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Head of Sales & Business Development - ATS Business Unit (x|f|m) - Job Opportunity at Sartorius

Bielefeld, Germany
Full-time
Executive
Posted: June 5, 2025
Hybrid
EUR 180,000 - 250,000 annually plus significant variable compensation. This executive-level position in Germany's life sciences sector, particularly within a DAX-listed company like Sartorius, typically commands premium compensation reflecting the strategic importance of the ATS division and the specialized expertise required in advanced therapy manufacturing.

Benefits

Flexible working hours (Gleitzeit) allowing optimal work-life integration and productivity optimization
Comprehensive professional development including mentoring programs, leadership development, and internal seminars for continuous career advancement
Remote work options and flexible schedules enabling geographical flexibility and improved work-life balance
Premium compensation package with vacation bonuses, holiday bonuses, and pension benefits exceeding standard market offerings
Generous 30 vacation days annually providing superior time-off allocation compared to industry standards
Modern campus facilities including open office spaces, terraces, company restaurant with diverse dietary options, Italian bistro, fitness studio and daycare center
Comprehensive onboarding program with virtual platform access, Welcome Workshops, and dedicated buddy system for seamless integration
International collaborative culture with specialized communities for coaching, agile working, and business women network fostering professional networking

Key Responsibilities

Architect and execute comprehensive business unit sales strategy encompassing long-term business development for both product and service portfolios, directly impacting revenue growth and market positioning
Lead and optimize global ATS sales operations while establishing ambitious growth targets through strategic sales funnel management and performance monitoring systems
Build and develop high-performing consultative sales teams through strategic recruitment, comprehensive training programs, and mentorship initiatives focused on sales excellence and business development capabilities
Drive market expansion through identification and pursuit of new business opportunities including product innovation, service enhancement, and geographic market penetration
Establish and maintain strategic industry relationships with key stakeholders, customers, and partners while identifying collaboration opportunities for business growth acceleration
Orchestrate cross-functional collaboration with product management, marketing, supply chain, and legal teams to ensure strategic alignment and execution excellence while maximizing customer value creation
Provide strategic market intelligence through industry trend analysis, competitive landscape assessment, and customer needs evaluation to guide product development and strategic decision-making
Lead high-stakes negotiations and pricing strategies in partnership with product management to optimize revenue and market positioning
Serve as company representative at key industry events, meetings, and professional gatherings to enhance corporate visibility and relationship building
Ensure comprehensive documentation and tracking of all commercial activities through Salesforce CRM system for optimal pipeline management and reporting

Requirements

Education

Master's degree in relevant field, preferably with an MBA

Experience

Minimum 10 years of experience in sales and/or business development within the advanced therapy or biopharmaceutical industry. Minimum 5 years of senior leadership experience and managing teams within a sales environment

Required Skills

Relevant technical knowledge and extensive industry knowledge from the advanced therapy field Proven track record of achieving sales targets and driving long-term business growth Strong industry network, with prior strategic selling experience, corporate positioning, new business development, and senior-level relationship management International sales and business development experience and ability to travel internationally as required Excellent communication, negotiation and networking skills at all levels of the organization internally and externally Analytical approach, ability to analyze and interpret data Fluent in English, additional language is a plus
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The advanced therapy and biopharmaceutical industry is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by breakthrough cell and gene therapies, with the global cell therapy market projected to reach $24.5 billion by 2030. This expansion is creating significant demand for specialized manufacturing equipment and services that Sartorius ATS division provides. Regulatory harmonization across major markets is accelerating commercial-scale manufacturing of advanced therapies, creating opportunities for integrated service providers who can navigate complex compliance requirements while delivering scalable solutions. The shift from autologous to allogeneic therapies is driving demand for larger-scale manufacturing capabilities, requiring sophisticated automation and process control systems that represent core growth areas for ATS business units. Digital transformation in biomanufacturing is creating new service opportunities around data analytics, process optimization, and remote monitoring capabilities, expanding the traditional equipment sales model into comprehensive service partnerships.

Role Significance

Typically managing a global sales organization of 15-25 professionals including regional sales directors, business development managers, and sales specialists across multiple geographic markets, with indirect influence over technical sales support and customer success teams.
This is a C-suite adjacent executive role with direct P&L responsibility for a strategic business unit within a major life sciences corporation. The position involves setting division-wide strategy, managing significant revenue targets, and representing the company at the highest industry levels, indicating substantial organizational influence and decision-making authority.

