At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive business growth in life sciences by developing new opportunities and managing key accounts.
- Company: Rapidly expanding life sciences organisation with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance incentives, and career progression opportunities.
- Other info: Opportunity to shape the business development function and work with industry experts.
- Why this job: Lead impactful projects in a dynamic industry while mentoring future talent.
- Qualifications: Experience in business development within life sciences and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Senior Business Development Manager – Job Description
Location: UK (with flexibility for travel to company sites and client locations - US, UK, EU)
- Department: Commercial / Sales / Business Development
- Reports to: Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
- Role Purpose
The Senior Business Development Manager (SBDM) will drive commercial growth by developing new business, expanding key accounts, and shaping strategic opportunities across the medical device, pharmaceutical, and life sciences sectors.
This role requires a blend of technical understanding, commercial acumen, and leadership capability.
The successful candidate will be someone with significant industry experience who can either step directly into a team‑management role or grow into one within a defined time frame.
Key Responsibilities
- Business Growth & Market Development
- Develop and execute business development plans that support the organisation’s commercial strategy.
- Identify, qualify, and convert opportunities across the medical device, pharmaceutical, biotech, and related markets.
- Position the company’s testing, analytical, and regulatory support services effectively for customer needs.
- Lead on complex proposal development, pricing models, and contract negotiations.
- Key Account & Client Relationship Management
- Build and maintain long‑term relationships with key clients, acting as a trusted advisor on testing and compliance requirements.
- Deepen engagement with existing accounts, identifying cross‑selling and up‑selling opportunities.
- Coordinate with operational, technical, and laboratory teams to ensure high‑quality service delivery and customer satisfaction.
- Monitor industry trends, regulatory changes, competitor landscapes, and emerging technologies.
- Provide regular insight to the commercial leadership team to inform strategic planning.
- Assess new service areas, service enhancements, or geographic opportunities.
- Mentor junior business development and sales colleagues, supporting their development and performance.
- Contribute to the design and structure of the wider business development function.
- Take on line‑management responsibility where appropriate, with the potential to grow into a broader leadership role.
- Reporting & Forecasting
- Maintain accurate pipeline information within CRM systems.
- Produce regular sales forecasts, reports, and KPI updates for the CCO and senior leadership.
- Support budgeting, target setting, and commercial planning processes.
- Required Experience & Competencies
- Industry & Technical Background
- Significant experience in business development or sales within life sciences, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, or contract testing/CRO/CDMO environments.
- Understanding of laboratory testing services, regulatory frameworks (e. g., GMP, GLP, ISO 17025), and compliance considerations.
- Commercial Expertise
- Proven track record of winning new business and managing complex or multi‑service deals.
- Strong negotiation, presentation, and proposal development skills.
- Ability to engage confidently with both technical and C‑suite stakeholders.
- Leadership Capability
- Experience managing or mentoring team members or a clear ability to step into a management role soon.
- Strong organisational, planning, and decision‑making skills.
- Analytical & Operational Skills
- Comfortable working with CRM tools and commercial analytics.
- Ability to interpret and present both commercial and technical information effectively.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, engineering, business, or a related discipline (required).
- Professional commercial or scientific memberships (advantageous).
- Personal Attributes
- Strategic thinker with strong commercial instincts.
- Collaborative, approachable, and able to build rapport quickly.
- Accountable, resilient, and able to lead through change.
- Customer‑centric, with a high level of integrity and professionalism.
- Proactive, resourceful, and motivated by continuous improvement.
- What the Organisation Offers
- A senior commercial role with the opportunity to build or lead part of the business development function.
- A supportive, growth‑oriented environment within a rapidly expanding life sciences organisation.
- Competitive compensation with performance incentives.
- Career progression into broader commercial or leadership roles.
- Regular professional development and exposure to technical subject matter experts.
- Seniority level
- Director
- Employment type
- Full‑time
- Job function
- Business Development, Management, and Sales
- Industries: Medical Equipment Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and Hospitals and Health Care
Senior Business Development Manager in England employer: Sci-Rec
At Sci-Rec, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer in the Life Sciences sector, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through tailored development programmes and opportunities to engage with leading industry experts, all while working in a vibrant location that encourages creativity and professional networking. Join us to be part of a team that values your contributions and supports your career aspirations in a meaningful way.
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We think this is how you could land Senior Business Development Manager in England
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Business Development Manager in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, showcasing your analytical skills is a must. Make sure your CV includes relevant experience with data analysis tools, programming languages like SQL or Python, and any projects where you've interpreted complex data sets to drive business decisions.
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Tailor Your Documents for Us:When applying for a full-time role at Sci-Rec, tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect our organisational goals and strategies. Mention specific tools and methodologies that align with what we do—this shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in our mission!
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How to prepare for a job interview at Sci-Rec
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In a business intelligence role, you're going to need to demonstrate your analytical prowess. Be prepared to discuss specific tools you've used, like SQL, Tableau, or Power BI. Have real-world examples ready where you’ve turned data into actionable insights – this is what makes us shine in interviews!
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✨Portfolio of Projects
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✨Know their business model
Get familiar with Sci-Rec’s business model and recent data-driven decisions. Be prepared to discuss how your skills can specifically support their objectives or challenges. Understanding their landscape shows that you’re not just a data buff, but you’re also genuinely interested in how BI can impact their bottom line.
