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
