Head of Business Development

Our client is an established, internationally recognised consultancy providing specialist regulatory affairs and drug development expertise to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide.

With more than two decades of experience, the organisation supports clients throughout Europe, North America and Asia, helping them navigate complex scientific, clinical and regulatory challenges throughout the drug development lifecycle.

Having built an excellent reputation through its scientific expertise and long-standing client relationships, the company is now looking to professionalise its business development activities and accelerate international growth.

Role overview

As Head of Business Development, you will take ownership of identifying, developing and securing new commercial opportunities across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Working directly with senior management and experienced scientific and regulatory consultants, you will help build a structured and proactive business development approach.

This is a hands-on commercial position, rather than a traditional sales management role. You'll be expected to engage directly with prospective clients, understand their scientific and regulatory challenges and identify where the company's consulting services can add value.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute a business development strategy focused on acquiring new pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients across Europe, the US and Asia.
• Identify, approach and build relationships with prospective clients, including senior stakeholders across regulatory affairs, clinical development and R&D.
• Understand customers' scientific, clinical and regulatory challenges, positioning the company's consulting services to address their specific development needs.
• Collaborate closely with internal scientific and regulatory experts to develop tailored proposals, progress commercial opportunities and expand existing client relationships.
• Represent the organisation at international conferences, industry exhibitions and networking events, identifying opportunities and building its market presence.
• Establish and manage structured sales pipelines, prospecting activities and client follow-up processes to support sustainable revenue growth.

Skills & experience

• Scientific Education: A university degree in natural sciences, ideally MSc level or above, providing a strong foundation in pharmaceutical or biotechnology drug development.
• Drug Development Knowledge: Several years of experience and a solid understanding of preclinical and/or clinical drug development, regulatory affairs and the pharmaceutical development lifecycle.
• Business Development Experience: Proven experience generating new business and acquiring clients within pharmaceutical regulatory consulting, CROs or related outsourced drug development services.
• Relevant Industry Background: Experience within regulatory consultancies, preclinical/clinical CROs, pharmaceutical regulatory affairs departments or drug development project management, ideally with exposure to selling scientific services.
• Commercial & Interpersonal Skills: An outgoing, confident and commercially driven personality, with excellent communication, relationship-building and negotiation skills and the ability to engage senior scientific decision-makers.
• Location & Flexibility: Fluent English, willingness to travel internationally and the ability to work primarily from Munich, with relocation support available for suitable candidates.

Why consider this opportunity?

This is a rare opportunity to join an established and highly regarded pharmaceutical consultancy at an important stage in its commercial development.

Unlike many senior business development positions, you won't be stepping into an existing sales structure. Instead, you'll have the opportunity to build and shape the company's first dedicated commercial function, introducing your own ideas, developing new approaches to client acquisition and making a direct contribution to international growth.

You'll benefit from an established global client base, a strong reputation within pharmaceutical regulatory consulting and the support of highly experienced scientific specialists.

Working directly with senior management, you'll have the autonomy to influence commercial strategy while developing your expertise across complex drug development and regulatory challenges.

For someone with a scientific background and a passion for business development, this offers an exciting combination of commercial ownership, professional development, international exposure and long-term career progression.

Your Consultant

James Allen is a specialist headhunter and executive search recruiter within the Medical Device and Life Sciences sector, focusing on Commercial, Go-to-Market, Sales, Strategy, Leadership and Engineering appointments across Europe. He works closely with ambitious medical device and healthcare businesses to identify high-impact commercial talent that can build teams, enter new markets, develop strategic partnerships and accelerate growth.