The Executive Director, Business Development & Strategic Client Relationships is responsible for driving growth through strategic Sponsor partnerships and early-phase (Phase I - 2) clinical development opportunities. This executive-level role focuses on building long-term, high-value relationships directly with pharmaceutical sponsors and biotechnology companies engaged in developing assets in ERG’s core therapeutic areas (CNS, Cardio-Metabolic, Pain) with a particular focus on assets entering first-in-human and early proof-of-concept trials.
The Executive Director serves as a senior commercial leader and ambassador for ERG and Lotus, aligning sponsor needs with the company’s internal infrastructure, clinical expertise, and operational strengths.
Key ResponsibilitiesPhase I-2 & Lotus-Focused Business Development• Lead enterprise-level business development efforts focused on Phase I-2 and early development programs, including first-in-human and early proof-of-concept studies.
• Develop and execute engagement strategies to build preferred partnerships and drive repeat business to ERG and Lotus.
• Identify, qualify, and pursue early-phase opportunities aligned with ERG’s therapeutic strengths, capacity, and operational capabilities.
• Maintain market insight into CRO operating models, sponsor pipelines, and early-phase development trends.
• Cultivate long-term, trusted partnerships based on clinical insight, credibility, and consistent delivery.
• Expand relationships through multi-study engagements, preferred site models, and early pipeline visibility.
• Represent ERG and Lotus at industry conferences and sponsor meetings as a senior spokesperson.
• Support development of complex client proposals, including feasibility assessments, budgets, timelines, and capacity planning.
• Collaborate closely with clinical operations, medical leadership, finance, and feasibility teams to ensure commercially sound proposals.
• Support pricing strategy and negotiations while ensuring alignment with internal delivery standards and risk tolerance.
• Maintain disciplined opportunity tracking, forecasting, and reporting using Lotus and EG CRM systems.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to translate CRO and sponsor requirements into operational and strategic priorities.
• Provide market feedback to inform Phase I capability development, site expansion, and service differentiation.
• Influence cross-functional alignment to support seamless execution from opportunity identification through study start-up.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, life sciences, healthcare, or a related field required.
• Advanced degree (MBA, Master’s, or PhD) strongly preferred.
• 8–10+ years of progressive business development or strategic partnership experience within a CRO, clinical research site network, or early-phase clinical research organization.
• Demonstrated success managing complex Phase I sales cycles and executive-level relationships.
• Deep understanding of Phase I clinical development and CRO engagement models.
• Executive-level communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial judgment and market awareness.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Proficiency with CRM platforms (i.e. Salesforce, Devana)
• Willingness to travel for CRO meetings, sponsor engagements, and industry events.
Additional Information
This position may evolve to reflect the company’s strategic growth objectives and early-phase development focus. This job description outlines the general scope and level of responsibility and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in business, life sciences, healthcare, or a related field
- 8–10+ years of progressive business development or strategic partnership experience within a CRO, clinical research site network, or early-phase clinical research organization
- Demonstrated success managing complex Phase I sales cycles and executive-level relationships
- Deep understanding of Phase I clinical development and CRO engagement models
- Executive-level communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
- Strategic thinking, commercial judgment, and market awareness
- Ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority
- Proficiency with CRM platforms such as Salesforce or Devana
- Advanced degree such as an MBA, Master’s, or PhD
- Willingness to travel for CRO meetings, sponsor engagements, and industry events
What We Do
ERG is a leading U.S. based, privately held, independent clinical research site company, and provider of clinical development services with an expertise in early and late stage neuroscience drug development. With 21 wholly owned clinical sites and 5 affiliated sites, we conduct in-patient and out-patient phase I-IV clinical research studies. ERG has 340+ in-patient beds, a large and growing database of patients suffering from mental illness, neurological disorders, sleep disorders, addictions, Acute and Chronic Pain, diabetes and other illnesses as well as normal healthy volunteers who participate in trials for the advancement of medicine. With access to over 32 million patients/subjects and 5000 + completed trials, ERG continues to grow its capabilities and expand into indications where there are tremendous unmet medical needs in the United States and globally. The ERG portfolio of sites we own consists of Woodland International Research Group, Woodland Research Northwest, Midwest Clinical Research, Pacific Research Network, Clinical Pharmacology of Miami, Brain Matters Research, Neuropsychiatric Research Center, Richmond Behavioral Associates, Finger Lakes Clinical Research, Endeavor Clinical Trials, and HD Research, all supported by an industry leading centralized infrastructure located in New Jersey. ERG offers consulting services to pharmaceutical and CRO clients, including access to key opinion leaders in Schizophrenia, Pain, Alzheimer’s disease, Sleep Disorders, Depression, Hepatic/Renal Impairment, Podiatry and Clinical Pharmacology. This includes Rater Training Services, Centralized Data Services (ECG, PSG, EEG, qEEG, Actigraphy), Medical Writing Services, Study Feasibility and Site Recommendation ERG also offers general consulting in study design, protocol review and budget planning, vendor resources, Scientific Advisory Board Planning and Implementation, study feasibility and site recommendations.
