Business Development Director

Evotec are actively recruiting for a Business Development Director to be responsible for driving new business growth and expanding existing client relationships for Drug Discovery & Pre-Clinical Development services.

This role manages the full sales cycle from direct prospecting and lead qualification to contract closure while ensuring high levels of client satisfaction. The Sales Director works closely with Operations, Proposals and Marketing, to deliver tailored solutions that meet the needs of pharmaceutical and biotech clients.

Evotec is a life science company that is pioneering the future of drug discovery and preclinical development. We strive for technology and science leadership in everything we do. Together with our partners, we accelerate the journey from concept to cure by leveraging cutting-edge technology, disruptive science, and extensive disease knowledge.

Job Title Business Development Director

EmploymentType Permanent

Location Field Based, ideally in Germany but will consider other European locations 

Key Responsibilities

Sales Growth

• Work with the VP of Sales to drive the overall commercial strategy within the territory.
• Establish Evotec as the partner of choice within the territory.
• Maintain high visibility in the territory, spending ~40-50% time client facing.
• Focus on new client acquisition, identifying new business opportunities with biotech and pharmaceutical companies.
•  Manage the entire sales pipeline, including in territory prospecting, follow-up, client meetings, proposals, contract negotiation and closure.
• Meet or exceed assigned sales targets and quarterly KPIs.
• Maintain a robust and accurate pipeline within the CRM system.

Client Relationship Management

• Develop long-term relationships with key decision-makers in client organisations.
• Conduct capability presentations, introductory calls/meetings, and needs-assessment meetings.
• Serve as the primary point of contact during the pre-award phase and ensure a seamless hand off to Project Management post-award.
• Manage selected accounts to encourage repeat business and identify cross-sell or up sell opportunities.

Market Insight & Industry Engagement

• Maintain awareness of CRO industry trends, competitive landscape, regulatory changes, and client R&D priorities.
• Represent the organisation at trade shows, conferences, events, and client site visits.
• Provide market feedback to internal teams to support service/product development, commercial strategy, and pipeline planning.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, or related field.
• Strong sales experience, ideally within a CRO, CDMO, biotech service provider, or pre-clinical research environment.
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding revenue targets.
• Broad understanding of the discovery and pre-clinical development process.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Willingness to travel extensively (40%+).

Preferred

• Established network within the biotech and/or pharmaceutical sectors.
• Experience selling complex scientific or technical services.

Key Competencies

• Strong commercial and analytical skills.
• Relationship building and client engagement.
• Resilient, results-driven and self-motivated.
• Excellent organisation and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

FR : Dans le cadre de sa politique Diversité, Evotec étudie, à compétences égales, toutes les candidatures dont celles des personnes en situation de handicap.

ENG : In the frame of our Diversity policy, Evotec considers, with equal competences, all applications including people with disabilities.