Sr. Director Strategic Accounts - Pharma (Europe) in Maidenhead

This role sits at the center of Fortrea’s most important client relationships—partnering closely with the Global VP of Sales & Client Services, Business Unit Presidents, Scientific Leadership, and operational leaders to shape and execute bold global account strategies. You’ll own a high‑impact portfolio of alliance, strategic, and key accounts, driving revenue growth, expanding market share, and strengthening long‑term partnerships across multiple business units. The role blends strategy, relationship architecture, and commercial dealmaking, making you the trusted face of the business to senior client decision‑makers. You will own the relationship, grow the business, and turn strategy into results, representing Fortrea at the highest level with confidence, credibility, and collaboration.

Summary of Responsibilities

• Work with Global Vice President of Sales and Client Services, Business Unit Presidents, Global Scientific Leadership, Strategic Partnering Leadership and local operational leaders to develop and execute global account strategy within targeted alliance, strategic and key accounts.
• Accountable for achieving account portfolio financial goals and relationship building goals, growing market share of existing business unit service lines, and optimizing new business unit service line launch financial goals.
• Liaise with Alliance Management to identify, develop and execute integrated One Fortrea opportunities, build high‑level relationships, and manage the defined alliance, strategic and key accounts portfolio.
• Represent multiple BU service lines to client base, provide comprehensive intelligence on key competitors, and sell the business unit’s capabilities and differentiation frameworks.
• Serve as principal account interface and commercial negotiator for all BU sites, liaising with Scientific Leadership and Marketing to target scientific input that adds value to account strategy and deepens Fortrea’s scientific perception within accounts.
• Collaborate effectively with sales staff from other Fortrea units to bring potential opportunities to their attention and win multi‑unit projects.
• Develop and establish long‑term account plans, lead and negotiate business unit based MSA’s and preferred provider agreements.
• Communicate account plans, modification and account activity through Salesforce.com, use SFDC to manage internal communication and document territory and client information, and assist in determining margins and pricing with Client Services.
• Participate in proposal scope development and liaise with BU general management to ensure high quality delivery of services to account portfolio.
• Maintain frequent personal contact with clients, participate in corporate teams to build relationships with key accounts, and lead client presentations.

Qualifications (Minimum Required)

• Bachelor’s degree in life science or business field preferred.
• Advanced industry knowledge.
• Demonstrated client retention skills and ability to manage difficult client and/or financial situations.
• Ability to differentiate Fortrea from competitors.
• Experience developing and executing strategic business plans.
• Ability to manage and motivate client‑facing teams.
• Negotiation skills with 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 and strong customer orientation.
• Experience managing strategic accounts and knowledge of the drug development process.
• Ability to influence disparate groups and individuals.
• Strong financial acumen: delivering business results in a commercial environment, budgeting, financial planning and reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to acquire, grow and retain clients.
• English required, both oral and written.

Experience (Minimum Required)

• Extensive experience selling services directly to the pharmaceutical and biotech sector with direct interaction with mid‑level and executive level decision makers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Leadership

Physical Demands / Work Environment

• Standard office 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. 50 % travel required.