[Hiring] Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships & Growth @Certara

Role Description

The Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships & Growth will lead Certara's strategy to build and grow relationships across the contract research organization (CRO) ecosystem, creating a scalable channel for new business and sustainable growth across Certara's services and software.

• Develop senior relationships with global, regional, and specialty CROs and other organizations that support biopharma companies across the drug development lifecycle.
• Identify high-value opportunities within partner ecosystems.
• Mobilize the appropriate Certara capabilities.
• Drive new-logo acquisition, portfolio penetration, cross-selling, and revenue growth.

Responsibilities

• Build strategic partnerships: Identify, prioritize, and develop executive relationships with high-value CROs and related drug development partners.
• Create commercial opportunities: Develop systematic pathways from CRO relationships to engagement with biopharma sponsors and new commercial opportunities.
• Drive growth: Generate qualified pipeline and new business across Certara's services and software portfolio, including new-logo acquisition, cross-sell, and expansion opportunities.
• Orchestrate Certara: Partner across regional Account teams and global Portfolio teams to develop and execute opportunities, bringing together the right capabilities and expertise.
• Develop the channel: Create repeatable CRO partnership strategies, engagement models, and playbooks that can scale across the region.
• Provide market intelligence: Bring insight into CRO market trends, sponsor needs, therapeutic areas, and development priorities to inform Certara's commercial strategy.
• Build Certara's market position: Establish Certara as a trusted strategic development partner across the CRO and biopharma ecosystem.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive commercial, business development, strategic partnerships, or related experience within life sciences, biopharma, consulting, technology, or professional services.
• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, business, economics, finance, or related field; or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong understanding of the biopharmaceutical development ecosystem, CRO market, and sponsor needs.
• Demonstrated experience developing senior relationships with CROs, biopharma sponsors, and related drug development organizations.
• Proven track record of translating strategic relationships into measurable commercial growth.
• Exceptional executive presence, communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to influence and orchestrate across a complex, matrixed organization.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to build a CRO-focused commercial channel and create scalable growth.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the assigned region.

Success Measures

• Strategic partnerships established and activated.
• Biopharma sponsors engaged through CRO partner relationships.
• Qualified pipeline generated.
• New logos acquired.
• Bookings and revenue generated.
• Portfolio penetration and expansion.
• Cross-service and cross-portfolio opportunities.
• Conversion of partner relationships into commercial outcomes.