Director, Major Accounts - Strategic Partners

The Opportunity:

Join Avantor as a Global Account Director and lead strategic growth across our most valued global partnerships in the life sciences, biotech, and advanced manufacturing sectors.

This high-impact role is ideal for a seasoned commercial leader with experience in global account management, cross-functional collaboration, and customer-centric strategy.

You’ll serve as the executive point of contact for key accounts, driving alignment across geographies and functions to deliver exceptional value, margin growth, and customer satisfaction.

Candidates should be based near Cambridge, MA or the Greater Philadelphia area to support collaboration with key stakeholders and global accounts.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree or industry certifications (e.g., APICS, Six Sigma, MBA) preferred.

• 7+ years of sales leadership in a global, matrixed environment.
• Proven success managing executive-level customer relationships and leading cross-functional teams.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence across legal, finance, operations, and technical functions.
• Expertise in pricing strategy, contract negotiation, and vendor management.
• Skilled in leading presentations, proposal development, change management and driving strategic initiatives.
• Global market awareness and cultural fluency in customer engagement.
• Up to 50% travel required to maintain global account performance and customer engagement.

• Experience in life sciences, pharma, biotech, or specialty chemicals.
• Experience with multi-supplier/channel distribution or scientific supplier networks.
• Exposure to CDMO, CRO, capital equipment, or regulated environments.
• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Dynamics), forecasting tools (e.g., Power BI), and global compliance standards (e.g., GMP, ISO).

• Lead global account strategy, ensuring alignment across sales, supply chain, pricing, and contract teams.
• Drive growth in a matrix-selling environment through collaboration with internal teams and external suppliers.
• Serve as the executive liaison for global accounts, managing communications, performance metrics, and strategic initiatives.
• Develop and execute pricing and margin strategies in partnership with finance and procurement.
• Negotiate favorable terms with manufacturers and channel partners.
• Deliver impactful presentations and lead contract proposals for new and existing opportunities.
• Advocate for customer needs internally, ensuring timely resolution and long-term alignment.

Typically works in an office environment with adequate lighting and ventilation and a normal range of temperature and noise level.

Work assignments are diversified. Examples of past precedent are used to resolve work problems. New alternatives may be developed to resolve problems.

A frequent volume of work and deadlines impose strain on routine basis. Some overnight travel to sales meetings vendors may be required.

Minimal physical effort is required. Work is mostly sedentary but does require walking, standing, bending, reaching, lifting or carrying objects that typically weigh less than 10 lbs.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science.
The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at…