Vice President of Business Development

Job Description

Overview

This is a senior, business-critical leadership role within Medical Communications, accountable for driving revenue and gross margin performance across a portfolio of M3's most strategically important accounts, while helping build a leading a high-performing sales team. The VP of Business Development owns the strategic sales plan for their team, sets the standard for how M3 develops and commercialises fully integrated digital marketing solutions —hosted content on our Doctors.net.uk platform, medical education, online closed-loop marketing, hosted content digital advertising, analytics and outcomes — alongside M3 Studio, M3's in-house content creation offering, which produces custom-developed promotional materials to high standards of quality and compliance. The role ensures the team translates client needs into deliverable, profitable, non-transactional propositions that draw on the full breadth of M3's commercial and production capability.

This role offers a genuine growth pathway towards the EVP, Client Partnerships position over time, for the right candidate. The current EVP is in place and will actively mentor and develop the successful candidate, providing the exposure, delegated responsibility and track record needed to be considered for EVP-level accountability — including client strategy, cross-business commercial direction, and leadership of the wider sales organisation — as the candidate demonstrates sustained success and as business need evolves. This is not a succession-by-vacancy appointment; it is a deliberate investment in building senior commercial leadership bench-strength within Medical Communications.

The role operates across the business, working horizontally with Programme Management, Client Services, Business Solutions, Medical Writing, Marketing, Editorial and Design, M3 Studio, as well as vertically through direct line management of the Strategic Accounts sales team, to ensure delivery of revenue goals and targets at both individual and team level.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Revenue & Strategic Leadership

• Own and deliver the revenue and gross margin target for Strategic Accounts portfolio, across both personal accounts and the wider team's accounts
• Develop and own the strategic sales plan for their team — defining where growth will come from (deeper penetration in Europe, expansion into brands with limited current M3 engagement, new business acquisition, and increased uptake of M3 Studio's content production services across the portfolio)
• Act as the executive sponsor for a portfolio of the most significant named accounts, developing meaningful, mutually beneficial C-suite relationships
• Build strategically aligned, non-transactional proposals with autonomy, clearly defining client objectives and how M3 — including its digital, data and M3 Studio content capabilities — will achieve them

People & Line Management

• Directly line manage Senior Account Directors, Account Directors and Account Managers, providing clear direction, weekly prioritisation of opportunities, and agreed action plans in consultation with Programme Management
• Coach, develop and performance-manage the sales team, building capability and succession strength within the function, including fluency in positioning M3 Studio as part of integrated client solutions
• Foster a culture of accountability, forecasting discipline and collaborative internal networking across an often ambiguous internal landscape

Account & Commercial Governance

• Ensure account plans and account reviews are kept current and rigorous across the team's portfolio
• Maintain a detailed understanding of the financial status of the team's accounts, including revenue and billings status, and report this upward with accuracy
• Oversee delivery of successful programmes across accounts to maximise repeat business and account growth, working closely with M3 Studio to ensure promotional materials are delivered to the required quality and compliance standards
• Ensure SLAs are met and the customer receives the highest standard of service and campaign delivery
• Ensure individual campaigns are delivered within budget tolerances

Forecasting & Reporting

• Provide weekly, monthly and quarterly forecasts to the business, consolidating team-level and personal pipeline data
• Manage an accurate personal and team sales pipeline within the company CRM system
• Gather, monitor and analyse campaign performance data, providing detailed and useful insight back to clients and to internal leadership

Cross-Business Working

• Work across Sales (SAD, AD, AM), Medical Writing, Programme Management, Marketing, Editorial, Design and M3 Studio to increase the breadth of services offered to the portfolio and grow revenue generated from it
• Champion M3 Studio's content creation capability as a differentiator in client proposals, ensuring the sales team understands how to package it alongside M3's broader digital and data offering
• Represent M3 as a senior delegate at relevant exhibitions, conferences and industry events
• Partner closely with the EVP, Client Partnerships on key strategic accounts and business decisions, deputising where appropriate, to build the experience and visibility required for future progression

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate

• Proven senior B2B sales/business development leadership within the pharma/healthcare market, including demonstrable experience managing and developing a sales team
• Track record of selling strategically aligned digital solutions to pharma — hunting, proposing with dynamism and credibility, and closing in a timely manner
• Familiarity with, or ability to quickly develop fluency in, content production/creative services commercial models — able to position M3 Studio's capability credibly alongside digital and data solutions
• Pre-existing network of senior contacts within the pharma/healthcare market
• Ability to build and nurture lasting, fruitful relationships at C-suite level and across all levels of an account
• Ambition and demonstrable readiness to progress into broader executive leadership over time, including cross-business commercial strategy and client partnership ownership
• Comfortable operating with significant autonomy in an ambiguous internal environment, while building structure and discipline within their own team

Additional Information

About M3 EU:

M3 EU is at the forefront of healthcare innovation, offering digital solutions across healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and more. Since our inception in 2000, we’ve seen remarkable growth, fuelled by our mission to utilize the internet for a healthier world and more efficient healthcare systems.

Our success is anchored in our trusted digital platforms that engage physician communities globally, facilitating impactful medical education, precise job placement, and insightful market research. M3 EU prides itself on a dynamic and innovative work environment where every team member contributes to global health advancements.

Joining M3 EU means being part of a dedicated team striving to make a significant difference in healthcare. We provide a unique opportunity for you to be at the cutting edge of healthcare innovation, shaping the future in a meaningful career. Embrace the chance to drive change with M3 EU.

Benefits:   

• 25 days annual leave
• Participation in a company bonus scheme linked to personal and company performance
• Group Life Cover 4x salary
• Pension 4%/4% employee/employer contributions
• Vitality medical after probation
• Staff discount scheme
• Discounted gym membership​

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