Job Introduction
Business Development Operations Associate Manager (Drug Discovery, Preclinical and CMC)
Location: Remote, UK based
Pharmaron is a global CRO helping pharma and biotech companies bring new therapies to life. With over 21,000 employees worldwide across 23 sites in the UK, US, and China, we support drug discovery through to manufacturing with fully integrated, high-quality services.
We're proud of the impact we make—just last year, we supported over 780 discovery projects, 1,000+ CMC programmes, and 1,000+ clinical trials across all phases. Our teams are involved in everything from small molecules to gene therapies, and we work with more than 3,000 global customers.
As a BD Operations Associate Manager, you'll sit at the heart of our commercial activity, supporting Business Development teams across Discovery, Preclinical and CMC. You'll make sure opportunities move smoothly from quote to collaboration, keeping data, processes and communication on track.
Working closely with BD Managers and scientific teams across UK, you'll own quotations, opportunity tracking, Salesforce updates and internal coordination. This is a strong entry point into Business Development for a Scientist, offering hands-on exposure to the CRO environment and a clear platform to grow.
Designed as a remote position, the role includes close collaboration with colleagues across the business as well as periodic in-person attendance when needed, particularly during quarterly meetings, or when clients are visiting Pharmaron sites.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
- Support business development operations: Help coordinate activities that maintain and strengthen existing client relationships across the UK and Europe.
- Manage core BD Ops activities: Own quote generation, opportunity follow-up, purchase order tracking, budget monitoring, client agreements, CDAs, MSAs, and Salesforce updates.
- Coordinate between teams: Act as an organized point of contact between internal scientific teams and commercial colleagues to ensure opportunities progress efficiently and accurately.
- Manage incoming inquiries: Respond to and manage website-generated enquiries and other incoming business requests, ensuring timely routing, follow-up, and clear visibility.
- Maintain operational discipline: Help uphold high standards across email traffic, pipeline activity, and documentation, recognizing that administrative accuracy is critical to success.
- Contribute scientific insight: Provide relevant scientific input to client-facing discussions while maintaining focus on BD Ops support rather than direct business development.
- Thrive in a fast-paced environment: Work effectively across multiple priorities, adapting quickly and supporting the team with responsiveness and flexibility.
- Ensure consistent client experience: Collaborate across the business to deliver a consistent, professional experience throughout the business development process.
- Attend client meetings: Coordinate and attend client collaboration meetings, capturing and sharing comprehensive meeting minutes.
- Serve as central liaison: Act as a key point of coordination between clients, BD, and internal Pharmaron teams.
- Enable cross-functional alignment: Work closely with project management, operations, logistics, and scientific teams to ensure seamless collaboration.
- Support project transitions: Manage compound transfers and support project timelines when required.
Requirements
- A degree in biology, biosciences, pharmacology, ADME, DMPK or a related scientific field. Master or PhD preferred.
- Minimum 6+ years of experience in CRO or biotech environment.
- Experience in roles involving coordination, client support, scientific operations, or business development support within drug discovery or related areas would be strongly preferred.
- Strong organisational skills and comfort managing a role with a significant administrative and tracking component.
- Ability to work effectively under a high volume of activity and competing priorities.
- Commercial awareness and the ability to communicate clearly with both scientific and non-scientific stakeholders.
What we offer
At Pharmaron, you'll have the opportunity to take on a role that is both important to the day-to-day success of the commercial organisation and closely connected to a highly collaborative team. You'll join an environment where scientific knowledge, responsiveness, and operational excellence all matter, and where your contribution will support how relationships and opportunities are managed across the UK and Europe. This position offers the chance to build further depth in Business Development Operations, work alongside experienced colleagues, and contribute to a team that values practical input, adaptability, and strong partnership across functions.
Why Pharmaron?
- A strong entry point into Business Development — This role offers a structured introduction to BD within a global CRO, providing exposure to commercial processes, client interactions, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Learning and development — You'll work closely with experienced BD professionals and gain insight into how scientific services are positioned and delivered to clients across Europe.
- Collaborative Culture — At Pharmaron, you'll join a supportive, international team that values integrity, transparency, and high-quality work. We take pride in delivering for our clients and supporting each other to do our best work.