Director, Business Development

About Ardena

Ardena is a global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in precision medicine development. Ardena supports pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in bringing innovative, complex molecules from discovery to market.

The Ardena Group operates from five sites across Europe and the United States, employing more than 750 professionals. Ardena European sites are located in Oss and Assen (the Netherlands), Ghent (Belgium), and Pamplona (Spain). Ardena US facility is based in Somerset, New Jersey.

For the Ardena Business Unit based in Somerset (US), we are looking for a Director, Business Development.

Ardena provides integrated services spanning drug substance development, drug product formulation, GMP manufacturing, bioanalytical services, clinical logistics, fill and finish, and CMC regulatory support.

Job Overview

Position: [Job Title]

Department: [Department]

Location: Remote (Boston, MA)

Ardena is hiring a Director to join the Business Development team. This role supports pharmaceutical development and manufacturing activities within a GMP-regulated environment.

Role Description

The Director of Business Development will join the Business Development team and is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and securing contract research opportunities with biotechnology and pharmaceutical customers, with a primary focus on growing the U.S. market and supporting strategic growth in the Boston, Massachusetts biotechnology and pharmaceutical hub. The role leads proactive business development efforts by assessing scientific and commercial fit, advancing qualified opportunities through the full sales lifecycle, and aligning internal capabilities and services with customer research needs. The Director serves as a senior commercial representative of the organization and is expected to consistently demonstrate sound judgment, executive presence, and unwavering professionalism in all internal and external interactions.

Key Responsibilities

This is a remote, field‑based role with a primary geographic focus on the Boston, Massachusetts area.

• Proactively develop new business opportunities for contract research services by prospecting, networking, and calling on biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, with a strong emphasis on the Boston, MA market.

• Maintain a high level of in‑person customer engagement in the Boston area through regular meetings, site visits, and industry participation.

• Evaluate and assess contract research opportunities by understanding customer scientific objectives, development strategies, timelines, and business priorities.

• Partner with internal scientific, technical, and operational teams to assess feasibility, scope, and alignment of prospective opportunities with organizational capabilities.

• Respond to incoming leads and inquiries from multiple sources and qualify opportunities through structured business analysis, customer evaluation, and strategic fit assessment.

• Engage in the sales process from preliminary discussions through close of project and beyond, maintaining momentum and clear communication throughout the sales cycle.

• Present the organization’s research capabilities and value proposition to customers and support customer meetings, capability presentations, and site visits as required.

• Increase the value of each opportunity by identifying adjacent or follow‑on research needs and educating customers on the full range of services available across the organization.

• Ensure a successful transition to Project Management and operational teams when appropriate, while maintaining strong client relationships to support repeat and future business opportunities.

• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with customer stakeholders at multiple organizational levels, demonstrating consistent professionalism, discretion, and reliability.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all opportunities, activities, and forecasts within the CRM system.

• Provide regular pipeline updates, forecasts, and commercial insights to management.

• Represent the organization at relevant industry conferences, trade shows, and customer meetings, particularly those located in or related to the Boston biotechnology ecosystem.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Other duties as assigned
  

Success in this role will be measured by, but is not limited to, the following:

• Development and maintenance of a qualified, strategically aligned U.S. sales pipeline, with meaningful contribution from the Boston market

• Proposal‑to‑award conversion rates and quality of deal progression

• Revenue growth from new customer acquisition and expansion of existing accounts

• Effectiveness and consistency of opportunity qualification

• Accuracy and reliability of CRM data and sales forecasting

• Customer satisfaction, repeat business, and long‑term relationship development

• Quality of cross‑functional collaboration and effectiveness of project handoffs

Profile & Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Education and Experience: Minimum Bachelor's degree with work experience in the CDMO and or CRO services.

• 7+ years of experience in pharmaceutical industry with a focus on Drug Product Development, Drug Substance, and Bioanalytical services.

• Proven success in operating in the CDMO business.

• Ability to effectively build strong relationships within all levels/disciplines of a biopharma accounts—matrix approach involving both functional representation and multiple levels of senior management

• Proven leadership skills, track record of success, ability to understand customer needs, prioritize multiple tasks, and drive projects to completion.

• Fluent in English essential

  Work Environment/Safety Conditions: Remote field based/will require travel to GMP facilities globally.
  

What Ardena Offers

Ardena is a science-driven and people-focused employer. Working at Ardena means contributing to pharmaceutical projects that support the availability, safety, and quality of medicines for patients worldwide.

Ardena offers an international working environment where employees are encouraged to develop their expertise, take ownership, and grow their careers across functions and locations.

Benefits and perks at Ardena include:

• Competitive salary and tailored benefits package (adjusted per role and location)

• Flexible working arrangements and paid annual leave (where applicable, depending on role and site)

• International and collaborative work environment across European and US sites

• Access to professional development and training programs

• Meaningful work on pharmaceutical development projects that advance patient health

• A values-driven culture guided by Ardena’s CARE principles: Communicative, Accountable, Reliable, and Excellent

The salary range for this role is $165,000.00 - $180,000.00