Business Development Manager

Axcellant; United States; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-friendly working model

Direct exposure to senior leadership

Performance-based incentives

Autonomy and growth opportunities

Job summary

Axcellant, a boutique CRO, seeks an ambitious Business Development Manager to drive new business generation and build lasting sponsor relationships across Europe with selective global reach. You will own the full BD lifecycle, collaborating with senior leadership to shape proposals, defend bids, and close complex deals.

You will engage with Clinical Operations, Development, Outsourcing, and Scientific Leadership, translating capabilities into compelling value propositions and contributing to

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years in business development or sales within a CRO/CDMO or life-sciences services setting.
• Solid understanding of clinical development and CRO outsourcing models.
• Fluent English; additional European languages a plus.

Responsibilities

• Drive new business acquisition across Europe with selective global reach in pharma and biotech.
• Build and sustain relationships with decision-makers in Clinical Operations, Development, Outsourcing, and Scientific Leadership.
• Own the full BD lifecycle: lead generation, qualification, proposal development, bid defence, and deal closure.
• Translate capabilities into clear, compelling value propositions for sponsors.
• Collaborate with Clinical Operations, Imaging, and Scientific teams to craft competitive proposals.
• Represent Axcellant at industry conferences and client meetings; maintain CRM pipeline and forecasting.
• Contribute to Axcellant’s commercial strategy, service positioning, and go-to-market messaging.
• Act as a senior commercial interface, ensuring a high-quality client experience from first contact.

Skills

Business development

Sales

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

English fluency

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Axcellant is a boutique Clinical Research Organization supporting pharma, biotech, and innovative sponsors in the execution of complex, high-impact clinical trials—including oncology, rare diseases, radiopharmaceuticals, advanced diagnostics, and other demanding study designs.

We combine senior-level involvement, operational agility, and scientific depth with a pragmatic, partner-driven approach. As we scale our commercial footprint in Europe and beyond, we are looking for a Business Development Manager who can help shape our growth trajectory—not just execute a sales plan.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in lean, high-ownership environments, understands how sponsors buy CRO services, and is motivated by building something meaningful rather than selling at scale.

The Role

As Business Development Manager, you will be responsible for driving new business generation, building long-term sponsor relationships, and positioning Axcellant as a trusted CRO partner for complex clinical programs.

You will own the full business development lifecycle—from opportunity identification and early engagement through proposal development, bid defence, and contract award—working closely with Axcellant’s senior leadership and operational experts.

This is a hands-on, high-impact role with direct visibility and influence on company strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive new business acquisition across Europe (with selective global reach), focusing on pharma, biotech, and innovation-driven sponsors
• Build and maintain strong relationships with decision-makers in Clinical Operations, Development, Outsourcing, and Scientific Leadership
• Own the full BD lifecycle: lead generation, qualification, proposal development, bid defence, and deal closure
• Translate Axcellant’s capabilities into clear, compelling value propositions tailored to sponsor needs
• Collaborate closely with Clinical Operations, Imaging, and Scientific teams to ensure accurate, competitive proposals
• Represent Axcellant at industry conferences, partnering events, and client meetings
• Maintain accurate pipeline management, forecasting, and reporting in CRM
• Contribute to the development of Axcellant’s commercial strategy, service positioning, and go-to-market messaging
• Act as a senior commercial interface internally and externally, supporting a high-quality client experience from first contact onward

What We’re Looking For

• 3–5+ years of experience in business development or sales within a CRO, CDMO, or related life-sciences services environment
• Solid understanding of clinical development and CRO outsourcing models
• Proven ability to manage long, consultative sales cycles and close complex service deals
• Strong network or demonstrated ability to build relationships within European pharma and biotech
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
• Strategic mindset combined with hands-on execution discipline
• Comfortable working independently in a lean, growth-stage organization
• Fluency in English (additional European languages are a strong plus)

Experience in areas such as oncology, rare diseases, imaging, nuclear medicine, advanced diagnostics, or complex trial designs will be considered an advantage—but mindset and capability matter more than labels.

What We Offer

• A key commercial role in a fast-growing boutique CRO with strong differentiation
• Direct exposure to senior leadership and influence on company strategy
• Competitive base salary with performance-based incentives
• High degree of autonomy, flexibility, and trust
• Opportunity to grow into a senior commercial or leadership role as Axcellant scales
• Remote-friendly working model with regular engagement across Europe