Strategic Account Activation Lead
The Strategic Account Activation Lead serves as a professional sales leader in building and maintaining a profitable and proactive relationship with assigned strategic accounts; specifically, group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and corporate accounts at our company's Animal Health Area business level, that support our company's Animal Health products and services in their offerings to veterinarians and customers. The Strategic Account Activation Lead focuses on building strong relationships with strategic account stakeholders at the regional and field sales organization level to understand their business model, unique value offerings and partnership opportunities. The Strategic Account Activation Lead will serve as the conduit between c-suite strategic account activation, regional level leadership and field level execution, responsible for working with the area teams to translate strategy into sales results. Geography includes : CT, NYC, NJ, PA, MD, DE, WV, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL.
Reporting to the Area Business Leader, the Strategic Account Activation Lead is responsible for developing a deep understanding of account goals, needs, and pain points to drive growth and ensure stability within their strategic account base. The individual will work collaboratively with our company's Animal Health field sales leadership teams, Strategic Account Managers and territory sales representatives and play a critical role in supporting our customer centric business model. This position is responsible for accounts critical within their assigned Area and accelerating occupancy and sales of key Animal Health products, supporting pull-through activities relative to the aligned strategy, and ensuring that our company's Animal Health is viewed as bringing value and technical innovations aligned to our strategic focus - The Science of Healthier Animals. This position works collaboratively with the sales and marketing organizations, to drive outcomes and actions, and to ensure accountability for shared organizational commitments. The Strategic Account Lead will focus on the primary accounts representing the largest opportunity of volume and sales as determined in conjunction with Area leadership teams. The Strategic Account Activation Lead discovers field level opportunities by leveraging analytics to drive accountability and uncover opportunities to maximize growth. Additionally, this position is responsible for understanding and utilizing market insights to drive opportunities and position Animal Health as an industry leader.
The Strategic Account Activation Lead contributes to a best-in-class Sales and Commercial Operations team by actively contributing to a culture that promotes innovation, continuous improvement, a customer-focused mindset, and values feedback and inclusion. The Strategic Account Activation Lead advocates for our company's Animal Health with an ability to unite shared values and growth. The individual partners with cross-functional peers to rally internal resources that meet customer needs, provide value, and retain our company's industry position. The Strategic Accounts Activation Lead also influences senior leadership to think and respond innovatively to industry and account trends and opportunities identified through direct experience and market data. The selected candidate must live within the assigned geography listed above and near a major US airport to fulfill 50-60% travel requirements as needed for the role.
Strategic responsibilities may include, but are not limited to :
- Execute sales strategies within assigned accounts and communicates delivered strategies to our company's Animal Health Sales leaders
- Identify marketing opportunities across teams for partnership and shepherd the opportunities to completion
- Responsible for developing and clearly articulating the value of our full partnership with strategic account decision makers to elevate mutually beneficial outcomes
- Candidate possesses professional and advanced presentation skills, focused on providing solutions for the customer
- The Strategic Account Activation Lead will utilize "other centered selling" in their approach to the customer, with an advanced skillset in developing business planning capabilities with the outcome of maximizing sales performance within the assigned geography
Operational Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to :
Align with Area teams to build synergies at the area level between our company's Animal Health and strategic account field level management (Regional Director and Medical Directors)Acts as a "connector" in aligning the strategic account hierarchy with our company's Animal Health resources (marketing, professionals services, etc.)Works cross functionally with responsible corporate account manager to execute tactical plans within most influential regional strategic accountsDeliver on Key Performance Measures of primary assigned strategic accounts through collaborative efforts with internal departments and across business unitsRegularly communicate and document all key account activities, including but not limited to sales trends, performance metrics, risks, and opportunities, to appropriate individuals and teamsCommunicates about product in a way that's meaningful and relevant to the regional decision makers to drive our company's Animal Health product recommendations at clinic level; customizes discussions and interactions based on aligned goalsInput and utilize call notes in MAXX (Salesforce)Attend Strategic Account Area & National Meetings, our company's Animal Health Area / Regional leadership meetings.Conduct quarterly business reviews ensuring that accounts understand the value of our company's Animal Health relationship and their performance relative to quarterly, semiannual, and annual growth expectationsTroubleshoot and take the lead on resolving any account issues, shepherd, and champion resolutionDeliver consistent messaging in communications to support our company's Animal Health's strategic prioritiesUses analytics and insights to enhance decision-making and tactical executionLeadership Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to :
Take leadership role to identify and adhere to key account management timelines for critical leadership discussions, quarterly reviews, and presentationsTake the lead on issues to understand how all scenarios and groups work together across organizations; Be an advocate for the combined goals of our company's Animal Health and strategic accounts on aligned priorities and goals.Partner, communicate, and facilitate collaborative interactions with peer organizations to ensure objectives, tactics, and long-term strategies are aligned and executed appropriately to achieve business goalsEnsure plans / actions / decisions do not negatively impact other species / business unitsShare best practices and organizational learnings with the Marketing organization and company-wide, where appropriateApplicable candidate must be able to lead without authority, driving key strategic imperatives in conjunction with the Area RM teams and their TM's.Organizational Network and Collaboration :
Internal Key Contacts :Area Business Leaders, Corporate Account Team, RM's TM's, Finance, Marketing, CABU Leadership, Sales LeaderExternal Key Contacts :External C-suite and strategic account sales leadership, external company networks, industry associationsBackground & Education :
Bachelor's Degree in Business related field, Animal Science or related disciplineMBA preferredMinimum of five (5) years account management or equivalent experienceDemonstrated ability to work within US animal health industry landscapeRequired Skills / Abilities :
Must be results oriented and able to work independently with little direct supervisionForward thinking; problem solverSuperior organizational, analytical, and time management skillsAbility to work collaboratively across all species, coordinating activities, leveraging resources, and knowledge of accounts to identify opportunities / solutions to resolve customer issues and drive results.Demonstrated understanding of positions' contribution to the business goals and willingness to adopt changes to current processes, identifying emerging needs, and participating in defining innovative solutions to meet customer needsExhibits expert skills in identifying unmet and evolving needs of customers and is sought out to provide customer-centric solutions that drive long-term sustainable resultsDemonstrates expertise in building partnerships and sustainable relationships with customers leveraging business insights to drive solutions and strategies throughout the customers' organizationsDemonstrated ability to develop and implement an accurate business planExcellent oral, written, and presentation communication skillsStrong understanding of financial and business metricsStrong selling and negotiation skillsHistory of sound decision making and innovative thinkingRequired Skills :
Accountability, Account Management, Animal Health Sales, Collaborative Networking, Commercial Account Management, Customer Care, Customer Experience Management, Customer Management, Dynamic Presentation, Industry Knowledge, Negotiation, Relationship Building, SalesPreferred Skills :
U.S. Hybrid Work ModelEffective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day