Business Services Specialist

About Aptuit

Aptuit, an Evotec company, is a pharmaceutical services provider that offers the most complete set of integrated early discovery to mid-phase drug development solutions by applying scientific excellence, outstanding service and a team of some of the foremost scientific professionals in the industry. These drug discovery and development professionals offer proven experience in key therapeutic areas. They share a legacy of success, having advanced a large number of molecules efficiently, expeditiously and economically, from early discovery through clinical development with low attrition rates. It is our uncommon expertise that allows Aptuit to identify the unexpected, mitigating risks and maximizing promising possibilities, ensuring exceptional results through an open, transparent climate of trust that our clients can count on. Our set of services include Drug Design & Discovery, API Development and Manufacture, Solid State Chemistry, CMC, and Preclinical and IND enabling GLP/GMP programs. Fully integrated drug discovery and development services are available from our facilities in the US and Europe.

Main Scope of Role:

Due to the sustained growth of our Company, we have an exciting new opportunity to join our Business Services Team. The Business Services Team provides the key commercial bridge between Sales and Operations helping manage revenue creation (sales funnel) and to ensure compelling, high-quality proposal documents are provided to our customers on time.

Key Responsibilities:

Successful candidates will ideally have a CMC technical background within API Development, Analytical Drug Product or Formulation R&D. You will be commercially competent with the knowledge and interpersonal skills to drive proposal writing from initiation to completion within short and challenging deadlines. The ability to shape and write compelling value propositions in conjunction with key scientists and the sales team will be critical to the success of this important role.

To achieve this, you must be proficient in multitasking and maintaining high standards with significant leadership qualities allied with a proactive and organized approach. In addition, you must be able to exert influence over those who you do not have direct authority. Responsibilities will also include:

• The preparation of proposals at Abingdon, including writing of documents and generation of the associated costing, with the flexibility to support proposals for the other sites and services as required.
• Liaise with Legal to ensure reference to correct legal terms is included in proposals.
• Instigate pricing discussions by providing appropriate, comprehensive data to the decision makers.
• Ensure timely escalation of potential issues to Line Manager
• Manage proposal templates and ensure they are updated and harmonised for consistency.
• Ensure routine compliance and timely completion of CRM, SharePoint and the costing tool.
• Promote continuous improvement in all aspects of the job: coordination with Sales and Operations, Finance, Legal, QA and EH&S to ensure the highest level of customer service.
• Deliver effective training to internal stakeholders as required.

Job Description

• Primary point of contact for a specific proposal from receipt of request to submission of proposal.
• Ensure proposals are prepared efficiently, timely, accurately and are customised technical documents that are captivating and compelling, to meet client needs.
• Receive and analyse requests for proposals (RFPs) from Sales and ensure appropriate subject matter experts (SMEs) are assigned to and aware of the RFP.
• Ability to communicate and work with personnel of all levels (across sites) within Evotec.

Other Skills or Attributes

• Strong influencing and negotiating skills
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal in English)
• Exceptional customer related experience and excellent client facing skills - desire to meet, and indeed exceed, customer expectations.
• Excellent working knowledge of contract development / research, pharmaceutical and biotech industries. In depth understanding of processes, technical issues, requirements of all the individual business and service lines and gain knowledge and understanding of Evotec’s integrated offering and how they interact with each other.
• Strong networking ability and able to be decisive in decision making when facing ambiguity.
• Proven ability to prioritise and manage multiple projects.
• Attention to detail.
• Self-motivated, independent, enthusiastic, collaborative, reliable with a strong work ethic
• Previous experience in technical sales, proposal writing, project management within the pharmaceutical industry or contract research organisation.
• Excellent IT skills (to include Word, PowerPoint and Excel)

Education, Qualifications and Experience:

BSc or PhD in a Chemistry related area, or equivalent