Country Leader

Native; Pune District; Hybrid; INR 2,000,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global partner in the pharmaceutical sector is seeking a Senior Leadership role to establish and scale operations in India. Responsibilities include defining market entry strategies, building indirect sales networks, and leading a high-performing team. The ideal candidate has 5-10 years of experience in commercial management within the pharmaceutical or life sciences sectors and must be willing to travel extensively across India. Integrity and strong communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 5 to 10 years of senior commercial management experience required.
• Proven capability in managing indirect sales networks.
• Experience in regulated industries, preferably pharmaceutical.

Responsibilities

• Set up and scale India operations strategically.
• Develop and execute effective go-to-market strategies.
• Build and manage indirect sales partners across regions.
• Lead a high-performing commercial team.
• Position premium solutions in a regulated pharmaceutical environment and drive brand awareness.
• Develop strategic partnerships with EPC firms, consultants, and project stakeholders to enable engagement.
• Ensure robust forecasting, reporting, and alignment with global leadership.

Skills

Business setup experience

Indirect sales management

Stakeholder management

High integrity standards

Strong communication skills

Education

MBA or equivalent

Job description

Location: Open to Candidates from Metro City (Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore)

Role Overview

Our client is a globally established partner to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry, providing advanced validation, monitoring solutions, and specialised services. As part of its continued international expansion, the organisation is setting up and scaling its India operations.

This is a senior leadership role with end-to-end responsibility for building the India business. The position will work closely with global leadership and will play a pivotal role in establishing market presence, driving growth, and building a sustainable organisation in India. The role will require extensive travel across India.

Key Responsibilities

• Set up and scale India operations, including market entry strategy, organisational structure, and commercial execution
• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies across products and services, defining optimal routes to market with a strong indirect sales network
• Build, onboard, and manage indirect sales partners to ensure effective coverage, capability, and performance across regions
• Establish and lead a high-performing commercial team with relevant industry expertise
• Position premium, high-quality solutions effectively in a regulated, value-driven pharmaceutical environment
• Drive brand awareness and industry credibility through customer engagement, partnerships, and industry forums
• Develop strategic partnerships with EPC firms, consultants, and project stakeholders to enable early engagement in greenfield and expansion projects
• Ensure robust forecasting, reporting, and alignment with global leadership

Success Measures

• Successful establishment and scale-up of India operations
• Strong and sustained revenue growth across pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical segments
• Well-structured and high-performing indirect sales network with clear governance and accountability
• Recognised market positioning as a trusted, premium technology and compliance partner

Candidate Profile

• Demonstrated experience in setting up and scaling businesses or new markets in India
• Proven capability in building and managing indirect sales networks and channel-led growth models
• Experience positioning premium, high-quality products in regulated or compliance-led industries
• 5 to 10 years of senior commercial or general management experience, preferably within pharmaceutical, life sciences, or adjacent sectors
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to operate hands‑on in early stages and build scalable structures over time
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively across India
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and execution capabilities
• High standards of integrity and compliance