Director, Real-World Evidence & Data Solutions Business Development

Job Summary

The Advocate Health National Center for Clinical Trials (NCCT) is setting a new benchmark for excellence and innovation in clinical trial solutions. Our goal is to connect researchers to a broad population of patients and streamline the enrollment process, delivering more inclusive cohorts and more efficient clinical trials. We make it easy for patients to engage in clinical trials in their own communities. Grounded in experience and supported by the integrated research expertise of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the NCCT is a first-of-its-kind, fully integrated solution designed to make participation in clinical trials part of the standard of care for patients. Our technology ecosystem supports clinical trials across all stages of planning and execution, from recruitment and retention to management and virtual care, delivering efficient processes and high-quality results.

About the Role

The Business Development Director serves a key leadership role in advancing the mission of the NCCT by identifying, cultivating, and securing clinical trial opportunities with industry sponsors and other stakeholders. This individual will report to the Head of Commercial for NCCT, serving as a player-coach responsible for key accounts while leading a growing team of sales professionals. The Director will work across Business Development and Operational leadership to drive growth, enhance visibility, and expand the clinical trials portfolio across Advocate Health.

Essential Functions

• Manage key accounts to expand NCCT’s clinical trial opportunities, focusing on therapeutic areas aligned with Advocate Health’s strategic priorities.
• Oversee the reporting and progress of a robust business development pipeline, identifying and resolving barriers to progressing study opportunities to close.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with NCCT leadership, researchers, legal, finance, and compliance teams to establish and scale processes that maximize win rate while accelerating time to contract execution.
• Monitor industry trends, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities to inform strategic planning and positioning. Conduct research to identify new study opportunities and customer needs.
• Lead the creation and development of tailored proposals including negotiating terms and conditions, presentations, and pitch materials for prospective sponsor partners, showcasing NCCT’s capabilities and value proposition.
• Foster long-term relationships with sponsors and CROs, ensuring satisfaction and identifying opportunities for repeat or expanded engagement. Arrange business meetings with prospective clients, based on guidance from Business Development leadership.
• Develop, track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to business development activities, including deal volume, revenue impact, partner feedback, etc.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Additional Duties: Collaborate with cross-functional teams across clinical, operational, and administrative domains to ensure alignment and execution of strategic initiatives. Perform other related duties as assigned to support the overall success and mission of NCCT.

Skills/Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field, MBA preferred
• 7+ years of experience in business development, sales, or sales support roles
• 10+ years of experience in clinical research or related field
• 5+ years of experience using CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) to track pipeline and activities
• Familiarity with clinical trial management systems (CTMS) and CRM platforms
• Strategic leader with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset
• Knowledge of clinical trial operations, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices
• Strong negotiation, and relationship-building skills with experience advising clinical trial agreement and budget development
• Strong collaboration, influence and communication skills to partner effectively with relevant stakeholders
• Highly developed organizational, problem solving and analytical skills, with the ability to prioritize time-sensitive tasks
• Ability to work independently, make decisions and ensure project progress