Executive Director of Clinical Business Development (Mid-size Accounts)

Syneos Health, Inc.; Basel; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Syneos Health in Basel seeks an Executive Director to drive enterprise-level growth across top accounts, shaping global account strategy, MSAs, and strategic partnerships.

You will engage client executives, navigate complex procurement, and lead cross-functional solution development to expand our clinical business development footprint.

The role requires deep industry relationships, strategic thinking, and strong negotiation and presentation skills with 50% travel.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in strategic sales, global business development, or client relationship management in life sciences.
• Bachelor's degree in science or related field; MBA/PhD/MD a plus.
• Significant experience in clinical trials and pharmaceutical landscape.
• Experience leading preferred provider pursuits and negotiating MSAs.
• Deep understanding of clinical research service lines and full drug development lifecycle.
• Strong consultative selling and cross-functional leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead global business development across a portfolio of high-value accounts.
• Identify and pursue enterprise-level opportunities, MSAs, and strategic alliances.
• Create multi-year strategic growth plans for global clients.
• Act as strategic advisor to client executives; understand priorities and pipelines.
• Navigate procurement to influence decisions and streamline contracting.
• Collaborate with therapeutic leads, operations, and delivery to co-create client-tailored solutions.
• Develop high-impact proposals, RFP responses, and executive presentations.
• Maintain CRM records including strategy, contacts, opportunities, and communications.
• Represent Syneos Health at industry events and client meetings to grow opportunities.
• Monitor market dynamics and competitor activity to refine account strategies.

Skills

Strategic sales

Global business development

Client relationship management

CRM & Salesforce

MS Office & Google Workspace

English fluency

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in science or related field

MBA/PhD/MD desirable

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Executive Director of Clinical Business Development (Mid-size Accounts)

You have what it takes: a competitive drive coupled with exceptional sales ability.

Ready to help shape the next wave of business development growth at Syneos Health?
We are building a best-in-class Clinical Business Development team and looking for proven commercial leaders who know how to win and grow major CRO partnerships.

The Executive Director of Clinical Business Development (Mid-size Accounts) is responsible for driving enterprise-level growth through global account strategy, strategic partnerships, and long-term client engagement. This role focuses on identifying and securing high-impact opportunities across the biopharmaceutical landscape by navigating complex procurement environments, leading preferred provider pursuits, negotiating master service agreements (MSAs), and orchestrating cross-functional solution development.

With a strong understanding of the clinical development lifecycle and deep relationships within the pharmaceutical industry, the Exec Director of Clinical Business Development (Strategic Accounts) partners closely with internal stakeholders across therapeutic strategy, operations, legal, finance, and delivery to create client-centric growth strategies that support Syneos Health's global objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Leads global business development efforts across a portfolio of high-value accounts, driving strategic growth and revenue expansion
• Identifies, evaluates, and pursues enterprise-level opportunities, including preferred provider arrangements, MSAs, and strategic alliances
• Creates and maintains multi-year strategic growth plans for key global clients, aligned with Syneos Health’s commercial objectives
• Serves as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to client executives by understanding their business priorities, development pipelines, and partnership expectations
• Navigates complex global sourcing and procurement organizations to influence client decision-making and streamline contracting processes
• Collaborates cross-functionally with therapeutic leads, operations, delivery, and marketing to co-create compelling, client-tailored solutions
• Leads and coordinates the development of high-impact proposals, RFP responses, and executive presentations
• Maintains up-to-date and accurate records in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), including account strategy documentation, contacts, opportunities, and communications
• Represents Syneos Health at key industry events, conferences, and client meetings to enhance brand visibility and cultivate new opportunities
• Monitors market dynamics and competitor activity to inform strategic pursuits and continuously refine account strategies

Requirements:

• Proven experience in strategic sales, global business development, or client relationship management in the life sciences industry
• Bachelors Degree in a science related field, or equivalent related education and experience, plus extensive experience in clinical research and commercialization. Graduade degree (MBA/PhD/MD degrees) is a plus
• Significant experience in the clinical trial industry, with deep knowledge of the pharmaceutical landscape—required
• Demonstrated success in leading preferred provider pursuits and negotiating master service agreements
• Deep understanding of clinical research service lines and the full drug development lifecycle
• Proven ability to build and maintain strategic relationships with mid- to executive-level stakeholders across large, matrixed organisations
• Strong consultative selling skills with the ability to uncover client needs and co-develop tailored solutions
• Collaborative and influential, with experience leading cross-functional sales efforts
• Highly organised and able to prioritise effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and data-driven decision-making capability
• Proficient in MS Office Suite, Google Workspace, and CRM tools such as Salesforce
• Excellent communication skills in English and another European language (highly desirable), with the ability to influence at all organisational levels
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, able to translate complex data into actionable business plans
• Expert negotiation and presentation skills, especially in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Proactive relationship builder with demonstrated resilience and persistence
• Collaborative team player who thrives in cross-functional and matrixed environments
• Adaptable and agile in a fast-paced, evolving global marketplace. Willingness to travel 50% for client meetings, internal engagements, and industry events

At Syneos Health, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. If your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. At times, we will consider transferable skills from previous roles. We also encourage you to join our Talent Network to stay connected to additional career opportunities.

Why Syneos Health? Each life we positively impact makes our work worthwhile. By joining one of our field medical teams, you will partner with some of the most talented clinicians in the industry and be reminded why you chose a career in healthcare. The diversification and breadth of our new and existing partnerships create a multitude of career paths and employment opportunities. Join our game-changing, global company dedicated to creating better, smarter, faster ways to get biopharmaceutical therapies to patients. Experience the thrill of knowing that your everyday efforts are contributing to improving patients’ lives around the world.

W o r k H e r e M a t t e r s E v e r y w h e r e | How are you inspired to change lives?

Syneos Health companies are affirmative action/equal opportunity employers (Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled)

Discover what our more than 25,000 employees already know: work here matterseverywhere. We work hard,and smart, all in the name of getting much-needed therapies to thosewho need them most. A career with Syneos Health means your everyday workimprovespatients’ lives around the world. Selecting us as an employer secures acareer inwhich you’re guaranteed to:

Syneos Health® is a leading fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization builtto accelerate customer success. We translate unique clinical, medical affairs and commercialinsights into outcomes to address modern market realities. To learn more visit syneoshealth.com .

Syneos Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receiveconsideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, marital status,ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protectedveteran status, disability or any other legally protected status and will not bediscriminated against. If you are an individual with a disability who requires reasonableaccommodation to complete any part of our application process, including the use of thiswebsite, please contact us at: Email: [emailprotected] One of our staff members willwork with you to provide alternate means to submit your application.