Strategic Growth Director, Early-Phase Pharma

Fortrea; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortrea is seeking a Business Development Director II, Early Phase to drive growth by leading complex, high‑value sales pursuits and shaping client‑centric solutions for strategic accounts with substantial deal complexity. This role partners across functions to deliver integrated offerings and strengthen senior client relationships.

Travel up to 50% is required; the successful candidate will demonstrate strategic selling, negotiation, and strong commercial judgment to accelerate opportunity

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and relevant formal academic qualification.
• Fortrea may consider relevant and equivalent experience in lieu of educational requirements.
• Proven ability to acquire, retain, and expand a strategic client portfolio, driving sustained revenue growth.
• Demonstrated skills in strategic selling, negotiation, executive presentations, and financial/business acumen.
• Growing understanding of business strategy with the ability to translate strategy into measurable commercial results.
• Working knowledge of drug discovery and development principles to strategically identify, qualify, and advance leads.
• Strong customer relationship management capabilities and commercial judgment.
• Strong negotiation skills, with direct face‑to‑face negotiating experience with major clients, achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Demonstrated executive presence with the ability to influence senior client stakeholders and internal leaders.
• Demonstrated organizational agility and consistent delivery of results within a matrixed environment.
• Frequent travel is required based on business need.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute account plans and strategic partnerships within assigned accounts of greater size and complexity.
• Provide competitive intelligence and identify cross‑business‑unit opportunities.
• Partner with Client Services to support pricing, margin, and deal‑structure decisions.
• Collaborate across business units to identify, position, and win multi‑unit opportunities.
• Participate in corporate account teams to strengthen key client relationships.
• Achieve or exceed annual sales targets for assigned accounts.
• Establish, grow, and manage client relationships at appropriate decision‑making levels.
• Execute client call plans, follow up on leads, and support an established client base.
• Effectively position the business unit’s capabilities and differentiation.
• Manage opportunity pipeline, forecasting, and required territory documentation.
• Set and manage customer expectations to drive satisfaction and retention.
• Lead client presentations, support proposal development, and host client visits.
• Provide regular sales activity updates to management.
• Perform all other duties as needed or assigned.

Skills

Strategic selling

Negotiation

Executive presentations

Financial/business acumen

Client relationship management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Fortrea is seeking a Business Development Director II, Early Phase to drive growth by leading complex, high‑value sales pursuits and shaping client‑centric solutions for strategic accounts with substantial deal complexity. This role partners across functions to deliver integrated offerings and strengthen senior client relationships.

Travel up to 50% is required; the successful candidate will demonstrate strategic selling, negotiation, and strong commercial judgment to accelerate opportunity