UX Designer for Innovative User Experiences in the Pharmaceutical Industry - Paris Based

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer, Pharmaceutical Industry Innovations Company: Collective (on behalf of Sanofi) Location: Paris, France Job Type: CONTRACTOR Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design Date Posted: 2025-12-10 Experience Level: 5-10 years Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days on-site, 2 days remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on driving innovation within the pharmaceutical sector by designing user-centric digital solutions that automate processes and enhance employee productivity and quality of life.
• It requires a strong blend of creative design skills and strategic thinking to translate complex user needs and business objectives into intuitive and impactful user experiences.
• The position involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including research and design strategy, to ensure alignment and successful implementation of design initiatives.
• Emphasis is placed on maintaining and contributing to a robust design system to ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability of design outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the original listing is for a UX Designer, the description and requirements strongly indicate a Senior level, evidenced by the emphasis on "innovative," "groundbreaking initiatives," and the expected level of collaboration and contribution to design systems. The "5-10 years" AI-generated experience level aligns with this. The role's focus on "automating processes" and "enhancing productivity" within R&D suggests a strong emphasis on operational efficiency and internal tools, rather than purely customer-facing products.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of user-centric digital solutions for Sanofi's R&D Accelerator, focusing on pharmaceutical industry challenges.
• Collaborate closely with UX researchers to deeply understand user problems, motivations, and workflows within the R&D environment.
• Partner with design strategists to ensure all UX designs are aligned with overarching business goals and scientific objectives.
• Contribute significantly to the development, maintenance, and evolution of a comprehensive design system to ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability across all digital products.
• Translate complex user requirements and strategic objectives into tangible design artifacts, including wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups, effectively communicating design concepts to stakeholders.
• Champion design thinking and user-centered methodologies throughout the product development lifecycle, advocating for the end-user.
• Facilitate design workshops and brainstorming sessions with cross-functional teams to gather insights and foster collaborative problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities have been expanded to reflect the senior nature of the role and its specific application within a pharmaceutical R&D context. Emphasis is placed on strategic collaboration, design system contribution, and the creation of tangible design artifacts, aligning with typical Senior UX Designer expectations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design (e.g., Interaction Design, Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction), Psychology, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior UX Designer role. Relevant certifications in UX or Design Thinking can be considered.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5-10 years of proven professional experience as a UX Designer, with a demonstrable track record of designing and launching successful digital products.
• Extensive experience in creating wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.
• Proven experience in contributing to and maintaining design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability.
• Hands-on experience with user research methodologies and translating research findings into actionable design decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, researchers, and strategists.

Required Skills:

• Advanced UX Design: Deep expertise in user experience design principles, interaction design, and information architecture.
• Prototyping & Wireframing: Proficiency in creating detailed wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes.
• Design System Contribution: Experience in building, maintaining, and advocating for design systems.
• Figma Proficiency: Expert-level command of Figma for design creation, prototyping, and collaboration.
• User-Centric Design Methodologies: Strong understanding and application of design thinking, user-centered design, and agile development processes.
• Collaboration & Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; ability to articulate design rationale clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Cross-Functional Teamwork: Proven ability to collaborate effectively with researchers, strategists, product managers, and engineers.
• English Fluency: Professional fluency in English.

Preferred Skills:

• Pharmaceutical/R&D Industry Experience: Familiarity with the unique challenges, workflows, and regulatory considerations within the pharmaceutical or broader life sciences R&D sector.
• French Language Proficiency: A plus for enhanced communication within the Paris-based team.
• Experience with Internal Tools/Enterprise Software: Designing complex internal tools or enterprise-level applications.
• Data Visualization Design: Experience in designing dashboards and data visualization interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Skills" have been categorized and expanded based on the "AI_key_skills" and the responsibilities outlined in the job description, emphasizing the practical application of these skills in a senior role. Preferred skills have been added to provide a more complete picture of an ideal candidate, particularly concerning industry-specific knowledge.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive and well-organized online portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 distinct projects that demonstrate senior-level UX design expertise.
• Projects should highlight the end-to-end design process, from initial research and ideation to final execution and iteration.
• Demonstrate clear articulation of design challenges, user problems, and the strategic thinking behind proposed solutions.
• Include examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups, with explanations of their purpose and impact.
• Showcase contributions to or creation of design systems, including examples of reusable components and style guides.
• Quantifiable results or impact metrics where possible, demonstrating the effectiveness of the designed solutions (e.g., improved task completion rates, reduced error rates, increased user adoption).

