other languages are a plus

Working Environment:

• Occasional travel requirement to manufacturing sites in Europe / North America/ Asia
• Global, matrix organization environment
• Must be able to work effectively across different time zones and cultures