Senior Director Business Development

Senior Business Development Director – GLP Toxicology & Preclinical Safety Assessment

Location: San Francisco

Company: Global Preclinical & Discovery CRO

We are seeking a commercially driven and scientifically credible Senior Business Development Director to lead strategic growth initiatives across GLP Toxicology and Preclinical Safety Assessment services within North America. Based in San Francisco, this role will focus on expanding partnerships with biotech, pharmaceutical, and emerging therapeutics companies throughout the Bay Area and broader West Coast ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive regional revenue growth for GLP Toxicology and Preclinical Safety Assessment services across biotech and pharmaceutical accounts.
• Identify, develop, and close strategic business opportunities aligned with company growth objectives.
• Build and manage a robust pipeline of opportunities spanning discovery toxicology, IND-enabling studies, safety pharmacology, DMPK, pathology, bioanalysis, and regulatory toxicology services.
• Lead complex sales cycles from prospecting through proposal development, negotiation, and contract execution.
• Develop long-term strategic relationships with executive and scientific stakeholders within sponsor organizations.

Client & Market Engagement

• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients on nonclinical development strategies and outsourcing models.
• Represent the company at scientific conferences, partnering events, industry meetings, and networking forums.
• Maintain strong awareness of competitive activity, market trends, and emerging therapeutic areas.
• Collaborate with marketing to support regional campaigns, thought leadership activities, and account-based initiatives.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with scientific operations, study directors, toxicologists, and project management teams to ensure alignment between client expectations and operational delivery.
• Support proposal strategy and pricing discussions to ensure commercially competitive and scientifically sound solutions.
• Facilitate seamless handover from business development to operational execution while maintaining executive-level client engagement.

Strategic Account Development

• Expand existing accounts through cross-selling of integrated discovery and preclinical development services.
• Identify opportunities for global program support across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific operations.
• Develop and execute strategic account plans for priority biotech and pharmaceutical customers.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences required; advanced degree (MS, PhD, MBA) preferred.
• 10+ years of business development experience within CRO, CDMO, or pharmaceutical services environments.
• Strong expertise in GLP Toxicology, preclinical safety assessment, IND-enabling studies, and nonclinical regulatory pathways.
• Demonstrated success selling complex outsourced research services to biotech and pharmaceutical companies.
• Established network within the San Francisco Bay Area biotech ecosystem strongly preferred.
• Excellent scientific communication, negotiation, and executive presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively across global, matrixed organizations.
• Willingness to travel regionally and internationally as required.

Preferred Expertise

• Regulatory toxicology strategy
• Safety pharmacology
• DMPK and bioanalytical services
• Large molecule and biologics safety assessment
• Cell & gene therapy nonclinical development
• Integrated discovery-to-IND outsourcing models

Key Success Metrics

• Annual revenue growth and quota attainment
• Strategic account expansion
• New client acquisition
• Pipeline development and conversion rates
• Client retention and satisfaction
• Cross-functional collaboration effectiveness

Whats On Offer?

• Opportunity to join a rapidly growing global CRO with integrated discovery and preclinical capabilities
• Exposure to innovative biotech and next-generation therapeutic programs
• Entrepreneurial and science-driven culture
• Competitive compensation package including performance-based incentives
• Global career growth opportunities within an expanding organization