Business Development Manager

PHARMExcel; England; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Clinical Research Organisation in the UK is seeking a Business Development Manager to drive sales expansion. This role requires 3-5 years of experience in a BD/Sales position, with a minimum of 2 years in a Clinical Trial CRO. Responsibilities include developing a pipeline of opportunities, nurturing client relationships, and attending industry conferences. The position is remote with a hybrid setup during initial months. The ideal candidate is proactive, communicative, and resilient under pressure.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Commission & benefits

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• 3-5 years + working in a BD/Sales role with minimum 2 years in a Clinical Trial CRO.
• Proven track record in achieving or exceeding sales targets.
• Solid understanding and hands-on experience in cold outreach.

Responsibilities

• Develop a balanced pipeline of academic and commercial opportunities.
• Nurture prospects through sales cycles, building strong relationships.
• Attend and represent at industry conferences generating leads.

Skills

CRO sales experience

Excellent communication skills

CRM systems experience

Lead nurturing

Resilience under pressure

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

HubSpot

Job description

Overview

Location: Remote (Hybrid in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire during initial 3 months)

Salary: competitive + commission & benefits

Start Date: October 2025

Travel: UK & occasional global travel

Role Description

PHARMExcel is a leading UK-based Clinical Research Organisation (CRO), supporting academic and commercial sponsors in the delivery of early to late-phase trials. We’re at a pivotal growth stage and are seeking a results-driven Business Development Manager (BDM) to spear head the next phase of sales expansion.

This is a high-impact role designed for a self-motivated professional with proven CRO sales experience who can own the sales process from pipeline generation through to deal closure.

You’ll be joining a passionate and inclusive team where you’ll have the opportunity to grow with PHARMExcel-building confidence, capability, and impact as we scale. Life at PHARMExcel is fast-paced and ambitious, but also deeply rewarding. We value the collective strength of our people, and it’s through close collaboration that we’ve achieved our success-and will continue to shape our future together.

Key Responsibilities

• Understand PHARMExcel’s vision, strategy, and services and comprehensively convey this to prospective clients- from academic Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), Senior NHS staff, through to C-suite level entrepreneurs within the biotech and MedTech sectors.
• Work alongside the CEO to qualify new leads.
• Develop a balanced pipeline of academic and commercial opportunities, aligned with the company’s strategic revenue mix.
• Take ownership of opportunities from first contact to signed contract, including facilitating RFP response, bid defence, and handover to project delivery teams.
• Nurture prospects through sales cycles, building strong, trust-based relationships.
• Attend and represent PHARMExcel at relevant industry conferences and exhibitions, generating onsite leads and qualified meetings.
• Collaborate with the CEO and Head of Clinical Operations to progress shared lead pipelines.
• Coaching and sharing sales knowledge, including development and refinement of new processes with the view to departmental expansion as the company attains financial growth.

Revenue and Performance

You will consistently meet or exceed, quarterly and yearly key performance metrics and goals, with a strong focus on:

• Securing new clients
• Converting high-probability pipeline opportunities
• Strengthening and expanding lower probability leads into converted contracts
• Maintain a healthy pipeline that supports organisational targets with year-on-year acceleration.

CRM and Reporting

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in HubSpot of your sales pipeline and those of the CEOs and Clin Ops team
• Take ownership of all BD CRM administration, data hygiene, and back-office processes typically handled by a sales assistant, given our lean team structure.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of lead-generation and sales best practices.
• Create new BD reports and dashboards in HubSpot as required for Sales, Marketing and Finance.
• Provide input on forecasting and pipeline health in team meetings

Essential Skills and Experience Required

• 3-5 years + working in a BD/Sales role with minimum 2 years in a Clinical Trial CRO (essential)
• Proven track record in achieving or exceeding sales targets
• Experience in using CRM systems, specifically HubSpot.
• Strong independent worker, understanding when and how best to work collaboratively when required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven experience in long sales cycles including lead nurture tactics and relationship management.
• Solid understanding and hands on experience in cold outreach and prospecting to hit KPIs
• Ability to quickly understand and articulate scientific/technical concepts and business value.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and resilient when facing challenges
• Organised with excellent follow-through and high attention to detail

Personal Attributes

• Self-motivated and target driven-with a strong desire to close deals and exceed goals
• Confident communicator-face-to-face, over the phone, and in writing
• High integrity and alignment to PHARMExcel values
• Collaborative by nature, thrives in a team-first culture where success is shared
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity, with the flexibility to adapt in a growing SME setting
• Resilient under pressure, remains positive and solutions-oriented when navigating challenges
• A genuine interest in clinical research, innovation, and improving patient outcome

Equal Opportunity Statement

PHARMExcel is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability or age. Our ethos is to respect and value people’s differences, and to help everyone achieve and be their best at work as well as in their personal lives so that they feel proud of the part they play in our success. We believe that all decisions about people at work should be based on the individual’s abilities, skills, performance and behaviour and our business requirements. PHARMExcel operates a zero-tolerance policy to any form of discrimination, abuse or harassment.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Apply Now and be part of something exceptional at PHARMExcel!

Submit your application & CV to:

[e-mail]

Contact: Dani Harrison, Head of People & Culture – [e-mail]