Director of Business Development (Life Sciences, Scandinavia, Spain & Portugal)

Job summary

The role involves leading business growth initiatives across Scandinavia, Spain, and Portugal for a global contract research organization specializing in drug discovery and preclinical research. The Director will focus on revenue generation, strategic account development, and new business acquisition, establishing the organization as a trusted partner in the life sciences sector.

Qualifications

• PhD, MSc, or equivalent in Life Sciences, Chemistry, Pharmacology, Biotechnology, or a related field.
• Over 5 years of successful business development or sales experience in CRO, CDMO, Drug Discovery, or related sectors.
• Proven track record of meeting commercial targets and managing strategic accounts.
• Strong understanding of the drug discovery and preclinical development landscape.
• Experience with pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients across Europe.
• Existing network in Scandinavia and/or Spain and Portugal is highly desirable.
• Excellent consultative selling, negotiation, and scientific communication skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, results-driven, and capable of working independently in an international setting.

Responsibilities

• Achieve and surpass annual revenue and business closure targets.
• Develop and implement a growth strategy for the designated territory.
• Build and sustain a robust pipeline through new business development and strategic account management.
• Manage complex sales opportunities from prospecting to contract execution.
• Cultivate senior relationships with scientific, procurement, and executive stakeholders.
• Expand key accounts through cross-selling opportunities.
• Engage with the regional biotech ecosystem, including companies, VCs, incubators, and academic institutions.
• Maintain accurate CRM data, forecasts, and commercial reports.
• Provide market and competitive intelligence to inform regional strategies.

Skills

• Strong consultative selling and negotiation abilities.
• Effective scientific communication skills.
• Ability to operate independently and drive results in a global organization.

Education

• PhD, MSc, or equivalent in relevant scientific disciplines.

Tools

• CRM software for data management and reporting.