Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager

Element is seeking a driven Business Development Manager to accelerate growth for our Santa Fe Springs, California laboratory, a leading provider of analytical testing, regulatory support, and pharmaceutical development services. This role will focus on expanding Element's presence across Southern California's thriving pharmaceutical, biotech, and life sciences markets, while collaborating with the broader Element network to deliver comprehensive solutions.

The ideal candidate will be based in the Greater Los Angeles region and serve as a key commercial driver for the Santa Fe Springs laboratory, connecting clients with high-value services that support product development, regulatory compliance, and speed to market.

Salary: $120k–$160k Base (DOE) and Sales Compensation Incentives.

Please note: Sponsorship is not available for this opportunity.

Site Status: Hybrid + Travel

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers across pharmaceutical, biotech, and life sciences organizations throughout Southern California
• Drive profitable sales growth for Element's Santa Fe Springs laboratory, with a focus on analytical chemistry testing, method development and validation, regulatory and compliance testing, pharmaceutical development services
• Identify, qualify, and convert new business opportunities aligned to analytical and regulatory testing capabilities
• Conduct technical needs assessments and develop tailored testing solutions in partnership with laboratory SMEs and operations teams
• Lead full sales cycle activities, including prospecting, proposal development, negotiation, and closing
• Develop and present technical proposals, scopes of work, and cost estimates that align customer needs with laboratory capabilities
• Gather and analyze market and regulatory intelligence to identify emerging opportunities across the Southern California life sciences ecosystem
• Represent Element at industry conferences, client meetings, and professional associations
• Collaborate cross-functionally with technical experts, lab leadership, and internal commercial teams to ensure high-quality solution delivery and customer satisfaction
• Maintain accurate CRM records, including pipeline tracking, forecasting, and activity reporting
• Proactively follow up on proposals and quotations to drive conversion and revenue growth
• Identify opportunities to leverage broader Element capabilities, including cross-site services when applicable

Skills / Qualifications

• 5+ years of technical sales experience, preferably in pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences markets
• Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline preferred (or equivalent experience)
• Strong understanding of the pharmaceutical regulatory landscape (e.g., FDA, cGMP, ICH guidelines)
• Experience selling analytical testing, laboratory services, or pharmaceutical development solutions
• Ability to interpret technical testing requirements and laboratory capabilities
• Demonstrated success managing complex sales cycles and technical stakeholders
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
• Proficiency with CRM systems (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics) and Microsoft Office tools
• Ability to travel up to 50%, including overnight travel

Company Overview

Element is one of the fastest growing testing, inspection and certification businesses in the world. Globally we have more than 9,000 brilliant minds operating from 270 sites across 30 countries. Together we share an ambitious purpose to 'Make tomorrow safer than today'.

When failure in use is not an option, we help customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. From early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals and into production, our global laboratory network of scientists, engineers, and technologists support customers to achieve assurance over product quality, sustainable outcomes, and market access.

While we are proud of our global reach, working at Element feels like being part of a smaller company. We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development.

Industries across the world depend on our care, attention to detail and the absolute accuracy of our work. The role we have to play in creating a safer world is much bigger than our organization.

Diversity Statement

At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming "the world's most trusted testing partner".

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.