Associate Director Business Development

Accentuate Staffing is seeking an Associate Director of Business Development to join a national CRO organization. The Associate Director of Business Development supports revenue growth by developing and managing client relationships, qualifying new opportunities, building a sustainable sales pipeline, and leading RFP responses. This role focuses on developing foundational skills in ophthalmology-focused CRO solution selling while partnering closely with internal teams to deliver high-quality, client-centered solutions. This position is ideal for a motivated professional with CRO experience with the ability to travel up to 50%. This is a remote opportunity. Responsibilities Identify, qualify, and develop new business opportunities to support revenue growth Execute outbound prospecting and efficiently manage inbound leads Build and maintain a healthy, forward-looking opportunity pipeline Lead and support RFP and proposal responses, including bid defense preparation Conduct effective discovery conversations to understand client needs and objectives Build and nurture long-term relationships with sponsors, consultants, and key opinion leaders Develop and maintain a strong understanding of CRO services, clinical trial phases, and the drug development lifecycle Build or deepen expertise in ophthalmology clinical research and trial execution Partner with senior sales leadership, proposals, marketing, and operations teams to advance opportunities Guide internal stakeholders through complex situations, including bid defenses and change order discussions Help resolve disagreements related to scope, change orders, or operational execution Accurately track all activities, contacts, and opportunities within CRM systems Maintain discipline around sales processes, forecasting, and documentation Experience & Qualifications Must have previous CRO experience 1–3 years of sales, business development, or customer-facing experience within a CRO Prior experience as a Project Specialist, Regulatory Specialist, Patient Recruitment Specialist, Project Manager, Clinical Trial Manager, or Ophthalmology Study Coordinator Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, or a related field required Ophthalmology clinical research experience preferred Ability to ask strong discovery questions and align CRO services to client needs Skilled in outbound outreach and rapid qualification of inbound leads Professional, clear, and effective verbal and written communication with external and internal stakeholders Strong team orientation with the ability to influence across functions Detail-oriented, organized, and consistent in CRM usage and opportunity management Coachable, curious, and eager to learn Self-motivated with strong follow-through Comfortable with outreach, networking, and relationship-building Organized, detail-oriented, and process-driven Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment Comfortable operating in uncertain environments and solving problems collaboratively Capable of leading and guiding internal teams through complex or ambiguous situations