Manager Performance & Strategy - R&D Department

Led by Rodolphe Saadé, the CMA CGM Group, a global leader in shipping and logistics, serves more than 420 ports around the world on five continents. With its subsidiary CEVA Logistics, a world leader in logistics, and its air freight division CMA CGM AIR CARGO, the CMA CGM Group is continually innovating to offer its customers a complete and increasingly efficient range of new shipping, land, air and logistics solutions.

Committed to the energy transition in shipping, and a pioneer in the use of alternative fuels, the CMA CGM Group has set a target to become Net Zero Carbon by 2050.
Through the CMA CGM Foundation, the Group acts in humanitarian crises that require an emergency response by mobilizing the Group’s shipping and logistics expertise to bring humanitarian supplies around the world.

Present in 160 countries through its network of more than 400 offices and 750 warehouses, the Group employs more than 155,000 people worldwide, including 4,000 in Marseilles where its head office is located.

YOUR ROLE

Reporting to the VP R&D Assets, the main mission is to develop C-suite-level communication, ensure smooth cross-functional governance, and validate financial aspects for Research and Development (R&D) department projects. Additionally, this role supports the VP R&D Assets in daily activities by delivering analyses and support to help reach ambitious goals. Strong adaptability, commitment, and flexibility are essential to manage multiple assignments simultaneously.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ?

• R&D Communication
• Responsible for preparing presentations for the Executive Committee.
• Continuously improves cross-departmental communication for a smooth understanding of R&D strategy.
• Prepares the VP’s public talks in alignment with Group communications.
• Supports technical project managers with communications during handovers of mature products to the business (adoption, transformation).

• R&D Finance
• Supports the Control team: runs the budget process in close collaboration with the CIO Office; tracks department indicators (such as budget forecast adjustment along the year, prioritization KPIs).
• Responsible for grants assessments in the R&D department: monitors available funding programs and their rules, tracks funding files and financial audits, prepares validation gates at the EVP/Chairman level, and assists technical departments with financial and non-technical aspects of files.
• Oversees creation and validation of business plans for various R&D projects and strategic partnerships (innovation lab, JV, etc.).

• Strategic Partnerships
• Supports the VP on strategic client/supplier partnerships: coordinates progress, finance, and contractual agreements, including risk management, long-term planning, business plans, setting up JVs, and transition plans.

• Process, Performance & Governance
• Governance: sets up Executive Committee, business (VP Gates), or Tangram governance depending on research topics.
• Ensures readiness for projects entering the investment committee.
• Process/PMO: responsible for evolving department processes.
• Manages the R&D Tax Credit file, in coordination with the Tax department.
• Manages service contracts, adapts resources strategy to departmental needs (external resources, internal hires).
• Organizes training events with Academy and Tangram according to departmental strategy.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR ?

• You are ideally graduated from a top business school or engineering school + a master’s in finance, with at least 4 years of experience in consulting, audit, JV setup, contract management, chief of staff roles, or similar.
• You have good communication skills (PowerPoint, public speaking) and financial skills (JV, business plan) are mandatory.
• Comfortable with functional management, the position may evolve into hierarchical management of a small team.
• You are interested in technology and strategy topics, with a passion for securing ambitious contractual deals. Knowledge of Group activities (CEVA, Shipping, Terminals, etc.) is a plus.
• Recognized for reactiveness, organization, rigor, analytical, and synthesis skills, you are able to complete multiple actions simultaneously.
• You have strong listening, adaptability, and communication abilities to enable effective governance and foster alignment. You are solution-oriented, and able to solve problems and find solutions.

Please ensure you are familiar with the CMA CGM Corporate Internal Mobility guidelines