Partner Manager, EMEA

Takara Bio; Saint-Germain-en-Laye; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Takara Bio is seeking a Partner Manager to drive the commercial management and development of its distributor and partner network across assigned EMEA markets. The role blends partner management, sales performance management and strategic planning to define targets, growth plans and actions.

The ideal candidate has scientific background, strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work across cultures and functions, with willingness to travel regularly to support partners.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in life sciences or related field.
• Minimum 2 years of sales, business development, distributor or partner management experience in life-science sectors.
• Strong understanding of life-science products and customer needs.
• Proven experience building relationships with international customers, distributors or partners.
• Experience managing business activities and relationships in diverse regions (EMEA/Middle East).
• Fluent English required; additional languages a plus.

Responsibilities

• Drive distributor performance and sales growth across the assigned EMEA markets.
• Define annual sales targets, forecasts and growth objectives with distributors and internal stakeholders.
• Monitor sales performance, pipeline and market data; identify opportunities and gaps and implement action plans.
• Lead regular business reviews with key distributors and follow up on objectives.
• Develop joint business plans with key partners to expand market presence and revenue.

Skills

Sales & business development

Distributor management

Partner management

Relationship management

Communication skills

English fluency

Travel willingness

Education

Master’s degree in life sciences

PhD preferred

Tools

Salesforce/CRM

Job description

The Role

The Partner Manager is responsible for the commercial management and development of the distributor and partner network across assigned EMEA markets.

The role combines partner management, sales performance management and strategic planning. The Partner Manager will define targets and growth plans with partners, monitor performance, identify opportunities and implement actions to maximize market potential.

The position requires a combination of scientific understanding, commercial acumen, strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively across cultures and functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Distributor Performance & Sales Growth
• Drive revenue growth and commercial performance across the assigned EMEA distributor and partner network.
• Define annual sales targets, forecasts and growth objectives with distributors and internal stakeholders.
• Monitor sales performance, pipeline and market data, identify opportunities and gaps, and implement action plans.
• Lead regular business reviews with key distributors and follow up on agreed objectives and initiatives.
• Partner Relationship & Business Development
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with distributors and strategic partners across EMEA.
• Develop joint business plans with key partners to expand market presence, product penetration and revenue.
• Identify new business opportunities within existing partner markets and develop actions to maximize their potential.
• Identify, evaluate, recruit and onboard new distribution partners where needed.
• Partner Enablement & Cross-functional Collaboration
• Work closely with Marketing, Product Management, Technical Support and other internal teams to develop and execute partner strategies.
• Identify partner training and support needs and coordinate appropriate enablement programs, tools and resources.
• Support distributors in the promotion and launch of new products, solutions and commercial initiatives.
• Market Development & Network Optimization
• Monitor market developments, customer needs, industry trends and competitive activity across assigned EMEA markets.
• Provide market and competitive insights to support business and product strategy.
• Represent Takara Bio at relevant industry conferences, exhibitions and customer events.
• Ensure effective management of distributor agreements and compliance with Takara Bio Europe policies and procedures.

Candidate Profile

• Master’s degree or PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology or a related life-science discipline.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in sales, business development, distributor management or partner management within the life-science, biotechnology, diagnostics or related industry.
• Strong understanding of life-science products, applications and customer needs.
• Proven experience building and developing relationships with international customers, distributors or business partners.
• Proven experience managing business activities and developing customer or distributor relationships in the Middle East.
• Strong commercial mindset, with the ability to identify opportunities and translate them into business growth.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Autonomous, proactive and results-oriented, while being an effective team player in an international environment.
• Fluent English is required; additional languages are an advantage.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly across the EMEA region.
• Experience with Salesforce/CRM, NGS, genomics, molecular biology, cellular biology or diagnostics is an advantage.