Process Documentation:

• For each portfolio project, clearly document the design methodology employed (e.g., Design Thinking, Lean UX).
• Detail the user research methods utilized and how insights were synthesized.
• Explain the rationale behind key design decisions and trade-offs made during the process.
• Illustrate how collaboration with cross-functional teams was managed.
• Provide context on the tools and technologies used in the design and prototyping phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is tailored to the specific needs of a UX design role, emphasizing the visual and process-oriented nature of a portfolio. The "Process Documentation" aspect is crucial for a senior role, as it demonstrates strategic thinking and methodological rigor, not just visual output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: €60,000 - €85,000 per year (gross annual salary), potentially higher based on extensive experience and specific project scope.
• Methodology: This estimate is based on market research for Senior UX Designers in Paris, France, considering the hybrid work model, the contract nature of the role, and the specialized industry (pharmaceutical R&D). Freelance rates can vary significantly, but this range reflects a competitive offering for a contractor with 5-10 years of experience.

Benefits:

• For Contractors (as per typical industry standards):
  • Competitive hourly or daily rate structure.
  • Potential for project extension based on performance and business needs.
  • Opportunity to work on high-impact, innovative projects within a leading pharmaceutical company.
  • Exposure to cutting-edge R&D initiatives and advanced design challenges.
  • Flexible hybrid work arrangement (3 days on-site, 2 days remote).
  • Professional development opportunities through project exposure and team collaboration.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, approximately 35-40 hours per week. The specific schedule can be discussed, but the hybrid model requires 3 days per week on-site in Paris.

📝 Enhancement Note: Since this is a contractor role, traditional benefits like health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans are typically not included and are the responsibility of the contractor. The salary range is an estimate for Paris, France, for a senior-level contractor.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Pharmaceutical / Healthcare Technology Company Size: Collective is a platform connecting companies with freelance talent. Sanofi, the client, is a large, global pharmaceutical company. The R&D Accelerator team within Sanofi is likely a dynamic, innovation-focused unit. Founded: Sanofi was founded in 1973. Collective was founded in 2020.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer will be part of Sanofi's R&D Accelerator design team, a specialized unit focused on innovation.
• This team likely operates with a lean, agile structure, fostering close collaboration between designers, researchers, strategists, and R&D professionals.
• Reporting will likely be to a Design Lead or Head of Design within the Accelerator, with day-to-day collaboration across various project teams and stakeholders.

Methodology:

• The team operates with a strong emphasis on Design Thinking and User-Centric Methodologies, aiming to solve complex problems through empathetic design.
• Emphasis on Agile Development principles to iterate quickly and deliver value incrementally.
• Data-Driven Design: Utilizing user research and analytics to inform design decisions and measure impact.
• Collaborative Design Process: Encouraging open communication, constructive feedback, and shared ownership of design outcomes.

Company Website: Collective Work, Sanofi

📝 Enhancement Note: Context is provided about both Collective (as the hiring platform) and Sanofi (the client), highlighting the likely culture of innovation and R&D focus. The team structure and methodology are inferred based on the role's description and industry best practices for innovation hubs.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor

• This role is positioned as a Senior UX Designer, indicating a high level of autonomy and expertise. The focus is on leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers (if any), and influencing product strategy through design.

Reporting Structure:

• The Senior UX Designer will report to a Design Lead or Manager within Sanofi's R&D Accelerator.
• They will work closely with Product Managers, UX Researchers, Data Scientists, and R&D Scientists, forming cross-functional project teams.

