Director, Commercial Partnerships - Life Sciences,

UnitedHealth Group; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private health insurance

Wellness programs

Pension matching

Lunch provided by the company

Training opportunities

Job summary

Optum in Ireland seeks an experienced Business Development Director to drive revenue growth by identifying and converting new opportunities in pharmaceutical manufacturing, CDMO, CMO, outsourcing, or life sciences services. You will build executive-level relationships and manage a robust pipeline, guiding opportunities from qualification to close in a hybrid Dublin-based role.

The ideal candidate has a proven track record in pharma BD, enterprise contract negotiations, and complex deal

Qualifications

• Proven extensive experience in business development within the pharmaceutical industry in a similar role.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage multi million euro sales pipelines.
• Proven experience negotiating enterprise contracts and commercial agreements.
• Proven experience engaging C level executives and senior business stakeholders.
• Demonstrated solid presentation, negotiation, and relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Source and develop new pharma business opportunities.
• Identify targets and engage manufacturers across sectors.
• Build relationships with C-level decision-makers and procurement stakeholders.
• Manage a robust sales pipeline and accurate forecasting.
• Lead negotiations from proposal to contract execution.
• Collaborate with legal, finance and delivery teams on deals.

Skills

Business development

C-level engagement

Enterprise contracts

Sales pipeline management

Negotiation

Job description

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale.

Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

We are seeking an experienced pharmaceutical industry professional with a proven track record of generating and converting commercial opportunities within pharmaceutical manufacturing, CDMO, CMO, outsourcing, or life sciences services environments.

The Business Development Director is responsible for driving revenue growth through the identification, qualification, development, and conversion of new business opportunities. The role will have primary accountability for building a sustainable sales pipeline, establishing strategic relationships, sourcing high-value opportunities, and leading commercial engagements through contract execution.

Careers with Optum offer flexible work arrangements and individuals who live and work in the Republic of Ireland will have the opportunity to split their monthly work hours between our Dublin office and telecommuting from a home-based office in a hybrid work model.

Primary Responsibilities

Opportunity Sourcing & Market Development

• Develop and execute a proactive business development strategy aligned with Nuvaila's growth objectives
• Identify, target, and engage prospective manufacturers across key industry sectors
• Build and maintain executive-level relationships with decision-makers, influencers, and procurement stakeholders
• Leverage personal networks, strategic partnerships, events, and market intelligence to generate qualified opportunities
• Collaborate with commercial to execute demand generation and account-based marketing initiatives
• Maintain a deep understanding of market trends, competitive positioning, and customer business challenges

Pipeline Development & Management

• Build and manage a robust sales pipeline to consistently achieve and exceed revenue targets
• Lead prospect qualification activities and ensure opportunities align with Nuvaila's ideal customer profile
• Develop account strategies and opportunity plans for priority pursuits
• Maintain accurate forecasting and opportunity management within CRM systems
• Drive opportunities through all stages of the sales lifecycle from qualification to close
• Partner with solution architects, delivery leaders, and subject matter experts to develop compelling customer solutions and proposals
• Participate in bid, proposal, and presentation development activities

Negotiation & Contracting

• Lead commercial negotiations with prospective customers
• Own the sales process through proposal submission, pricing discussions, legal review, and contract execution
• Partner with legal, finance, and operational teams to ensure commercial risks are appropriately managed
• Ensure contractual terms align with company objectives while maintaining positive customer relationships
• Drive timely closure of commercial opportunities and removal of contract-related blockers

You will be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role, as well as providing development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications

• Proven extensive experience in business development within the pharmaceutical industry in a similar role
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage multi million euro sales pipelines
• Proven experience negotiating enterprise contracts and commercial agreements
• Proven experience engaging C level executives and senior business stakeholders
• Demonstrated solid presentation, negotiation, and relationship management skills

What We Offer

• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive and supportive team culture
• Key benefits: Private health insurance, wellness programs, matching pension contribution, lunch provided by the company, training opportunities, employee donations matching and others

Please note you must currently be eligible to work and remain indefinitely without any restrictions in the country to which you are making an application. Proof will be required to support your application.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone-of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income-deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes - an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: Optum is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, race, and membership of the Traveller community, or any other characteristic protected by law. Optum is a drug-free workplace. © 2026 Optum Services (Ireland) Limited. All rights reserved.