Remote (occasional Sunderland head office attendance) 

Attractive salary & benefits (based on previous experience) 

The Company 

IGNIFI is a creative, digital and content communications agency that sparks and sustains successful brands for high-profile clients across human and animal health. 

We combine deep life sciences expertise with bold marketing thinking to deliver work that is not only strategically sound, but creatively distinctive. Our clients trust us to navigate complex therapy areas, regulatory environments and competitive landscapes, bringing clarity, innovation and measurable impact. 

At the heart of our success is a supportive, collaborative team that is driven to be the best. We pride ourselves on exceptional client service, a genuinely team-oriented culture, and a shared ambition to deliver outstanding results. 

As we continue our growth journey, we are looking for an ambitious and motivated Business Development Director to help shape the next phase of IGNIFI’s success. 

The Role 

As Business Development Director, you will report directly to the Managing Director and play a pivotal role in driving IGNIFI’s commercial growth. 

You will join a team small enough to offer true autonomy and influence yet established enough to deliver internationally significant projects for leading healthcare brands. This is a high-impact role for a commercially astute, strategically minded individual who thrives on identifying and converting opportunities into long-term partnerships. 

You will be responsible for therapy area mapping, drug pipeline tracking, and building a high-value network that generates tangible, qualified opportunities. From early prospecting through to proposal development and conversion, you will play a key role in the end-to-end business development cycle. 

Your ultimate objective is to deliver against ambitious sales targets and contribute to sustained year-on-year growth by expanding our existing client base. 

Responsibilities will also include: 

Identify, develop and convert new business opportunities across pharma and animal health sectors 

Build and nurture senior-level relationships with key decision-makers and stakeholders 

Map therapy areas and proactively track client pipelines to anticipate opportunities 

Lead the full business development lifecycle, from prospecting and outreach to handover to senior leadership team for proposal and pitch delivery 

Collaborate closely with strategy, creative and client services teams to shape compelling, insight-led proposals 

Develop and execute a clear business development strategy aligned to IGNIFI’s growth objectives 

Represent IGNIFI at industry events, conferences and networking opportunities to strengthen market presence 

Maintain a robust and accurate sales pipeline, ensuring consistent forecasting and reporting 

Contribute to positioning IGNIFI as a partner of choice through thought leadership and market insight 

What are we looking for? 

The successful candidate will have the following relevant experience: 

Proven track record in business development, ideally within a healthcare, pharma or agency environment 

Strong understanding of pharmaceutical marketing, medical communications, or healthcare ecosystems 

Demonstrated ability to generate leads, build pipelines and close high-value deals 

Excellent relationship-building, negotiation and influencing skills 

Strategic thinker with a hands-on, proactive approach to opportunity generation 

Confident communicator with strong presentation and storytelling abilities 

Experience working cross-functionally to support the development of winning proposals and solutions 

Self-motivated, ambitious and comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy 

Why join IGNIFI? 

A genuinely collaborative, supportive and high-performing culture 

The opportunity to shape and own the business development function 

Exposure to high-profile, global healthcare brands and projects 

A role with real influence on the agency’s growth trajectory

Flexibility, autonomy and the chance to make a tangible impact 

Competitive holiday allowance and an attractive benefits package, including IGNIFI contributory personal pension, Group Life Assurance, and access to YuLife and Medicash health and wellbeing schemes. 

Learn more about the team and our work https://ignifi.co.uk/