Operations Impact:

• The primary impact will be on improving the efficiency, productivity, and quality of work for Sanofi's R&D personnel through intuitive and effective digital tools.
• Successful UX designs can accelerate research timelines, reduce errors, and enhance the overall user experience of critical R&D software, directly contributing to Sanofi's innovation pipeline and scientific output.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX for complex scientific/R&D environments or specific therapeutic areas.
• Leadership: Transition into a Lead UX Designer role, managing a small team or a significant product area.
• Mentorship: Guide and mentor junior UX designers within the Accelerator.
• Strategic Influence: Play a more significant role in shaping the product roadmap and design strategy for Sanofi's R&D initiatives.
• Expanding Skillset: Gain exposure to areas like AI/ML in R&D, advanced data visualization, or digital transformation within pharma.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis focuses on the career trajectory and impact specific to a Senior UX Designer role within a large, innovative organization like Sanofi, emphasizing growth within the design discipline and potential leadership paths.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, requiring 3 days per week in the Sanofi office located in the 17th district of Paris. Office Location(s): Paris, France (17th district). Specific office details will be provided upon engagement.

Workspace Context:

• The on-site work environment will likely be a modern, collaborative office space designed to foster innovation and teamwork within Sanofi's R&D Accelerator.
• Access to standard office technology, meeting rooms, and collaborative tools will be provided.
• Opportunities to interact with a diverse team of researchers, designers, strategists, and scientists, promoting cross-pollination of ideas.
• The remote work component allows for focused individual work and flexibility.

Work Schedule:

• The role is a contractor position, implying a focus on project delivery within agreed-upon timelines. Standard full-time hours (approx. 35-40 per week) are expected. The hybrid schedule requires specific days on-site, with the remaining days worked remotely.

