Sr. Business Development Director - Non-Human Primate Sales; Pharma & CROs

Overview

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform.

In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Sr. Business Development Director to lead sales efforts for our non-human primate (NHP) portfolio, targeting pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations (CROs). This role is critical in driving revenue growth, building strategic partnerships, and ensuring ethical and compliant practices in the sourcing and distribution of NHPs for preclinical research.

• Develop and execute a strategic sales plan to expand our NHP business within the pharma and CRO sectors.
• Identify, qualify, and close new business opportunities with key decision-makers in R&D, procurement, and lab operations.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with clients, understanding their research needs and aligning our offerings accordingly.
• Collaborate with internal teams (logistics, compliance, veterinary, and operations) to ensure timely and ethical delivery of NHPs.
• Stay current on industry trends, regulatory changes, and competitor activity to inform strategy and maintain a competitive edge.
• Represent the company at industry conferences, trade shows, and client meetings.
• Maintain accurate records of sales activities, forecasts, and customer interactions in CRM systems.

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in life sciences sales, preferably with experience in animal models or preclinical research services.
• Deep understanding of the pharmaceutical and CRO landscape, particularly in preclinical development.
• Knowledge of regulatory and ethical considerations related to the use of NHPs in research.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
• Preferred Experience:
• Prior experience selling NHPs or other research animals.
• Existing network within pharma R&D and CRO procurement teams.
• Familiarity with import/export regulations and animal welfare standards.

The pay range for this position is $120K - $160K USD annually + commission. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

About Corporate Functions:
The Corporate Functions provide operational support across Charles River in areas such as Human Resources, Finance, IT, Legal, Sales, Quality Assurance, Marketing, and Corporate Development. They partner with their colleagues across the company to develop and drive strategies and to set global standards. The functions are essential to providing a bridge between strategic vision and operational readiness, to ensure ongoing functional innovation and capability improvement.

Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities.

Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide…