Sr. Business Development Director - Biotech (West Coast))

Fortrea

$160K — $180K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in life science or business related field preferred.
  • Advanced industry knowledge of business development within CRO or pharmaceutical sector.
  • Demonstrated client retention skills, especially in challenging situations.
  • Strong ability to manage and motivate client-facing teams.
  • Negotiation skills with experience in direct client negotiations.
  • Proven leadership experience presenting to executives and senior client personnel.
  • Strong financial acumen in a commercial environment.

Responsibilities

  • Achieve annual sales targets through proactive outreach and networking.
  • Cultivate and grow client relationships at decision-maker levels.
  • Develop account plans and strategic partnerships with key accounts.
  • Provide regular sales activity reports to management.
  • Identify and communicate sales opportunities across business units.
  • Lead client presentations and proposals effectively.
  • Manage strategic accounts and complex sales opportunities.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Life insurance and short-term/long-term disability benefits.
  • 401(K) plan with company match.
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
  • Flexible time off (PTO or FTO) to support work-life balance.
  • Eligibility for company bonuses based on performance.
Full Job Description
Job Overview:

In this role, you'll drive revenue growth across strategic and complex accounts through proactive outreach, smart networking, and sharp commercial execution.

You'll be the person who connects the dots-cultivating key decision-maker relationships, building account plans that actually move the needle, and spotting "next best" opportunities not just for your business unit, but across One Fortrea. You'll manage the pipeline like a pro, lead standout client presentations, and help shape pricing, proposals, MSAs, and preferred provider agreements-all while keeping the customer experience front and center.

Summary of Responsibilities:
  • Achieves annual sales plan and sales targets for assigned accounts through proactive sales activity and networking with assigned potential and existing accounts.
  • Establishes nurtures and grows client relationships at the appropriate levels.
  • Develops account plans and partnerships with key accounts and strategic partners.
  • Provides weekly sales activity reports to management.
  • Develops client call cycle to achieve objectives and sales plan; Follows up on leads.
  • Provides comprehensive intelligence on key competitors.
  • Sells the business unit's capabilities and differentiation frameworks.
  • Recognizes and communicates sales opportunities for other business units.
  • Sets and manages customer expectations.
  • Collaborates with companywide resources to achieve superior customer satisfaction.
  • Organizes and hosts client visits.
  • Evaluates quotations for territory and provides inputs to ensure client and company requirements are met.
  • Uses SFDC to manage internal communication and document territory and client information as required for the business unit.
  • Responsible for Opportunity Management and accurate pipeline forecasting.
  • Collaborates effectively with sales executives from other Fortrea units to bring potential opportunities to their attention and to identify and win multi-unit projects.
  • Assists in determining margins and pricing with Client Services.
  • Participates in proposal scope development as appropriate.
  • Maintains frequent personal contact with clients.
  • Participates in corporate teams to build relationships with key accounts.
  • Leads client presentations.
  • Identifies specific client needs that can be developed into new opportunities both within the business and for other Fortrea business units.
  • Acts as a coach and mentor to AE's within sphere of influence.
  • Proactively shares best practices with broader sales teams and assists in Zone meeting training.
  • Analyzes industry sources to identify business opportunities and leverage Fortrea relationships for prospective clients.
  • Manages strategic accounts and complex sales.
  • Coaches staff on interpretation of a RFP/quote/protocol.
  • Performs quality control activities for peers and less experienced staff.
  • Develops and establishes long-term account plans.
  • Leads and negotiates business unit based MSA's and preferred provider agreements.


Qualifications (Minimum Required):
  • Bachelor's degree in life science or business field preferred.
  • Advanced industry knowledge.
  • Demonstrated client retention skills,
  • Ability to manage difficult client and/or financial situations.
  • Strong working relationship with internal Fortrea management and site leadership.
  • Ability to differentiate Fortrea from competitors.
  • Experience developing and executing strategic business plans.
  • Ability to manage and motivate client facing teams.
  • Negotiation skills: direct face to face negotiating experience with major clients.
  • Demonstrated leadership experience in leading and presenting to executives and senior levels of the client organization.
  • Extensive global collaboration experience
  • Highly consultative
  • Strong customer orientation
  • Demonstrated ability to acquire, grow and retain clients.
  • Knowledge of the drug development process
  • Ability to influence disparate groups and individuals.
  • Strong financial acumen: delivering business results in a commercial environment; budgeting.


Experience (Minimum Required):
  • A minimum of 5 years of experience in business development within the CRO or pharmaceutical industry.


Physical Demands/Work Environment:
  • Flexibility to participate in meetings across various time zones outside core working hours.
  • Occasionally working extended hours to adhere to client deliverable timelines or attend client meetings.
  • Client base to include domestic, regional, or transatlantic responsibilities.


Pay Range: $160,000-$180,000 (The range does not include benefits, and if applicable, bonus, commission, or equity)

Benefits: All job offers will be based on a candidate's skills and prior relevant experience, applicable degrees/certifications, as well as internal equity and market data. Regular, full-time or part-time employees working 20 or more hours per week are eligible for comprehensive benefits including: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, STD/LTD, 401(K), ESPP, Paid time off (PTO) or Flexible time off (FTO), and Company bonus where applicable. For more detailed information, please click here.

Application deadline: July 20, 2026

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