Sales Representative

Avantor; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 59,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

Avantor seeks a University of Kentucky Account Sales Representative to manage a major academic account, develop strong relationships with investigators, labs, and procurement, and identify new business opportunities. You will focus on growth of laboratory consumables, chemicals, equipment, instruments, and services.

The role requires spending a minimum of five days per week on campus near Lexington, with a strong emphasis on strategic account planning, revenue growth, and customer value.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent sales experience.
• Proven success in B2B sales, laboratory sales, life sciences, healthcare, scientific distribution, or related industries preferred.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex customer organizations and multiple decision-makers.
• Experience working with academic, healthcare, or research institutions is preferred.
• Self-motivated with excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to analyze sales data, identify growth opportunities, and execute strategic account plans.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an on-campus presence at the University of Kentucky a minimum of five days per week to support customer relationships and identify new opportunities.
• Manage and grow a multi-million-dollar territory by developing strategic account plans focused on revenue growth and profitability.
• Build relationships with principal investigators, laboratory managers, procurement, department administrators, researchers, and key decision-makers.
• Identify opportunities to increase share of wallet across chemicals, consumables, equipment, instruments, and services.
• Conduct regular laboratory visits to uncover unmet customer needs and introduce value-added solutions.
• Drive new customer acquisition while protecting existing business from competitive threats.
• Develop and maintain a healthy sales pipeline through prospecting, opportunity management, and customer follow-up.
• Partner with supplier representatives and internal product specialists to execute joint sales calls and customer presentations.
• Collaborate with Customer Service, Operations, Marketing, Technical Specialists, and Sales Leadership to deliver an exceptional customer experience.
• Lead contract compliance initiatives and promote preferred supplier programs.
• Forecast sales accurately and maintain opportunity updates within CRM.
• Execute quarterly business reviews and provide strategic recommendations to maximize account growth.
• Represent Avantor/VWR at campus events, supplier demonstrations, research symposiums, and departmental meetings.

Skills

Relationship-building

Communication

Negotiation

Account management

Stakeholder management

Academic/Research sales

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent sales experience

Job description

The Opportunity:

At Avantor, people are the most important part of our success because they drive our global performance. That's why our Operations, Lab Services, Sales, and many other Avantor teams rely on our talent acquisition initiatives to attract, engage and hire the right talent. Avantor's Sales vertical is a crucial part of this mix, enabling all our internal teams worldwide to grow beyond their limits.

The University of Kentucky Account Sales Representative is responsible for managing and growing one of Avantor/VWR's largest academic accounts. This role is focused on developing strong customer relationships, identifying new business opportunities, increasing market share, and driving profitable sales growth across laboratory consumables, chemicals, equipment, instruments, and services.

Due to the size and strategic importance of this account, the Sales Representative is expected to maintain a highly visible presence on campus by working a minimum of five days per week at the University of Kentucky. Success in this role requires proactive customer engagement, collaboration with internal teams, and consistent execution of growth initiatives.

This person MUST reside in close proximity to Lexington, KY.

What we're looking for:

• Education: Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent sales experience


• Experience: Proven success in B2B sales, laboratory sales, life sciences, healthcare, scientific distribution, or related industries preferred.

Who you are:

• Strong relationship-building, communication, and negotiation skills.


• Demonstrated ability to manage complex customer organizations and multiple decision-makers.


• Experience working with academic, healthcare, or research institutions is preferred.


• Self-motivated with excellent organizational and time management skills.


• Ability to analyze sales data, identify growth opportunities, and execute strategic account plans.

How you will thrive and create an impact:

• Maintain an on-campus presence at the University of Kentucky a minimum of five days per week to support customer relationships and identify new opportunities.


• Manage and grow a multi-million-dollar territory by developing strategic account plans focused on revenue growth and profitability.


• Build relationships with principal investigators, laboratory managers, procurement, department administrators, researchers, and key decision-makers.


• Identify opportunities to increase share of wallet across chemicals, consumables, equipment, instruments, and services.


• Conduct regular laboratory visits to uncover unmet customer needs and introduce value-added solutions.


• Drive new customer acquisition while protecting existing business from competitive threats.


• Develop and maintain a healthy sales pipeline through prospecting, opportunity management, and customer follow-up.


• Partner with supplier representatives and internal product specialists to execute joint sales calls and customer presentations.


• Collaborate with Customer Service, Operations, Marketing, Technical Specialists, and Sales Leadership to deliver an exceptional customer experience.


• Lead contract compliance initiatives and promote preferred supplier programs.


• Forecast sales accurately and maintain opportunity updates within CRM.


• Execute quarterly business reviews and provide strategic recommendations to maximize account growth.


• Represent Avantor/VWR at campus events, supplier demonstrations, research symposiums, and departmental meetings.

Performance Expectations

• Maintain a minimum of five days on-campus days each week to ensure consistent customer engagement.


• Achieve or exceed annual sales, gross profit, and margin objectives.


• Increase market share within assigned departments and research laboratories.


• Develop new revenue opportunities while protecting existing business.


• Maintain an active opportunity pipeline that supports sustainable long-term growth.


• Deliver outstanding customer service while strengthening long-term partnerships with University stakeholders.

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor?

Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science.

The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor.

We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world.

Pay Transparency:

The expected pre-tax pay for this position is

$59,150.00 - $100,740.00

This reflects base salary.

This position is subject to incentive compensation, where the expected pre-tax Target Cash Opportunity (\"TCO\") for this position is based on the achieved sales and in the amount/range of,

$98,600.00 - $167,900.00

Actual Pay may differ depending on relevant factors such as prior experience and eligible geographic location.

TCO is defined as Base Salary + Target Sales Incentive (Sales Incentive eligible role only).

EEO Statement:

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the Know Your Rights poster.

Privacy Policy:

We will use the personal information that you have submitted to us in order to consider your application for the relevant role.

Your privacy is important to us. Please click here for our Privacy Policy which explains the purposes for which we will use your personal information and the ways in which we will handle and retain your information. It also explains the rights you have in relation to your information, and how to contact us with any queries or requests.

3rd Party Non-Solicitation Policy:

By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation.

Avantor offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, wellness programs, health savings and flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with company match, and an employee stock purchase program. Employees also receive 11 paid holidays, accrue 18 PTO days annually, are eligible for volunteer time off and 6 weeks of 100% paid parental leave (except in states that offer paid family leave). These benefits may not apply to employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement or those subject to other eligibility rules.