Assured Clinical Research (ACR) is a growing clinical research site network headquartered in the US, with active sites in Norwich, UK, and Columbus, OH, and a planned expansion in both UK and US markets. ACR operates on a multi-modality model, with GP-embedded community sites and strategic partnerships, delivering Phase I–IV clinical trials across respiratory, metabolic, dermatologic, and other therapeutic areas.
Our Leadership team brings deep US clinical research experience — our CEO has 20+ years of research experience with major networks including Aventiv and Centricity Research — combined with the regulatory infrastructure of UK MHRA-regulated site operations. This dual-market positioning gives ACR a distinctive competitive advantage as sponsors seek globally diverse, high-quality investigational sites.
We are at an exciting inflection point: transitioning from site establishment to active business development, with the infrastructure, SOPs, and operational capability to support sponsors and CROs across multiple concurrent studies. The Director of Business Development will be the driving force behind ACR's growth across both markets.
Role Overview
The Director of Business Development is a senior, commercially focused role responsible for generating and managing the full pipeline of sponsor and CRO opportunities across ACR's UK sites and US business development activities. This is primarily a hunting role: you will be responsible for building relationships from the ground up, identifying and converting new study opportunities, and representing ACR at key industry conferences.
You will work closely with the CEO, Chief of Staff, and Principal Investigators to craft compelling feasibility responses, develop BD strategy, and position ACR as the preferred partner for sponsors seeking high-performing investigational sites in the UK and US.
Key Responsibilities
Business Development & Pipeline Generation
* Proactively identify, target, and engage sponsors (pharma, biotech, medical device) and CROs with active or planned study portfolios relevant to ACR's therapeutic focus areas.
* Build and manage a robust pipeline of study opportunities using CRM tools, tracking prospects from initial contact through to feasibility submission and study award.
* Develop and execute outreach strategies across both warm referrals and cold prospecting, including targeted email campaigns, LinkedIn outreach, and conference networking.
* Respond to, and proactively pursue, feasibility questionnaires and site selection opportunities with compelling, data-supported submissions.
* Generate new study opportunities across ACR's sites in Swafhham and Columbus, with responsibility for supporting the planned UK and US expansion pipeline.
Sponsor & CRO Relationship Management
* Cultivate and maintain senior-level relationships with decision-makers at target sponsors and CROs across both US and UK/European markets.
* Serve as the primary point of contact for BD-stage sponsor and CRO interactions, ensuring a professional, responsive, and knowledgeable representation of ACR's capabilities.
* Engage with key CROs and sponsors operating in ACR's therapeutic areas.
* Represent ACR at major industry conferences including relevant UK/EU clinical research events, conducting pre-scheduled meetings with sponsors and CROs.
* Position ACR's UK sites effectively to US-based sponsors, articulating the regulatory, diversity, and community-access advantages of MHRA-regulated GP-embedded sites.
* Leverage existing US industry relationships to generate feasibility requests and study referrals for ACR's UK network.
* Navigate the differences in sponsor expectations, contracting norms, and regulatory language between US FDA and UK MHRA markets, adapting BD materials accordingly.
* Support ACR's engagement with SCRS Europe and other UK/EU industry bodies to build ACR's profile in the European clinical research community.
Capabilities & Marketing Support
* Develop and maintain BD materials including capability decks, site profiles, therapeutic area summaries, and feasibility response templates.
* Craft ACR's value proposition messaging for different sponsor and CRO audiences (large pharma, biotech, medical device, CRO), highlighting investigator diversity, GP-embedded patient access, and dual-market capability.
* Contribute to ACR's profile on CRO and sponsor databases, ensuring all information is current, complete, and competitively positioned.
* Work with the clinical and operations team to gather and present metrics (enrollment performance, screen failure rates, protocol deviation rates) that support sponsor confidence.
Reporting & Governance
* Report pipeline status, activity metrics, and revenue forecasts to the Leadership Team on a regular cadence.
* Maintain accurate CRM records of all BD activities, contacts, opportunities, and outcomes.
* Contribute to ACR's annual BD strategy and commercial planning process.
* Operate in compliance with ACR's SOPs, UK GDPR, and applicable data protection requirements when managing sponsor and CRO contact data.
Required Qualifications & Experience
* Minimum 3-5 years of business development experience in the clinical research industry, with a demonstrable track record of winning studies from sponsors and/or CROs.
* Direct experience working with or for clinical research sites or site networks (SMO experience strongly preferred).
* Established relationships with sponsors and/or CROs in the pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical device sectors, with the ability to activate those relationships on behalf of ACR.
* Proven ability to operate as an individual contributor in a lean, early-stage environment — building pipeline and executing outreach without relying on a large BD support infrastructure.
* Familiarity with the US clinical research market and FDA-regulated trial landscape.
* Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write compelling feasibility responses and capability narratives.
* Proficiency with CRM tools (Salesforce or equivalent) and standard BD platforms (LinkedIn Sales Navigator, conference meeting platforms).
* Willingness and ability to travel regularly, including transatlantic travel for US conferences and sponsor meetings.
Preferred Qualifications
* Experience selling into or working with UK/European clinical research markets, with understanding of MHRA regulatory context and UK site operations.
* Existing relationships with CROs that have active UK or European study portfolios.
* Experience with respiratory, metabolic, or primary care therapeutic areas, which are ACR's current areas of focus.
* Familiarity with sponsor diversity action plan requirements (FDA 2024 guidance) and the ability to position ACR's investigator diversity as a competitive advantage.
* Conference attendance history at SCRS, SCOPE Summit, or equivalent UK/EU events with an established network of contacts.
What We Offer
* A pivotal role in a high-growth, entrepreneurial clinical research organization with genuine influence over commercial strategy.
* Direct access to senior leadership and the ability to shape how ACR goes to market.
* A distinctive competitive narrative — ACR's GP-embedded community model, diverse investigator team, and dual US/UK positioning are genuine differentiators in the market.
* Competitive base salary with a performance-based commission structure tied to study awards.
* Flexible, remote-first working arrangement with regular travel to UK sites and US conferences.
* The opportunity to grow with the business as ACR expands its site network.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
* Assured Clinical Research is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, and we are an equal opportunities employer in compliance with the Equality Act 2010. Our investigator team's multicultural background is central to our mission of ensuring clinical trials are accessible and representative for all patient populations.
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