Pharma / BioPharma Business Development Specialist

Pharma / BioPharma Business Development Specialist

Location: Carlsbad, CA - San Francisco, CA

Salary: $140,000 - $144,000 per year

Who are we?

Established in 1975, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments is one of the largest suppliers of analytical instrumentation, physical testing, and environmental monitoring systems in the world.  Ground-breaking scientific research, manufacturing ideas and results continue to propel Shimazu’s outstanding reputation and “Excellence in Science.”  People dedicated to our mission have the largest impact on Shimadzu’s continued growth and success. Would YOU like to join a diverse team of professionals working together with researchers, scientists and manufacturers to help better lives worldwide?

What can Shimadzu offer YOU?

• Our Culture – A work environment that values diversity, inclusion & belonging


• Competitive Compensation – Day 1 Benefits & Competitive Salary


• Retirement Benefits – Matching 401K & Profit-Sharing Program


• Professional Growth – Clear pathways for Career, Leadership and Personal Development


• Health Benefits – Flexible Spending/Health Savings Accounts


• Work-Life Balance – Generous & Front-Loaded Paid Time Off Plan


• Education – Tuition Assistance Program for both graduate and undergraduate levels


• Insurance Perks – Pet Insurance, optional Identity theft, legal pre-paid and critical care buy-up insurance benefits, generous company paid life insurance & short-term disability programs


• Work Flexibility – Business casual Dress Attire & casual (jeans) Friday!


• Employee Engagement – Employee Resource Groups to network, build a sense of community and enhance one’s career and personal development

Position Summary:

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments is seeking a Pharma/BioPharma Business Development Specialist to drive growth within pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical markets across the Western U.S. This role is responsible for expanding Shimadzu’s presence within existing accounts and developing new customer relationships by engaging key scientific, technical, and business stakeholders across the drug development lifecycle.

The Business Development Specialist operates at a strategic level identifying market opportunities, building long-term customer relationships, and enabling account expansion across workflows including Discovery, ADME/DMPK, Bioanalysis, CMC, and QA/QC. This role works cross-functionally with regional sales, marketing, and product teams to align solutions with evolving customer needs and to accelerate revenue growth in the pharma segment.

Key Responsibilities

Market & Account Development

• Develop and execute strategic business development plans to expand Shimadzu’s footprint within pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical accounts


• Identify, prioritize, and engage new customer opportunities across pharma, biotech, CROs, and CDMOs


• Drive “land and expand” strategies by identifying opportunities to extend Shimadzu solutions across adjacent workflows and departments within key accounts


• Build and maintain high-value relationships with scientific leaders, lab managers, and decision-makers across target organizations

Customer Engagement & Value Positioning

• Lead customer-facing discussions focused on understanding scientific workflows, unmet needs, and business objectives


• Position Shimadzu solutions based on workflow impact and business value rather than product specifications


• Collaborate with technical and applications teams to align solutions with customer requirements and ensure effective solution positioning


• Support strategic sales opportunities by guiding messaging, value propositions, and overall deal strategy

Pharma Workflow Expertise

• Possess and develop deep understanding of pharmaceutical workflows, including Discovery, ADME/DMPK, Bioanalysis, CMC, and QA/QC


• Map customer organizations and align Shimadzu capabilities to specific functional groups and use cases


• Identify emerging trends in pharma research, development, and manufacturing, and translate those insights into actionable growth strategies

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with regional sales teams to drive pipeline creation, qualification, and progression within target accounts


• Collaborate with marketing on targeted campaigns, marketing initiatives, and industry engagement strategies


• Provide market feedback to product management and global teams to shape portfolio positioning and future development priorities


• Coordinate internal resources (applications, service, product specialists) to support strategic customer engagements

Market Intelligence & Industry Engagement

• Gather and communicate competitive intelligence, market trends, and customer insights to internal stakeholders


• Represent Shimadzu at industry conferences, scientific meetings, and customer events to strengthen brand presence and generate new opportunities


• Establish and develop relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs) to support long-term strategic initiatives

Scope & Travel

• Primary focus on the Western U.S. territory, with regional and national travel as required to support key customer engagements and strategic initiatives

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related scientific discipline required


• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field preferred


• Strong knowledge of chemistry, mass spectrometry, pharmaceutical discovery applications and laboratory workflows, and analytical instrumentation


• At least two years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry required with preference to laboratory experience.


• Sales experience preferred, but not required


• Ability to build productive relationships with customers, regional sales teams, marketing, and internal technical partners


• Ability to travel by air or car to support customer needs and business objectives

Compensation & Benefits:

This full-time, exempt position comes with a comprehensive benefits package. In your first year, you will receive 10 paid vacation days, 8 paid personal days, 8 paid scheduled holidays and 3 paid floating holidays (Residents of California and Puerto Rico will receive state-mandated sick leave instead of personal days). After one year of employment, you will also be eligible for a generous short-term disability program with the company covering 100% of monthly premiums.

The starting salary range for this role is $140,000 to $144,000 annually, paid semi-monthly. Additional variable compensation may include a discretionary year-end bonus based on overall company performance.

For more details on benefits, please visit www.ssi.shimadzu.com/jobs.

Shimadzu is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Shimadzu via email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position (and agency was requested to work the requisition) will be deemed the sole property of Shimadzu. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Shimadzu as a result of the referral or through other means.

EEO Statement:

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (SSI) is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, please click here.