Director Business Development, Cell Therapy

Evotec; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biotech firm in the UK is seeking a Business Development Director to drive revenue growth in the Cell and Gene Therapy market. This role involves securing high-value service agreements, developing go-to-market strategies, and fostering partnerships with biotech and pharma companies. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience in business development within cell therapies, a solid understanding of the CGT life cycle, and exceptional negotiation skills. This position offers a chance to make a significant impact in the rapidly evolving biopharmaceutical landscape.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in business development or sales within contract research for cell therapies.
• Strong understanding of cell and gene therapy life cycle.
• Proven record of closing complex high-value deals.
• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Fluent in English in spoken and written.

Responsibilities

• Drive market development and revenue growth.
• Identify new business opportunities in CGT space.
• Build relationships with biotech, pharma, and academic partners.
• Lead negotiations for service agreements.
• Manage complex stakeholder projects.

Skills

Business development

Sales closing

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Biotechnology, or related field

MBA or PhD

Job description

Director Business Development – Cell Therapy (CT) Position Summary

We are looking for a results-driven and commercially focused Business Development Director to accelerate revenue growth and expand our client base in the dynamic Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) market. This role is centered on driving sales performance, securing high-value service agreements.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong knowledge of the CGT value chain—from early discovery through clinical development and GMP manufacturing—and demonstrate the ability to convert scientific capabilities into compelling commercial offerings. Success in this role requires a proactive sales mindset, strategic acumen, and the ability to lead complex negotiations across diverse stakeholders.

Located at one of Evotec’s sites in Europe (Germany, Italy, France, UK), the BD Director will report to the SVP, Head of Global BD, Cell Therapies.

Key Responsibilities

• Market Development & Strategy and Revenue Growth
• Identify and evaluate new business opportunities in the CGT space contributing to the GMP service revenues.
• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies aligned with company goals.
• Monitor market trends, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies.
• Partnerships & Client Engagement
• Build and maintain strong relationships with biotech, pharma, and academic partners.
• Lead negotiations and manage contracts mainly for service agreements but also occasionally collaboration and licensing agreements.
• Represent the company at industry conferences, meetings, and networking events.
• Cross-functional Collaboration
• Work closely with R&D, Manufacturing, Regulatory, and Commercial teams to align business objectives with operational capabilities.
• Translate scientific and technical concepts into clear business value propositions.
• Project & Stakeholder Management
• Manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects from initiation to execution.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.
• Problem Solving & Execution
• Take a proactive and pragmatic approach to identifying challenges and implementing solutions.
• Drive continuous improvement in business development processes and tools.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to build on and further enhance the existing marketing strategy

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in business development or sales within the contract research for cell therapies (highly preferred), with a proven record of closing complex high-value deals and nurturing high potential accounts
• Strong understanding of the cell and gene therapy life cycle, including discovery, development. Exposure to GMP manufacturing projects and related deal making is a plus.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Biotechnology, or related field; MBA or PhD is a plus.
• Ability to bridge science and business, with excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Demonstrated success in cross-functional collaboration and managing complex projects.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both internally and externally.
• Strong stakeholder management, presentation and negotiation skills.
• Self-starter with a proactive, pragmatic, and solution-oriented mindset.
• Fluent in English in spoken and written.

FR : Dans le cadre de sa politique Diversité, Evotec étudie, à compétences égales, toutes les candidatures dont celles des personnes en situation de handicap.

ENG : In the frame of our Diversity policy, Evotec considers, with equal competences, all applications including people with disabilities.