📝 Enhancement Note: Details about the hybrid model and the Paris location are integrated. The description of the workspace focuses on the collaborative and innovative environment expected within an R&D Accelerator.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with Collective or Sanofi HR to assess basic qualifications, availability, and interest.
• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A deeper dive into your portfolio with members of the Sanofi design team. Expect to walk through 1-2 key projects, explaining your process, rationale, and impact. This will likely include questions about your experience with Figma, design systems, and user-centered methodologies.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration Interview: A session with potential collaborators (e.g., researchers, product managers, R&D leads) to assess your communication, teamwork, and ability to integrate design into complex R&D workflows.
• Final Interview/Offer: A final discussion, potentially with a senior leader, to confirm fit and extend an offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your senior-level UX skills, particularly those involving complex problem-solving, process automation, or innovation within enterprise/scientific contexts.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the challenge, your role, the process, the solutions you designed, and the outcomes achieved (quantify where possible).
• Highlight Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to demonstrate your Figma skills, perhaps by showing component usage, prototyping capabilities, or collaboration features.
• Emphasize Collaboration: Showcase how you worked with researchers and strategists, and how you translated their input into your designs.
• Design System Contribution: If applicable, clearly present your contributions to design systems, including specific examples of components or patterns you developed or maintained.
• Tailor to Pharma R&D: If possible, include projects that hint at understanding complex domains or improving workflow efficiency, as this is directly relevant to the role.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for potential design exercises or case studies, which might involve analyzing a given problem scenario within R&D and proposing UX solutions.
• Focus on demonstrating your structured problem-solving approach, your ability to ask clarifying questions, and your rationale for design decisions, rather than just the final visual output.
• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, as if presenting to a mixed audience of designers and non-designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice tailored to a Senior UX Designer role, focusing heavily on portfolio presentation and the specific context of R&D within the pharmaceutical industry.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Mandatory and expected to be used at an expert level for all design, prototyping, and collaboration tasks.
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other advanced prototyping tools may be beneficial.
• Wireframing Tools: Proficiency in tools used for early-stage conceptualization.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) can be advantageous for understanding user behavior and measuring design impact.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the core UX design responsibilities but understanding how designs integrate with underlying systems (e.g., CRMs for sales/marketing tools, or internal workflow automation platforms) can be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary focus is on Figma, as explicitly stated in the requirements. Other tools are listed as potentially beneficial, reflecting a typical UX designer's toolkit and the need to understand broader system integrations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A core value, driving the pursuit of novel solutions to complex pharmaceutical R&D challenges.
• User-Centricity: Placing the needs and experiences of R&D professionals at the forefront of all design decisions.
• Collaboration: Fostering a team environment where open communication, shared ideas, and mutual support are paramount.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing research and analytics to inform and validate design strategies.
• Efficiency & Impact: A commitment to designing solutions that not only meet user needs but also significantly improve productivity and accelerate scientific progress.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Design is seen as an integral part of the R&D process, requiring seamless collaboration with researchers, strategists, scientists, and engineers.
• Iterative Feedback: A culture that encourages regular feedback loops and iterative design improvements.
• Knowledge Sharing: Active participation in sharing design insights, best practices, and learnings across the team and wider organization.
• Agile & Adaptable: Embracing flexibility and the ability to adapt to evolving project requirements and priorities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values and collaboration style are inferred from the role's description, the industry (pharma R&D), and the focus on innovation and user-centricity. These are crucial for candidates to understand how to best integrate into the team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Pharmaceutical R&D: Designing for highly specialized scientific workflows and complex data sets requires deep domain understanding and careful attention to detail.
• Balancing Innovation with Usability: Creating cutting-edge solutions while ensuring they are intuitive and easy for busy researchers to adopt and use.
• Stakeholder Management: Navigating diverse stakeholder needs and priorities within a large, established organization like Sanofi.
• Integration with Legacy Systems: Potentially needing to design solutions that integrate with or complement existing, perhaps older, R&D systems.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Domain Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical research processes, drug discovery pipelines, and related scientific disciplines.
• Advanced UX Techniques: Exploring and applying cutting-edge UX methodologies relevant to scientific and enterprise software.
• Design System Mastery: Deepening expertise in the principles and practices of scalable design systems.
• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Opportunities to learn from experts in research, data science, and various scientific fields.
• Impactful Projects: Working on projects that have a direct and significant impact on accelerating medical breakthroughs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are framed specifically for a Senior UX Designer in the pharmaceutical R&D context, highlighting both the complexities and the unique learning potential of the role.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a solution for a complex workflow or domain. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on demonstrating structured problem-solving, research, and impact).
• "How do you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints, especially in a regulated industry like pharmaceuticals?" (Assess strategic thinking and pragmatism).
• "Walk us through your contribution to a design system. What principles did you follow, and how did you ensure its adoption?" (Evaluate understanding of design systems and collaboration).
• "How do you approach user research for highly specialized user groups, such as R&D scientists?" (Gauge understanding of tailored research methods).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working in the pharmaceutical industry, specifically within R&D innovation?" (Assess genuine interest and alignment with Sanofi's mission).
• "How do you foster collaboration with researchers and engineers who may have different priorities or technical backgrounds?" (Evaluate teamwork and communication skills).
• "Describe your experience with hybrid work models. How do you ensure effective collaboration and productivity in such an environment?" (Assess adaptability and remote work best practices).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Project Selection: Choose 1-2 projects that best represent your senior capabilities and relevance to R&D/enterprise tools. Prioritize projects with clear problem statements, a well-defined process, and measurable outcomes.
• Narrative Flow: Structure your presentation like a story: Problem -> Your Role -> Process & Solutions -> Outcomes & Learnings.
• Visual Clarity: Use high-quality visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) and clear annotations.
• Figma Demonstration: Be prepared to show specific Figma features you used, such as component libraries, auto layout, prototyping flows, or collaboration features.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., % improvement in task completion, reduction in errors, user satisfaction scores).
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to be engaging and informative without being overly lengthy.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions and preparation strategies are tailored to assess senior-level UX design skills, domain interest, and collaborative capabilities within the specific context of Sanofi's R&D Accelerator.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Collective platform, ensuring your profile and CV are up-to-date.
• Crucially, include a direct link to your online portfolio in your application. Applications without a portfolio link may not be considered.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating your expertise in complex problem-solving, user-centric design, wireframing, prototyping, and design system contributions, ideally with examples relevant to enterprise or scientific software.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "UX Design," "Figma," "Design Thinking," "Prototyping," "User-Centric Solutions," and "Pharmaceutical Industry" (if applicable). Quantify achievements wherever possible.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work during portfolio review sessions. Practice explaining your contributions to design systems and your collaborative approach.
• Research Sanofi's R&D: Familiarize yourself with Sanofi's mission, recent innovations, and the goals of their R&D Accelerator to better tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization (Collective) before making application decisions. The salary range provided is an estimate for contractor roles in Paris and may vary.