Senior Director, Commercial Development
Senior Director, Commercial Development

Senior Director, Commercial Development

Full-Time 72000 - 108000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead global contract processes and ensure compliance while driving strategic business goals.
  • Company: Join West, a pioneer in healthcare dedicated to improving patient lives for over a century.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse workplace, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare by leading innovative contract strategies.
  • Qualifications: 12+ years in commercial operations with strong leadership and negotiation skills.
  • Other info: Dynamic team environment with a commitment to continuous improvement and diversity.

The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.

At West, we’re a dedicated team that is connected by a purpose to improve patient lives that has been at the center of our Company for more than a century. Our story began when Herman O. West solved the problem of supplying penicillin in mass quantities to the US Government during World War 2. Through our work to deliver thousands of life‑saving and life‑enhancing injectable medicines to millions of patients daily, West’s indelible mark on the healthcare industry has just begun.

Job Summary

The job holder leads the end-to-end commercial contract process, ensuring efficient, compliant execution of supply, capacity, and confidentiality agreements. Oversees contract strategy, governance, and stakeholder alignment, including methodology development, negotiation best practices, and executive performance reporting. Drives creation of commercial materials and proposals while ensuring timely contract approvals and cross-functional collaboration to support strategic business goals.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

  • Lead a global contract administration team to ensure the short-, mid- and long-term strategy regarding commercial contracts are met.
  • Drive the execution of global contract strategy within area of responsibility and drive business processes and systems relating to customer contracts.
  • Provide related reporting to the organization and external auditors ensuring accuracy and precision with respect to all calculations and summaries.
  • Development of negotiation acumen for large strategic contracts which includes development of executive presence, execution on negotiation strategy, objection handling, and successfully concluding negotiations that benefit West.
  • Proactively partner with relevant stakeholders to deliver a continuous improvement philosophy to the contracting processes and to propose and execute process improvements and implement new standards where needed.
  • Own the reporting and dashboards to monitor contract development and execution.
  • Accountable that contracts are executed in compliance to the terms laid out within the respective agreements and are supported by the Contract Management System.
  • Oversight of the contract compliance function includes validation of new executed contracts as well as an annual review of existing contracts.
  • Works cross functionally with colleagues to optimize and execute the West Contract Process and to ensure that all stakeholders are familiar with the contract terms, requirements thereof, and meeting new stakeholder expectations.
  • Responsible for contract approval execution for all new contracts.
  • Oversee pricing activities related to contracted customers including price increase implementation, management reporting to monitor price increase and surcharge performance.
  • Prepare customer-facing and internal proposal templates to provide consistent, effective proposals with clear messaging that highlight the West value proposition.

Education

  • Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Business or equivalent experience required
  • Master's Degree in Business preferred

Work Experience

  • Minimum 12 years in Business, Commercial Operations or Commercial required

Preferred Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

  • Conscientious, team player with a desire to provide service excellence
  • Requires strong interpersonal skills and excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Leadership qualities to engender cooperation, respect and support globally and cross-functionally
  • Requires in-depth knowledge and experience of West customer facing business processes
  • Sound independent reasoning and judgment to establish work priorities, handle questions and be flexible to respond to constantly changing priorities or shifting deadlines
  • Continuous improvement mindset
  • Strong project management skills
  • Managerial or supervisory experience preferred
  • Negotiations experience or training a plus
  • Able to comply with the company’s safety and quality policies at all times

Travel Requirements

10%: Up to 26 business days per year

Physical Requirements

Sedentary-Exerting up to 10lbs/4kgs of force occasionally, and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.

Equal Opportunity Employer

West is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Senior Director, Commercial Development employer: West Pharmaceutical Services

At West, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. Our commitment to improving patient lives drives our mission, and we offer competitive benefits, continuous learning opportunities, and a supportive environment where your contributions truly matter. Join us in our state-of-the-art facilities, where you can make a meaningful impact in the healthcare industry while advancing your career.
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Contact Detail:

West Pharmaceutical Services Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Director, Commercial Development

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their mission, values, and recent developments. This will not only impress your interviewers but also help you tailor your answers to show how you can contribute to their goals.

✨Tip Number 3

Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or use online platforms to refine your responses. The more comfortable you are with your answers, the more confident you’ll feel during the actual interview.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after your interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for the role and appreciation for the opportunity.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Director, Commercial Development

Contract Management
Negotiation Skills
Stakeholder Engagement
Project Management
Interpersonal Skills
Communication Skills
Continuous Improvement Mindset
Leadership Qualities
Analytical Skills
Pricing Strategy
Compliance Knowledge
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Reporting and Dashboard Creation
Process Improvement

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in commercial development and contract management. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at West, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!

Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a Senior Director, you'll be leading a team, so it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership qualities. Share examples of how you've successfully managed teams or projects in the past, and how you foster collaboration and growth within your team.

Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and get straight to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that make it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our company culture there!

How to prepare for a job interview at West Pharmaceutical Services

✨Know Your Contracts Inside Out

Make sure you’re well-versed in the specifics of commercial contracts, especially those relevant to the healthcare industry. Brush up on negotiation best practices and be ready to discuss how you’ve successfully navigated complex agreements in the past.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a Senior Director, you'll need to lead a global team. Prepare examples that highlight your leadership style, how you've developed team skills, and your approach to succession planning. Be ready to discuss how you foster collaboration across functions.

✨Demonstrate Continuous Improvement Mindset

West values a continuous improvement philosophy. Think of specific instances where you’ve proposed or implemented process improvements in contract management. Be prepared to share how these changes positively impacted efficiency and compliance.

✨Prepare for Executive-Level Discussions

You’ll be reporting to executive teams, so practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Prepare to discuss how you would handle objections during negotiations and how you ensure all stakeholders are aligned with contract terms.

Senior Director, Commercial Development
West Pharmaceutical Services

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