Business Development Manager

FairJourney Biologics is a globally recognized Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in antibody discovery, engineering, characterization, and production. We proudly serve leading pharmaceutical companies and top-tier biotech firms across the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Our cutting-edge facilities are based in Porto, Portugal, where innovation and scientific excellence drive every project. For more information, please visit FairJourney Biologics (fjbio.com).

The Role

The Business Development Manager is responsible for driving business growth by identifying and developing new commercial opportunities, building long-term client relationships, and contributing to the expansion of the company’s customer base within the biotech and life sciences sectors.

This role involves managing the full business development cycle, from opportunity identification to contract negotiation, while working closely with internal stakeholders to ensure accurate proposals, smooth client handover, and alignment with company strategy.

The scope, autonomy, and strategic responsibility of the role will be adjusted based on the candidate’s experience and seniority.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, markets, and potential clients aligned with the company’s strategic priorities.
• Manage the full sales cycle, including lead qualification, client engagement, proposal coordination, negotiation, and contract closure.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, and partners to foster trust and long-term collaboration.
• Conduct market and account analysis to understand customer needs, industry trends, and competitive dynamics.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams (Alliance Management, Marketing, Operations, and Scientific teams) to ensure accurate proposals and effective client handover.
• Represent the company at industry events, conferences, client meetings, and networking activities to strengthen market presence and generate pipeline.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of commercial activities, opportunities, and forecasts in the CRM system.
• Monitor business development performance and contribute to reporting and pipeline forecasting.
• Depending on seniority, contribute to territory or segment strategy, support or mentor less experienced BD colleagues, and manage more complex or strategic accounts.
• This role requires significant travel, estimated at approximately 50% of working time, depending on territory and business needs.
• Travel will include client visits, conferences, partnering events, and internal meetings across key markets.

Your Profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Biotechnology, or a related field. A Master’s or PhD degree is considered an advantage.
• 3 to 5 years minimum experience in business development, sales, or related commercial roles within the biotech, CRO, or CDMO environment.
• Proven ability to identify opportunities, build client relationships, and drive commercial discussions in an international setting.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to understand scientific and technical concepts and translate them into clear commercial value propositions.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to assess market information and prioritize opportunities.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple opportunities in parallel.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, international, and cross-functional environment.
• Proficiency with CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce, Monday.com) and Microsoft Office tools.
• Fluency in English; additional languages are a plus.
• Willingness and availability to travel extensively as part of the role.
• Must be located in the greater Boston area.
• Must have a rolodex of existing contacts across Biotech, VCs and Pharma in the Boston/Cambridge area.