Strategic Account Executive, Life Sciences

RTI International•Durham, NC

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

RTI International is an independent, scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world's most challenging problems. We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you. This position will fall with RTI's Growth Unit, which is responsible for managing how the institute pursues, wins, and grows our project portfolio. This unit works in close collaboration with RTI's operations and technical solutions units. RTI is recruiting for a Strategic Account Executive (SAE) and Sector Lead, Life Sciences. The focus of this role is on expanding RTI's business and impact in the life sciences industry, connecting commercial clients to RTI's service portfolio spanning from wet labs for physical experiments to dry labs for computational, data-driven work, and nonclinical and clinical services. As an SAE, you will leverage your market insight, professional network, and RTI's capabilities to expand RTI's business in the life sciences sector. This role offers you the opportunity to apply your capabilities in client expansion, account management, and go-to-market strategy development. You will work with business development specialists, marketing, and scientists at all career stages to understand scientific and industry trends, identify where RTI can add value, establish partnerships, and drive growth. An exciting aspect of this position is the opportunity to think holistically and systemically across the product development life cycle. It also means that you will be comfortable working across a wide array of disease areas, technology types, and multidisciplinary services. Our customers vary in their business maturity. This means we must be comfortable engaging with start-up and large companies alike on topics such as lab services and multi-omics informatics and analysis. You will also collaborate with SAEs focused on RTI's government business to develop service offerings and strategies relevant for both the public and commercial sectors. RTI is widely recognized as a great place to work, and you will find a collaborative culture and deep commitment to the mission to improve the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. Lastly, you will join a collaborative team of commercial business development staff who specialize in the business of science. In addition to Life Sciences, our broader team's priorities include Energy, Environmental Services, and Food and Agriculture. You will represent the Life Sciences as its sector lead in this collaborative. This means that you will support strategic initiatives that sit within the intersection of RTI's capabilities. Such initiatives could include sustainable health care, circularity, and advanced omics. You will also work with RTI's corporate development team, technical leadership, and scientists on impact pathways to generate durable business and social value in keeping with the institute's mission.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree and at least 18 years of total professional experience, or a Master's degree and at least 14 years of experience, or doctorate and at least 10 years of experience.
At least 6 years' demonstrable experience in a business development, client-centric/client facing role, or similar within the life sciences sector
Proven track record of growing a life sciences business portfolio.
To qualify, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and should not require, now or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B visa status, etc.)

Nice To Haves

Masters, doctorate, MD, or other degree in a life science related field.
Experience working with a diverse set of scientific and professional disciplines, including but not limited to laboratory and statistical sciences, product commercialization, software development, and consulting/advisory services.
This position is open to remote candidates as well as those who would prefer to be hybrid or on-site at our Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina campus. It is expected that this position will require frequent travel and conference attendance.
This role reports directly to the Vice President for Commercial Growth.

Responsibilities

Generate, shape, identify, and qualify new opportunities that align to RTI's strategy
Convert leads into awards through client relationships and sales best practices
Develop and deepen knowledge of RTI's services and clients to help drive long-term growth through the delivery of RTI's services, products, and expertise
Meet regularly with current and prospective clients to build trusted relationships and gain a better understanding of their needs, challenges, and overall environment
Manage client activity using client relationship management tools for maximum efficiency and visibility, carefully attuned to issues and proactively seek resolution
Improve client retention by driving accountability to improve the overall customer experience
Partner with project delivery teams to gain additional client knowledge, help ensure client satisfaction with current project work, and maintain a client-centric culture of business development
Continuously build the RTI brand by demonstrating how RTI adds value to clients
Understand the competitor landscape to gather business intelligence. Lead intelligence gathering to develop a robust business development pipeline
Develop short-, mid-, and long-term account plans and sector strategies that align with the intersection of the Life Science sector with RTI's capabilities, while considering RTI's mission, budgets, strategic priorities, policies and initiatives, pronouncements, and upcoming opportunities
Lead external partnership strategy and relationships to expand RTI's growth in the life sciences sector
Represent RTI at in-person client meetings, conferences, scientific meetings, industry days, webinars, and teaming meetings to gain better perspective of the client and competitive environments
Develop and support the external scientific and professional reputation of the organization through individual professional activities
Engage with internal corporate development, strategy, and marketing teams for market and competitor assessments
Collaborate internally with business development and project delivery teams to ensure efficient cross-selling, visibility on key projects, and proper allocation of resources
Build and maintain strong working relationships with project's scientific and project management staff, understanding how key technical capabilities align with client needs
Help develop and support the scientific and professional development of project staff to upskill current project teams to help ensure client satisfaction
Assist business units with strategic hiring and technical innovations
Participate in pipeline planning and proposal review, and make written contributions as necessary

Benefits

a competitive base salary
a generous paid time off policy
merit based annual increases
bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program
a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability)
access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan
paid parental leave for all parents
financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments
financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities
an employee assistance program
numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance