Business development director / associate director

Drug Product Business Development Director/Associate Director (depending on candidate)

Location: UK or Mainland Europe (Remote/Hybrid)

Travel: ~50% (international and industry events)

Seeking: An experienced Business Development professional who has demonstrated success in generating new business and account growth.

About Curia

Curia is a global contract research, development, and manufacturing organization (CDMO) partnering with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to bring life-changing therapies to patients worldwide. With a commitment to scientific excellence and customer focus, we deliver high-quality solutions across the drug development lifecycle. At Curia, our work has real impact—improving lives through the medicines we help develop and manufacture.

The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated and commercially driven Business Development Director/Associate Director to support the continued growth of our Drug Product (sterile) services across Europe. This role will have a primary focus on new business generation, working closely with internal technical experts and commercial colleagues to deliver tailored solutions to our clients.

This is a remote or hybrid opportunity, open to candidates based in the UK or mainland Europe.

Key Responsibilities include

• Develop and execute a territory growth strategy aligned to revenue and pipeline targets
• Drive new business generation through proactive prospecting, networking, and industry engagement
• Build and maintain strong relationships with pharma and biotech clients, acting as a trusted partner
• Identify market trends, customer needs, and competitive positioning to inform commercial strategy
• Lead and support client interactions, including capability presentations, solution discussions, and proposal development
• Collaborate cross-functionally with technical, operations, and project teams to ensure client requirements are translated into deliverable solutions
• Manage and grow existing accounts, identifying opportunities for upselling and long-term partnerships
• Support contract negotiations and contribute to successful deal closure
• Represent Curia at industry conferences, exhibitions, and networking events

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biology, or related discipline (Master’s preferred)
• Proven experience (~3+ years) in business development CDMO, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or drug product development
• Strong understanding of drug product formulation development and manufacture services and the pharmaceutical development lifecycle (preference for experience in sterile drug product services)
• Demonstrated ability to generate leads, build pipeline, and close complex commercial deals
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
• Available to travel
• Highly self-motivated, with the ability to work effectively in a remote, matrixed organization designed for collaboration.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally (~50%)

Preferred Experience

• Established network within European pharma and biotech markets
• Track record of success in sales and account management within CDMO environments
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of market dynamics and customer decision-making processes

Why Join Curia?

• Be part of a growing global CDMO at the forefront of pharmaceutical innovation
• Work in a collaborative, science-driven environment
• Competitive compensation and benefits package
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patient outcomes worldwide
• Curia cares for its employees, providing highly competitive compensation and benefits.

Diversity & Inclusion

Curia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability.