Manager, Business Development, National Center for Clinical Trials (NCCT)
Posted Aug 20, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
Behavioral
Walk me through a clinical trial deal you built from first contact with a sponsor all the way to signed contract. What did the pipeline look like at each stage?
whether the candidate has actually run a full sales cycle in clinical trials rather than just parts of one
Tell me about a time you had to bring legal, finance, and compliance teams together to get a study opportunity across the finish line. What got in the way and how did you handle it?
cross-functional coordination skills in a matrixed, regulated environment
Describe a proposal or pitch you built for a sponsor that didn't land the way you expected. What did you change afterward?
resilience and ability to learn from lost deals rather than just recount wins
Tell me about a long-term sponsor relationship you built that led to repeat business. What did you do to keep it going?
ability to sustain relationships over time rather than just close one-off deals
How do you keep track of industry trends and competitor activity in the clinical trials space, and can you give an example of something you learned that changed how you approached a prospect?
whether market intelligence gathering is a real habit or just a listed skill
Technical
What CRM system have you used to manage a pipeline, and how did you structure it to track deals from lead to contract execution?
real hands-on familiarity with CRM tools like Salesforce, not just passing familiarity
How does your understanding of clinical trial management systems shape the way you talk to sponsors about site capabilities?
depth of operational knowledge behind the sales pitch, not just relationship skills
What KPIs have you used before to measure business development performance, and how did you report on them to leadership?
whether the candidate can operationalize accountability, not just talk about relationships
What do you know about how academic medical centers or large site networks differ from smaller research sites when it comes to selling clinical trial services?
whether the candidate's experience actually matches the scale and complexity of Advocate Health's environment
Situational
How do you decide which therapeutic areas or sponsors to prioritize when you have limited time and a long list of possible leads?
strategic judgment and ability to align business development effort with organizational priorities
A pharma sponsor asks you for site feasibility numbers you don't have yet and wants an answer by Friday. What do you do?
how the candidate handles pressure and incomplete information without overpromising
How do you negotiate contract terms with a CRO when their priorities and the health system's priorities don't line up?
negotiation skill and ability to protect institutional interests while keeping the relationship intact
If a sponsor tells you a competing site network offered better terms, how do you respond in the moment?
composure and value-based selling versus reactive price matching
You're six weeks into a deal and the sponsor suddenly goes quiet. What's your next move?
persistence and judgment in managing stalled pipeline opportunities
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