Business Development Manager – Preclinical CRO

BioLegacy Research; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Travel opportunities

Collaborative environment

Job summary

PharmaLegacy Laboratories in San Diego, CA, is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to grow our U.S. preclinical CRO services.

You will identify opportunities, build sponsor relationships, and translate client needs into actionable study proposals, working cross-functionally with scientific and operations teams to deliver tailored solutions. The role requires a life sciences background, 2+ years in business development within CRO/pharma, and strong communication and negotiation

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences or related field is required.
• Minimum 2+ years in business development, sales, or account management in CRO/pharma.
• Experience building client relationships and driving revenue growth.
• Understanding drug discovery workflows and preclinical services preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop new business opportunities across the U.S. biotechnology and pharmaceutical market.
• Identify, engage, and expand relationships with prospective and existing clients.
• Understand client pipelines and study requirements to propose PharmaLegacy solutions.
• Manage the business development cycle from prospecting to proposal and handoff.
• Collaborate with scientific and operations teams for discussions and proposals.
• Maintain CRM records and report pipeline, forecasts, and market trends.

Skills

Client relationships

Communication

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in life sciences

Master’s degree or PhD preferred

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Location: San Diego, CA

Employment Type: Full-Time

Department: Business Development

Base Salary: $130,000–$140,000 annually, plus performance-based incentives

About PharmaLegacy Laboratories

PharmaLegacy Laboratories is a global preclinical contract research organization (CRO) supporting biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies throughout the drug discovery and development process. We provide customized preclinical research solutions across pharmacology, disease models, efficacy, PK/PD, bioanalysis, and translational research. Our scientific capabilities span multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology and inflammation, metabolic and liver disease, ophthalmology, CNS, and other areas of drug discovery. As we continue to expand our presence in the U.S., we are seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to join our Business Development team in San Diego, California. This role is ideal for a relationship-driven commercial professional with experience in the CRO, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical industry who is excited to develop new business, expand client relationships, and connect sponsor needs with PharmaLegacy's scientific capabilities. The final title will be determined based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, industry relationships, and commercial track record.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop new business opportunities across the U.S. biotechnology and pharmaceutical market.
• Identify, engage, and build relationships with prospective clients while expanding relationships with existing accounts.
• Understand client pipelines, scientific objectives, study requirements, and development timelines to identify appropriate PharmaLegacy solutions.
• Manage the business development cycle from prospecting and opportunity qualification through client meetings, proposal follow-up, contract support, and project handoff.
• Partner with scientific and operational teams to support client discussions, study design alignment, proposal development, and quotation preparation.
• Maintain an active sales pipeline and work toward established business development and revenue targets.
• Identify opportunities to expand existing accounts through additional programs, studies, and service offerings.
• Represent PharmaLegacy at conferences, networking events, client visits, roadshows, and other industry activities.
• Maintain accurate CRM records and provide regular updates on opportunities, pipeline activity, forecasts, client feedback, and market trends.
• Collaborate with scientific, project management, marketing, and operations teams to ensure a positive client experience.
• Work effectively with U.S. and global teams to support continued growth in the U.S. market.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, pharmacology, biology, biotechnology, business, or a related field required; Master’s degree, PhD, or other advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 2+ years of business development, sales, account management, or other client-facing commercial experience within the CRO, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical industry.
• Demonstrated ability to develop client relationships, manage business opportunities, and contribute to revenue growth.
• Understanding of drug discovery and development workflows; experience with preclinical research services is strongly preferred.
• Ability to understand scientific discussions and translate client needs into actionable business opportunities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
• Self-motivated, proactive, organized, and comfortable working independently in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Must be based in or willing to relocate to the San Diego, California area.
• Willingness to travel for client meetings, conferences, and other business development activities as needed.

Preferred Experience

• Experience selling preclinical CRO services, pharmacology studies, in vivo efficacy models, toxicology, PK/PD, bioanalysis, or related drug discovery services.
• Existing network within the U.S. biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, particularly within the Southern California life sciences market.
• Demonstrated success developing new accounts and growing existing client relationships.
• Experience working with both emerging biotechnology companies and larger pharmaceutical organizations.
• Familiarity with CRM systems, pipeline management, forecasting, and structured business development reporting.
• Experience working within a global or cross-cultural organization.

Why Join PharmaLegacy

• Join a growing U.S. Business Development team with strong scientific and operational support.
• Represent a broad preclinical service portfolio with extensive disease model capabilities and flexible study solutions.
• Work directly with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies advancing innovative therapeutic programs.
• Build relationships within San Diego's active biotechnology and life sciences community while supporting clients across the U.S.
• Work in a collaborative, entrepreneurial, and client-focused environment.
• Make a direct impact on PharmaLegacy's U.S. growth and long-term client partnerships.
• Competitive compensation package including a $130,000–$140,000 base salary plus performance-based incentives.
• Work Location: San Diego, CA
• Travel: Regular travel for client meetings, conferences, and industry events is expected.