AVP Sales - Data & AI (Life Sciences, Pharma & Biotech)

Persistent Systems; New Jersey; Remote; USD 250,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Persistent Systems is seeking a quota-carrying Sales Director to lead sales in the Data & AI Practice for the Life Sciences sector across the USA. You will drive opportunities, guide multi-year digital transformation roadmaps, and close seven-figure deals with pharma and biotech clients.

The ideal candidate has deep domain fluency in life sciences commercial operations, R&D analytics, and a proven ability to close large enterprise contracts.

Qualifications

• 12–18 years of enterprise sales experience in Data, Analytics, AI/ML, with Life Sciences focus.
• Proven track record closing six- and seven-figure deals in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Deep understanding of life sciences data ecosystem and business processes (commercial operations, HEOR, R&D).
• Experience selling cloud-native data platforms and AI/ML solutions.
• Familiarity with GenAI, LLMOps, and AI governance in regulated industries.

Responsibilities

• Own the full sales cycle — prospecting to close — for pharma/biotech accounts.
• Develop a robust pipeline targeting $10M+ in annual bookings across data, analytics, and AI/ML.
• Create account plans and territory strategies aligned to life sciences commercial, medical affairs, and R&D units.
• Engage C-suite and senior executives at top pharma/biotech companies.
• Lead discovery sessions to surface challenges in drug launch performance, market access, and outcomes.
• Partner with clients on multi-year digital transformation roadmaps involving data modernization and cloud migration.
• Position and sell tailored solutions spanning: analytics, RWE, HEOR, patient services, and R&D data management.
• Collaborate with delivery and product teams to craft winning proposals and demos.
• Maintain pipeline and forecast discipline in CRM (Salesforce).
• Stay current on FDA regulatory shifts and biosimilar dynamics.

Skills

Enterprise sales

Life Sciences focus

Executive engagement

Deal closing

CRM experience

Education

MBA or advanced degree

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

We are an AI-led, platform-driven Digital Engineering and Enterprise Modernization partner, combining deep technical expertise and industry experience to help our clients anticipate what’s next. Our offerings and proven solutions create a unique competitive advantage for our clients by giving them the power to see beyond and rise above. We work with many industry-leading organizations across the world, including 20 Fortune 50 companies and 4 of the 5 top banks in both the US and India, and numerous innovators across the healthcare ecosystem.

Our disruptor’s mindset, commitment to client success, and agility to thrive in the dynamic environment have enabled us to sustain our growth momentum. Persistent has been recognized across top industry platforms for innovation, leadership, and inclusion. We have delivered 24 sequential quarters of growth with $436.5M in Q4 FY26 revenue, up 17.4% Y-o-Y growth. Our 26,500+ global team members, located in 18 countries, have been instrumental in helping the market leaders transform their industries. We won the 2025 ISG Star of Excellence™ Award for AI and Data Excellence and were named a Leader in the Everest Group Talent Readiness for Next-generation Data, Analytics and AI Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2025.

Location: Anywhere in USA

Looking to be part of a high-impact, entrepreneurial sales environment? Interested in helping enterprise customers drive real digital transformation and business outcomes? Let’s talk.

We are recruiting a quota carrying Sales Director who will be responsible for leading sales activities in their respective region for our Data & AI Practice primarily driven by Data, Analytics, AI & ML. Activities include lead generation, identifying and creating opportunities and closing the same. Key to the role is to inspire customers on their digital transformation and software driven business journey and how Persistent could play an integral part in that journey. Thinking out of the box and demonstrating the art of the possible is key to this role!

This is a strategic sales role that requires deep domain fluency in life sciences commercial operations, R&D analytics, and real-world evidence (RWE), paired with a proven ability to close complex, seven-figure enterprise deals.

The ideal candidate is a trusted advisor to senior life sciences executives and understands how data, AI/ML, and cloud platforms can transform drug commercialization, market access, pharmacovigilance, and clinical development outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the full sales cycle — from prospecting and discovery through negotiation and close — for key pharma and biotech accounts
• Build and manage a robust pipeline targeting $10M+ in annual bookings across enterprise data, analytics, and AI/ML engagements
• Develop account plans and territory strategies aligned to life sciences commercial, medical affairs, and R&D business units

Client Engagement & Executive Relationships

• Engage C-suite and senior executives (Chief Data Officers, VP Commercial Analytics, Head of Market Access, CIO) at top pharma and biotech companies
• Lead consultative discovery sessions to surface business challenges related to drug launch performance, market access, field force effectiveness, and patient outcomes
• Partner with clients on multi-year digital transformation roadmaps involving data modernization, AI enablement, and cloud migration
• Position and sell tailored solutions spanning:
• Commercial analytics & sales force effectiveness (SFE)
• Real-world evidence (RWE) & HEOR platforms
• Patient services & hub analytics
• R&D data management & clinical trial analytics
• AI/ML models for demand forecasting, HCP targeting, and market access optimization
• GenAI applications for medical affairs, regulatory submissions, and drug safety

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Partner with delivery, solution architecture, and product teams to craft winning proposals and demos
• Work with marketing to develop life sciences-specific go-to-market campaigns and thought leadership
• Navigate complex, multi-stakeholder buying committees across IT, business, compliance, and procurement

Operational Excellence

• Maintain accurate pipeline and forecast discipline in CRM (Salesforce)
• Stay current on life sciences industry trends: FDA regulatory shifts, cell & gene therapy growth, biosimilar dynamics, and value-based contracting

Required Qualifications:

• 12–18 years of enterprise sales experience in Data, Analytics, AI/ML, or IT Services, with a strong focus on Life Sciences (pharma and/ or biotech)
• Demonstrated success selling to global pharma leaders.
• Track record of closing six- and seven-figure deals in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Deep understanding of life sciences data ecosystem: claims data, EHR, Rx/sales data (IQVIA, Symphony), RWE, clinical trial data, and patient registries
• Strong grasp of life sciences business processes: commercial operations, market access, HEOR, medical affairs, pharmacovigilance, and R&D
• Experience selling cloud-native data platforms, modern data architectures (lakehouse, mesh), and AI/ML solutions
• Familiarity with GenAI, LLMOps, and AI governance in regulated industries
• Excellent consultative selling, executive presence, and negotiation skills
• Ability to translate complex technical and analytical capabilities into clear business value for life sciences stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience selling through or alongside consulting partners (life sciences specialists)
• Background with SI/ consulting firms, serving pharma clients
• Knowledge of life sciences regulatory environment: FDA 21 CFR Part 11, GxP compliance, GDPR/HIPAA data privacy
• MBA or advanced degree in life sciences, data science, or business administration
• Established executive network within top-20 global pharma companies
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Culture focused on talent development with quarterly growth opportunities and company-sponsored higher education and certifications.
• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies.
• Employee engagement initiatives such as project parties, flexible work hours, and Long Service awards.

Our company fosters a values-driven and people-centric work environment that enables our employees to:

• Accelerate growth, both professionally and personally.
• Impact the world in powerful, positive ways, using the latest technologies.
• Enjoy collaborative innovation, with diversity and work-life wellbeing at the core.
• Unlock global opportunities to work and learn with the industry’s best.

Let’s unleash your full potential at Persistent - persistent.com/careers