Director of Business Development

Mantell Associates is partnered with a rapidly expanding AI‑powered small molecule drug discovery CRO based in Cambridge, who is seeking a Business Development Director to lead and scale commercial growth globally.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the go‑to‑market strategy for a platform that combines cutting‑edge machine learning with deep chemistry expertise to accelerate discovery for biotech and pharmaceutical partners.

Business Development Director – Responsibilities:

• Developing and executing the commercial strategy to achieve ambitious growth targets
• Identifying, qualifying, and closing new business opportunities across biotech, pharma, and research organisations
• Building and nurturing long‑term relationships with senior scientific and commercial stakeholders
• Clearly articulating the value proposition of the company’s AI‑enabled discovery services
• Collaborating with internal scientific, delivery, and leadership teams to support proposal development and contract negotiation
• Attending and representing the company at key scientific and industry conferences

Business Development Director – Requirements:

• Significant experience (typically 10+ years) in business development, sales or commercial leadership within life sciences, drug discovery services, CROs, or technology platforms
• A strong track record of selling scientific services or technology into biotech and pharmaceutical organisations
• Commercial acumen with the ability to manage complex sales cycles and close high‑value deals
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence senior decision‑makers
• A scientific understanding of early drug discovery, computational platforms, or AI/ML technologies (preferred but not essential)
• An entrepreneurial mindset, proactive approach, and a desire to build and scale commercial functions

Mantell Associates is a specialist Pharmaceutical and Life Science headhunting firm. For more information on this opportunity, contact us at +44 (0)20 3854 7700.

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