The Business Development Manager / Executive will play a critical role in accelerating the company's growth in Vietnam by identifying, evaluating, and executing in-licensing and partnership opportunities. The role will focus on expanding the current portfolio (beyond hyaluronic acid injections for or thopedics) into high-potential therapeutic areas, while providing deep local market insights and supporting strategic decision-making.

This position requires a strong understanding of the Vietnam pharmaceutical landscape, including regulatory pathways, commercial dynamics, and key stakeholders.

Responsibilities

1. Opportunity Sourcing & In-Licensing Execution

Proactively identify and generate a pipeline of in-licensing opportunities for already registered pharmaceutical products in Vietnam.
Screen and shortlist potential products based on:
Regulatory status and approval timeline
Market potential and competitive positioning
Pricing, reimbursement, and access conditions
Strategic fit with company's portfolio and capabilities
Approach and engage with potential licensors, partners, and local distributors.
Lead or support initial deal discussions, including commercial terms, distribution models, and partnership structures.
Prepare opportunity assessment briefs and present recommendations to management.

2. Market Intelligence & Landscape Analysis

Provide ongoing analysis of the Vietnam pharmaceutical market, including:
Therapy area trends (orthopedics, pain management, specialty care, chronic diseases, etc.)
Healthcare system structure (public vs private channels, hospital dynamics)
Regulatory requirements (product registration, importation, MAH structure)
Pricing and tender environment (hospital tenders, reimbursement policies)
Monitor competitor activity, including:
New product launches
Licensing deals and partnerships
Market access strategies
Identify untapped or underserved therapeutic segments with growth potential.

3. Portfolio Expansion & Strategic Planning

Recommend new therapy areas and product categories to diversify the portfolio beyond orthopedics.
Evaluate potential products from a clinical, commercial, and financial perspective, including:
Unmet medical need
Value proposition and differentiation
Target customers and treatment settings
Support the development of market entry and go-to-market strategies for selected products.
Work closely with regional teams to align with broader portfolio strategy.

4. Stakeholder Mapping & Relationship Management

Develop and maintain a strong network of:
Pharmaceutical companies (local and multinational)
Distributors and channel partners
Key opinion leaders (KOLs) and healthcare professionals
Regulatory consultants and industry experts
Represent the company in local meetings, industry events, and partner discussions.
Facilitate introductions and partnerships that accelerate deal-making.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

Collaborate with internal stakeholders including:
Regulatory Affairs (for feasibility and timelines)
Commercial / Sales teams (for market validation)
Legal and Finance (for deal structuring and contracts)
Ensure alignment between local insights and regional/global strategy.

6. Project Management & Execution

Manage multiple BD projects simultaneously, ensuring:
Timely progression of opportunities
Clear documentation and reporting
Risk identification and mitigation
Track deal pipeline and provide regular updates to management.
Support due diligence processes, including data collection and validation.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy, Medicine, Life Sciences, or Business (MBA is a plus)
Minimum 4-5 years in the pharmaceutical industry.
A good network in Vietnamese Pharmaceutical industry that could help identifying candidates for licensing in
Prior experience in one or more of the following areas: Business Development / Licensing, Product Management / Marketing, Strategy / Market Access.
Demonstrated experience in evaluating pharmaceutical products or managing partnerships is highly desirable.

Technical Knowledge:

Strong understanding of:

Vietnam drug registration process and regulatory environment
Pharmaceutical market structure and distribution channels
Hospital tender systems and pricing dynamics
Knowledge of multiple therapy areas beyond orthopedics is preferred.

Skills & Competencies

Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking
Ability to conduct independent market research and analysis
Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills
Strong communication and presentation abilities
High level of ownership and self-motivation in a lean setup
Ability to manage ambiguity and work in a project-based environment

Language & Location

Native Vietnamese speaker; fluent in English (both written and spoken).
Based in Ho Chi Minh City, with flexibility for local and regional travel.

Key Deliverables (First 6 months)

Identify and propose 5 actionable product opportunities
Support execution of at least 2 partnership discussions or deals
Establish a strong network of local partners and stakeholders
Develop a qualified pipeline of in-licensing opportunities
Deliver market landscape reports for priority therapy areas

Success Metrics (KPIs)

Number and quality of opportunities identified and evaluated
Progression rate of deals (from sourcing to negotiation)
Contribution to portfolio diversification
Timeliness and quality of market insights delivered
Strength and breadth of local stakeholder network
Alignment with company's strategic objectives and revenue goals

Business Development Manager (6 Months)