Director of Sales

JR United Kingdom; Preston; Remote; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global Contract Research Organization seeks a Director of Sales to drive growth through strategic sales in the pharmaceutical sector. The role involves developing client relationships, meeting sales targets, and collaborating across departments. The ideal candidate has significant sales leadership experience and a strong network in the pharmaceutical industry.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of sales leadership experience.
• Extensive experience in FSP and project-based sales.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities.
• Establish long-term relationships with key decision-makers.
• Own and exceed sales targets and revenue goals.

Skills

Sales Leadership

Negotiation

Communication

Client Relationship Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, sales, marketing, or related field

MBA preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

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Location: UK, Remote, extensive travel required domestically across Europe. International travel may be required.

Company Description

Our client, founded in 2005, is a US-based, global Contract Research Organization (“CRO”), providing outsourced statistical programming, biostatistics, and data management services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies under a Functional Service Provider (“FSP”) and project-based services (PBS) models. Our client serves its customers via an on-shore, off-shore model, leveraging a global talent pool spread across the United States, Canada, and India.

Over the last five years, our client has differentiated itself as a leading global player, as the business has grown employees and revenue rapidly at a 30%+ annual growth rate. The business continues to see high demand for its specialized services, and the key to continued growth is the ability to rapidly expand our customer base.

The future growth strategy includes continued expansion of statistical programming services, as well as scaling into services for data management, and biostatistics consulting. Acquisitions is also a key component of our client’s growth strategy and will require key involvement of the sales teams.

Role Overview

We are seeking a seasoned Director of Sales with a proven track record in driving sales growth. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in running sales independently and a strong background in FSP (Functional Service Provider) sales as well as an extensive network in the pharmaceutical space. As a key member of our sales team, the director will play a critical role in achieving the company’s top line targets through executing sales into their respective portfolios.

Key Responsibilities

1. Sales Strategy & Business Development

Identify and pursue new business opportunities with pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies.

Build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective clients and partnerships.

Work closely with marketing and business development teams to enhance lead generation.

2. Client Relationship Management

Establish and nurture long-term relationships with key decision-makers in sponsor organizations.

Serve as the primary point of contact for major clients, ensuring high satisfaction and repeat business.

Drive client retention and account expansion by identifying upselling and cross-selling opportunities.

3. Revenue & Performance Management

Own and meet or exceed sales targets and revenue goals.

Monitor key sales metrics and report on performance, providing insights for continuous improvement.

Oversee contract negotiations and pricing strategies to maximize profitability.

Stay up to date with industry trends, competitive landscape, and regulatory changes affecting the CRO space.

Use data and market insights to refine sales strategies and positioning.

Represent the organization at industry conferences, networking events, and client meetings.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with relevant delivery teams and support departments to ensure seamless service delivery.

Partner with proposal and contracts teams to develop competitive and compelling study proposals.

Collaborate with senior leadership to align sales strategies with overall corporate objectives

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in business, sales, marketing, or related field. MBA preferred.

A minimum of 8 years of sales leadership experience, with a proven track record of success in senior sales roles.

Well versed in working globally and across cultures and time zones.

Substantial experience in FSP (Functional Service Provider) and project-based sales within pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.

Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

Proficient using Salesforce and other sales software / management tools.

Following your application, Kathryn Darcy-Watts, a specialist Pharmaceutical Recruiter, will discuss the opportunity with you in detail. She will be more than happy to answer any questions relating to the industry and the potential for your career growth. The conversation can also progress further to discussing other opportunities, which are also available right now or will be imminently becoming available.

This position has been highly popular, and it is likely that it will close prematurely. We recommend applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Please click “apply” or contact Kathryn Darcy-Watts for any further information.