Business Development Associate Director

This is a dynamic, high-impact role responsible for driving revenue growth and strategic partnerships for our clinical research site management organisation (SMO).

As a senior business development manager, the associate director will be driving and executing the clinical research sales plan and strategy, and lead business development initiatives across a portfolio of clinical research customer accounts (such as Sponsors, Contract Research Organisation, Academic Research Organisations or BioPharma). Central to this role is identification of new business opportunities, and converting these into contracts, to achieve the set sales targets and drive business growth.

The ideal candidate will have 5-7 years of experience in clinical research within a Contract Research Organisation (CRO) or SMO and a proven track record of securing clinical trial agreements with pharmaceutical, biotech, and CRO partners.

Main Duties

Strategic Business Development & Sales Execution

• Identify, develop, and secure new business opportunities with pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and CROs to place clinical trials at our managed research sites.
• Build and maintain long-term relationships with key industry stakeholders, including sponsors, CROs, and investigator sites.
• Lead the negotiation of budgets, and support with negotiation of contracts, master service agreements (MSAs), and clinical trial agreements to maximise revenue and profitability.
• Maintain a strong pipeline of potential clinical trial opportunities and ensure timely follow-up to drive conversions.
• Prepare written presentations, reports and proposals, including but not limited to formal requests for quotations, bids and tenders
• Prepare key account plans and present to the Board upon request
• Represent the organization at industry conferences, networking events, and client meetings to enhance visibility and credibility.

Team Engagement

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including operations, finance, and regulatory, to ensure seamless trial execution and client satisfaction.
• Ensure Salesforce is utilised to its full potential, using it as your day-to-day sales management and customer management tool

Market Analysis & Strategy

• Monitor industry trends, competitor activities, and regulatory changes to identify opportunities for business growth.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategic business plans and clinical research specific projects that align with company objectives.
• Provide reports on pipeline, revenue forecasts, and market insights.

Collaboration & Internal Coordination

• Work closely with clinical operations to ensure site readiness, feasibility assessments, and efficient study start-up processes.
• Partner with marketing to develop effective outreach campaigns and promotional materials to support business development efforts.
• Serve as a key liaison between sponsors and internal teams to address client concerns and ensure superior service delivery.

Requirements

Experience

• 5-7 years of business development experience in a clinical research environment (CRO, SMO, or similar organization).
• Strong understanding of clinical trial operations, site management, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven track record of successfully securing and managing clinical trial contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with key industry stakeholders.

Key Skills

• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in CRM tools and business analytics software.
• Financially astute, with a strong understanding of margins and profit analysis
• Ability to think strategically with strong commercial awareness and understanding
• Ability to effectively plan and capitalise on opportunities and counter competitive threats

Other Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, business, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).

Benefits

• Bank holidays, plus 25 days annual leave, increasing to 28 after 5 years
• Buy & Sell Holidays
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
• 1 Occasion Day each year; this could be your child’s first day of school, their nativity play, or your own birthday – the choice is yours!
• Company Medical Cash Back Plan
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Tech Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• Well being support from our qualified Mental Health First Aiders, as well as via our health scheme