Senior Director, TIDES Discovery Business Development Europe at WuXi AppTec in UK

Job description

• The Head of EU Business Development, TIDES Discovery is responsible for driving commercial growth of the Oligonucleotide & Peptide (TIDES) Discovery CDMO business across Europe. The role leads the European Discovery BD team, develops strategic customer relationships, and identifies new business opportunities from early research through early clinical development.
• Working closely with global Business Development, Marketing, and senior leadership, the incumbent defines and executes the regional growth strategy, manages key customer collaborations, and accelerates revenue generation. The role reports directly to the VP, Head of STA & TIDES Business Development Europe.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the European TIDES Discovery Business Development team, driving commercial performance and execution of the regional growth strategy.
• Identify, develop, and secure new business opportunities for TIDES Discovery CRDMO services across Europe.
• Build and manage strategic relationships with key customers and partners, supporting programs from discovery through early clinical development.
• Develop and execute account strategies to expand existing business and acquire new clients in alignment with global commercial objectives.
• Collaborate closely with Global Business Development, Marketing, Operations, Scientific Affairs, and senior leadership to maximize customer success and business growth.
• Represent the company at industry conferences, scientific meetings, and customer engagements to strengthen market presence and generate new opportunities.
• Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and industry developments to identify emerging opportunities and shape commercial strategy.
• Lead commercial discussions for strategic collaborations and support executive engagement, business continuity planning, and resolution of critical customer issues.
• Drive accurate sales forecasting, pipeline management, and CRM excellence to ensure visibility and achievement of business objectives.
• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration and contribute to the continuous development of the TIDES Discovery commercial organization.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in Life Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related discipline (M.S. required; PhD preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in business development, commercial leadership, or client-facing roles within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, CRO, or CDMO industry, with a strong focus on TIDES (oligonucleotide and/or peptide) discovery services.
• Proven track record of successfully selling TIDES Discovery CRDMO services and building strategic customer relationships with biotech and pharmaceutical companies.
• Demonstrated success in driving revenue growth, managing complex sales cycles, and converting opportunities into long-term partnerships.
• Strong scientific understanding of oligonucleotide and peptide drug discovery and development workflows, with the ability to engage credibly with technical and executive stakeholders.
• Proven leadership experience in building and leading high-performing Business Development teams in a global environment.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, presentation, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence customers and internal leadership teams.
• Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar) and disciplined pipeline management practices preferred.

Skills

Required

• Business development
• Commercial leadership
• Client-facing roles
• Strategic customer relationship building
• Revenue growth
• Complex sales cycle management
• Leadership
• Communication
• Negotiation
• Presentation
• Stakeholder management

Preferred

• Pipeline management