EMEA Associate Director, Business Development

EMEA Associate Director, Business Development

Locations: Visp or Basel

Working Pattern: Remote with 50% regular travel involved

The role

We are seeking an EMEA Associate Director of Business Development to drive growth across Lonza’s Specialized Modalities platform, including cell therapy, viral vectors, exosomes, mRNA, and microbial development and manufacturing services.

In this role, you will build strong customer relationships across mainland Europe and develop new business opportunities. You will work closely with internal experts to deliver tailored solutions that meet customer needs and clearly demonstrate Lonza’s value.

***** The role involves regular travel of up to 50% to meet customers and attend industry events.

What you will get

• An agile career in a dynamic and innovative working culture

• An inclusive, ethical, and safety‑first workplace

• Compensation programmes that recognise performance and contribution

• A range of benefits depending on role and location

• Access to our full global benefits offering: https://www.lonza.com/careers/benefits

What you will do

• Build and manage a strong pipeline by engaging customers and developing new opportunities

• Own the sales cycle from first contact through to negotiation and deal closure

• Understand customer needs and position Lonza’s Specialized Modalities solutions effectively

• Develop a broad network across the cell and gene therapy, mRNA and Microbial markets

• Plan for, organize and attend customer meetings, conferences, and industry events to generate new leads

• Share market insights and competitive intelligence to support commercial strategy

• Collaborate with internal teams to deliver tailored proposals and smooth account handovers

What we are looking for

• A BSc or MSc or PhD in a scientific discipline is preferred

• 5+ years of commercial experience in the CDMO space within the pharmaceutical industry

• Fluent written and spoken English; additional languages are an advantage

• Proven experience managing a full sales or project lifecycle

• Proven previous involvement in contract negotiations in a leading role and as part of negotiating contracts. Ability to proactively lead all stakeholders involved up to final close of a contract

• Ability to create customer‑focused presentations

• Knowledge of the drug development lifecycle

• Strong technical understanding of cell and gene therapy, mRNA and Microbial manufacturing principles

• Experience using CRM tools such as Salesforce is desirable

About Lonza

At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With over 30 sites across five continents, our teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion, and Integrity guide how we work and succeed together.

Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported. If you are excited about helping transform breakthrough ideas into life‑changing therapies, we would love to hear from you.

Ready to shape the future of life sciences?

Apply now.