Sales Manager/Business Unit Manager in Pharma Company

Introduction

We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Sales Manager / Business Unit Manager to join our pharmaceutical business on a contract basis.

The primary objective of this position is to increase sales, strengthen our presence within the South African pharmaceutical market, develop key accounts, and identify new business opportunities .

This is a results-driven position suited to an individual who already has a strong network and established relationships within the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry.

The successful candidate should be able to leverage existing relationships while developing new opportunities across pharmacies, healthcare professionals, pharmacy groups and other relevant channels.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Developing and implementing a focused sales and business development strategy.

• Driving measurable sales growth across the existing pharmaceutical portfolio.

• Identifying and developing new customers, accounts and sales opportunities.

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with key customers and healthcare professionals.

• Growing relationships with independent pharmacies, pharmacy groups and pharmacy decision-makers .

• Developing and maintaining relationships with Gynaecologists and other specialists within the women's health market .

• Developing relationships with General Practitioners (GPs) and other relevant healthcare professionals.

• Identifying opportunities to increase product listings, recommendations and market penetration.

• Managing and growing key accounts.

• Re-engaging dormant or underperforming accounts and identifying opportunities for additional sales.

• Working closely with sales representatives to establish clear sales objectives and account plans.

• Monitoring sales performance and implementing corrective action where targets are not being achieved.

• Identifying competitor activity, pricing changes and market opportunities.

• Developing sales campaigns and strategies to support both existing and new products.

• Assisting with product launches and the introduction of new products into the market.

• Providing regular sales forecasts, pipeline updates and performance reports to management.

• Establishing clear action plans with measurable targets and timelines.

Desired Experience & Qualification

• Proven experience within the South African pharmaceutical industry .

• Previous experience as a Sales Manager, Business Unit Manager, National Sales Manager, Key Account Manager or senior pharmaceutical sales professional .

• A strong existing network within the pharmaceutical and healthcare market.

• Established relationships within the pharmacy sector are essential.

• Existing relationships with Gynaecologists are highly advantageous.

• Relationships and previous experience with GPs would be an additional advantage.

• Experience within women's health, fertility, supplements or related pharmaceutical categories would be highly beneficial.

• Strong commercial and business development capabilities.

• Demonstrated ability to grow sales and develop new accounts.

• Strong negotiation, communication and relationship-management skills.

• Ability to work independently and take ownership of sales performance.

• A practical, hands-on approach to business development rather than purely administrative sales management.

• Good understanding of the South African pharmaceutical and pharmacy environment.

Package & Remuneration

Remuneration will be market-related and dependent on the candidate's experience, existing network and track record .

The remuneration structure may include a combination of

• Good basic salary and benefits

• Performance-related incentives

• Sales growth targets and/or commission

• Agreed KPIs linked to new accounts, key account development and overall sales growth

The structure will be discussed with shortlisted candidates.