Key Projects

Leading multi-million dollar strategic partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies for integrated manufacturing solutions Orchestrating market entry strategies for emerging geographic regions with high cell therapy development activity Developing comprehensive service portfolios that transform traditional equipment sales into long-term partnership models Managing complex negotiations for turnkey manufacturing facility implementations worth $50-100 million

Success Factors

Deep understanding of advanced therapy manufacturing workflows and regulatory requirements enables credible consultative selling and strategic partnership development with sophisticated pharmaceutical clients Proven ability to build and scale high-performing international sales teams while maintaining consistent performance across diverse cultural and regulatory environments Strategic thinking capability to identify emerging market opportunities and translate them into actionable business development initiatives that drive sustainable revenue growth Executive presence and relationship-building skills necessary to engage with C-suite decision makers at major pharmaceutical companies and establish long-term strategic partnerships Data-driven approach to sales optimization combined with intuitive understanding of complex B2B sales cycles in highly regulated industries

Market Demand

Exceptionally high demand driven by the explosive growth in cell and gene therapy commercialization and the limited pool of executives with deep advanced therapy manufacturing expertise combined with proven sales leadership track record.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Advanced therapy manufacturing expertise is absolutely essential as this specialized knowledge enables credible engagement with sophisticated pharmaceutical clients and informs strategic decision-making about market opportunities and product development priorities International sales leadership experience is crucial given the global nature of pharmaceutical markets and the need to navigate diverse regulatory environments, cultural differences, and competitive landscapes across multiple regions Strategic partnership development skills are vital as the advanced therapy manufacturing market increasingly requires comprehensive solutions rather than individual products, demanding the ability to structure complex, multi-year collaboration agreements Cross-functional collaboration abilities are critical for success as this role requires seamless coordination with product management, technical teams, and regulatory affairs to deliver integrated solutions that meet stringent pharmaceutical manufacturing requirements

Beneficial Skills

Digital transformation knowledge becomes increasingly valuable as manufacturing operations incorporate Industry 4.0 technologies, IoT sensors, and advanced analytics capabilities that enhance process control and regulatory compliance Regulatory affairs understanding provides significant advantage in consultative selling situations where clients need guidance on compliance strategies and regulatory pathway optimization for new manufacturing processes Financial modeling and pricing strategy expertise enables more sophisticated deal structuring and helps optimize profit margins on complex, multi-component solutions Venture capital and private equity network connections can provide valuable market intelligence and access to emerging companies that represent future growth opportunities in the advanced therapy space

Unique Aspects

This role uniquely combines traditional pharmaceutical equipment sales with cutting-edge advanced therapy manufacturing, requiring deep technical expertise in emerging biotechnology applications
The position offers direct involvement in shaping the future of personalized medicine manufacturing through strategic partnerships with pioneering cell and gene therapy companies
Unlike typical sales leadership roles, this position requires extensive regulatory knowledge and the ability to navigate complex compliance requirements across multiple international markets
The role provides opportunity to influence product development strategy for next-generation manufacturing technologies that will define the advanced therapy industry

Career Growth

Career progression to C-suite roles typically occurs within 3-5 years for high-performing executives in this position, given the strategic nature of the role and the rapid growth trajectory of the advanced therapy manufacturing sector.

Potential Next Roles

Chief Commercial Officer or Chief Revenue Officer positions within life sciences companies, particularly those focused on manufacturing technologies or services General Manager or President roles for entire business divisions within larger pharmaceutical equipment or services companies CEO positions at mid-sized specialized life sciences companies, particularly those serving the advanced therapy manufacturing market Senior executive roles at private equity-backed life sciences companies focused on manufacturing technologies or services consolidation

Company Overview

Sartorius

Sartorius is a leading international partner of life science research and the biopharmaceutical industry, publicly traded on both DAX and TecDAX indices with over 150 years of innovation history. The company operates in two divisions: Bioprocess Solutions and Lab Products & Services, with the ATS (Advanced Therapy Solutions) representing a strategic growth area focused on cell and gene therapy manufacturing technologies.

Sartorius holds a dominant position in biopharmaceutical manufacturing with approximately 35% market share in single-use bioprocessing technologies. The company's strong financial performance and consistent growth have established it as a preferred partner for both emerging biotech companies and established pharmaceutical manufacturers globally.
The Bielefeld location serves as a key European hub for Sartorius operations, with the ATS division playing a crucial role in the company's strategy to capture the rapidly expanding cell and gene therapy manufacturing market across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific regions.
Sartorius maintains a science-driven, innovation-focused culture that emphasizes collaboration, continuous learning, and customer partnership. The company's commitment to work-life balance, professional development, and international collaboration creates an environment conducive to high-performance sales leadership and strategic thinking.
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