Client Relationship Director (Business Development)
At a glance
Director-level Business Development role at Parexel. Remote, United Kingdom · no salary stated · we estimate £90,000–£130,000 across the United Kingdom.
Parexel has not published a salary for this role. The figure below is our estimate, not theirs.
growthroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Build growth and profitability plans for assigned therapeutic areas, service lines, or regions
- Own account growth, bid pursuits, and commercial contract negotiations for designated clients
- Lead pursuit meetings and shape proposal narratives that show integrated solutions and return on investment
- Develop senior client relationships, uncover needs, and create consultative solutions using company capabilities
- Coordinate with delivery, finance, legal, and other teams to support pricing, handoffs, and account expansion
What you bring
- A bachelor's degree and multiple years in pharmaceutical services, preferably CRO, life sciences, or consulting
- Proven FSP sales experience, including account management and commercial strategy execution
- Strong knowledge of clinical trials, regulatory obligations, and drug development practices
- Skill presenting integrated proposals and communicating value to senior client stakeholders
- An advanced degree or experience spanning clinical research sales and delivery is preferred
Who this fits
This suits a senior business development professional who combines consultative selling, account leadership, commercial judgment, and clinical research knowledge. You should be comfortable influencing senior management, working across delivery and commercial teams, and responding quickly in a demanding environment. The role is remote and requires strong written and verbal communication.
From the employer
When our values align, there's no limit to what we can achieve.
At Parexel, we all share the same goal - to improve the world's health. From clinical trials to regulatory, consulting, and market access, every clinical development solution we provide is underpinned by something special - a deep conviction in what we do.
Each of us, no matter what we do at Parexel, contributes to the development of a therapy that ultimately will benefit a patient. We take our work personally, we do it with empathy and we're committed to making a difference.
About Parexel
Parexel is a leading global clinical development partner delivering insights-driven clinical and consulting solutions to the life sciences industry. With 22,000+ employees worldwide, we partner with biopharmaceutical companies and research sites to design and deliver patient-focused clinical trials that broaden access and make research a care option for anyone, anywhere.
We work with focus, agility, and shared purpose -- moving with urgency to address patient needs and accelerate the delivery of new therapies. We embrace bold thinking, adapt quickly to change, and continually raise the bar for the speed and quality of clinical research. We are expanding our team and seeking talented individuals to help drive industry-leading innovation, With Heart(R).
About the Role
We are seeking a Client Relationship Director to join our team in a remote capacity. As a Client Relationship Director, you will drive commercial growth and build strategic relationships within assigned accounts, supporting the Account Leader in developing and executing the business vision and strategy. This position plays a key role in account profitability, business development, and advancing clinical research solutions that impact patients globally.
You'll join a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment focused on making a meaningful impact through account leadership, bid pursuit strategy, and commercial negotiation. With diverse teams and continuous learning opportunities, the Client Relationship Director can explore career paths and expand skills across commercial strategy, client relationships, and clinical research solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Support Account Leader in developing and executing therapeutic area, service line, or region-specific account plans that drive growth and profitability
- Take direct responsibility for assigned accounts, including new business growth, bid pursuit strategy, and commercial contract negotiation
- Lead bid pursuit meetings and proposal strategy development in collaboration with cross-functional colleagues
- Develop compelling proposal narratives and executive summaries that demonstrate integrated solutions and return on investment
- Identify client needs and develop creative, consultative solutions leveraging Parexel's expertise, operational capabilities, and technologies
- Maintain high visibility within client organizations and develop strong relationships with senior management to drive repeat business
- Maintain comprehensive knowledge of all Parexel services and value propositions to identify cross-selling opportunities
- Ensure appropriate knowledge transfer to delivery teams, liaising with Project Integrator or Project Leader roles to communicate client needs and expectations
- Maintain close relationships with delivery teams to identify new opportunities and ensure continued account growth
- Monitor competitive activities, positioning, and pricing to inform strategy and understand reasons for awards and non-awards
- Ensure pricing strategies are appropriate to win business while meeting financial targets, profitability goals, and contractual requirements
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including SBU Delivery, Solutions Consultants, Sales Support, Business Operations, Finance, and Legal
Candidate Profile
You'll thrive in this role if you bring:
- Strategic and consulting skills in helping clients maximize short- and long-term drug development goals
- Strong ability to build relationships and communicate effectively at senior management levels
- Demonstrated commercial acumen and entrepreneurial drive blending urgency, strategic thinking, and influence
- Solid understanding of drug discovery, development principles, and clinical research processes
- Experience presenting, packaging, and proposing integrated solutions that demonstrate value and return on investment
- Highly effective communication skills at all levels with both clients and internal teams, with strong oral and written abilities
- Ability to influence and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, managers, clients, and customers
- Comfort operating in a demanding, fast-paced environment with the capability to react swiftly to changing business demands
- Drive to deliver quality results on time in a highly ethical and professional manner
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree required
- Multiple years of experience working in a pharmaceutical services environment, preferably in a CRO, Life Sciences company, or consulting background specializing in Life Sciences
- Demonstrated experience in FSP (Functional Service Provider) sales
- Demonstrated ability to manage accounts, develop business strategy, and execute commercial initiatives
- Strong understanding of clinical trial processes, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices
- Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (MBA or related field)
- Experience in both sales and delivery roles within clinical research or pharmaceutical services
- Track record of successfully managing client relationships and driving revenue growth
- Familiarity with clinical trial management systems (CTMS), electronic trial master files (eTMF), or related technologies
Benefits and Compensation
Our Talent Acquisition team will provide details on applicable bonus plans or incentive structures for eligible positions.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.
If this job doesn't sound like the next step in your career, but perhaps you know of someone who'd be a perfect fit, send them the link to apply!
We believe in flexibility, growth, and creating space for people to do their best work. Join us and be part of a team where your contributions help shape the future of clinical research.
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