The Opportunity
We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven Business Development Director to lead business growth across Southeast Asia (SEA).
Based in Singapore, you will play a key role in expanding our presence across the region by identifying new business opportunities, developing strategic client relationships, and partnering with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to support their clinical development needs.
This is an exciting opportunity for a well-connected business development professional who enjoys building markets, developing long-term partnerships, and driving sustainable growth across a diverse and evolving life sciences landscape.
Key Responsibilities
Business Development & Revenue Growth
- Drive new business acquisition and revenue growth across Southeast Asia.
- Develop and execute regional business development strategies aligned with corporate growth objectives.
- Identify and develop opportunities across pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and life sciences companies.
- Manage the full sales cycle, from prospect identification and initial engagement through proposal development, negotiation, and contract award.
- Build and maintain a strong regional opportunity pipeline and deliver against annual sales targets.
Strategic Client Relationship Management
- Build trusted, long-term relationships with key pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients across SEA.
- Develop a strong understanding of clients' clinical development priorities and identify opportunities where Novotech can add value.
- Act as a strategic partner to clients and expand relationships across existing and new accounts.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen client engagement and grow strategic accounts.
Southeast Asia Market Strategy
- Develop and implement growth strategies for priority markets across Southeast Asia.
- Monitor industry trends, competitive activity, and developments within the regional biotech and pharmaceutical landscape.
- Identify emerging market opportunities and provide commercial insights to support regional growth strategies.
- Build and strengthen Novotech's network and presence within the SEA life sciences ecosystem.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with local, regional, and global operational, scientific, medical, and commercial teams to develop compelling solutions for clients.
- Support and lead strategic client presentations, proposals, and bid defence meetings.
- Ensure effective transition of awarded opportunities to operational teams.
- Represent Novotech at industry events, conferences, and relevant networking opportunities across the region.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Healthcare, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 5 years of sales and business development experience, ideally within the CRO, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, clinical research, or broader life sciences industry.
- Demonstrated success in developing new business and managing strategic client relationships.
- Proven ability to manage complex sales opportunities and achieve annual sales targets.
- Strong understanding of the Southeast Asian pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and/or clinical research landscape.
- Excellent communication, presentation, influencing, and negotiation skills.
- Strong business-level English proficiency.
- Ability and willingness to travel across Southeast Asia as required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Commercial experience within the CRO or clinical research industry.
- Established network within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and/or emerging biotech companies across Southeast Asia.
- Experience managing business development activities across multiple SEA markets.
- Strong understanding of the clinical development process and the ability to engage credibly with senior client stakeholders.
We offer hybrid working arrangements and full flexibility in working hours to ensure our staff achieve the work-life balance often missing in this role.
Novotech is proud to offer a great workplace. We are committed to being an employer of choice for gender equality and providing an inclusive work environment where everyone is treated fairly and with respect. Our team members are passionate about what we do, but we understand work is only of the things that is important to them. We support our team members with flexible working options, paid parental leave for both parents, flexible leave entitlements, wellness programs and ongoing development programs.
We are looking for people who are passionate about working clinical research and biotech, including people who identify as LGBTIQ+, have a disability or have caring responsibilities.
We are a Circle Back Initiative Employer and commit to respond to every application. We look forward to contacting you regarding your application.
You must have full unrestricted working rights in Singapore to be considered for this role. We unfortunately cannot provide sponsorship for this role.
About UsNovotech is a global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO).
At Novotech, ambition meets opportunity. As a globally recognized leader in clinical research and scientific advisory services, we are proud to combine our position at the forefront of the industry with an award-winning workplace culture that values ambition, innovation, and growth. Named Employer of Choice, Great Place to Work and Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE), we are committed to fostering an environment that reflects the life-changing work we do.
Since 1997, we have expanded our global footprint, now with 30+ offices across Asia-Pacific, the United States, and Europe. This growing network unites professionals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to advance therapies that improve patient outcomes worldwide.
At Novotech, our employees are at the heart of our success. By offering trust, flexibility, and autonomy through programs like NovoLife, our flexible benefits framework, we empower team members to create an effective work-life balance that delivers professional satisfaction and maximum results for clients.
With access to mentorship opportunities, professional development programs, and a dynamic community, Novotech offers a platform for driven individuals to achieve personal growth while shaping the future of healthcare. Join us to be a part of a team that values your contributions and supports your ambition to make a global impact.
At Novotech we have advanced therapeutic and regulatory expertise, the ability to execute across markets and a client-centric service model, so that our clients get a trusted, long-term partner and an accelerated path to bring their life-changing advances to market. This gives our employees the opportunity to develop their careers by joining a diverse and supportive global organization with a collaborative culture, whilst working with clients on the cutting-edge of life sciences.
At Novotech you will work alongside empowered teams with a shared commitment to success.
- Strategic vs transactional mindset.
- Ability to gain insights and make proactive decisions quickly.
- Culture that fosters partnership and collaboration, where every voice is heard and valued.
- Ongoing support from senior stakeholders and leadership team.
Novotech Singapore, Singapore, SGP Office
Singapore, Singapore
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