Strategic Account Manager, Life Sciences

Tech Sales Jobs; United States; Remote; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashland is seeking a Strategic Account Manager to drive growth in North America Life Sciences. This remote role partners with cross-functional teams to expand strategic customer relationships and deliver long-term value to leading pharmaceutical and biotech clients.

The role requires 7+ years in life sciences with a successful track record, deep market insight, and the ability to travel up to 50% across North America to customer sites and events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Life Sciences, Engineering, Chemistry or related field.
• 7+ years in pharma, excipients, biotech, CDMO, or life sciences with commercial success.
• 3+ years managing strategic accounts or growth programs.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic customer plans and identify growth opportunities.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration across Commercial, R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Regulatory, and Marketing.
• Travel up to 50% to customer sites and events to deepen partnerships.

Skills

CRM platforms

Account planning

Commercial analytics

Negotiation

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Life Sciences

Tools

CRM platforms

Market intelligence tools

Commercial analytics tools

Job description

Strategic Account Manager | North America Life Sciences

Location: US-Remote

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?

Are you always solving?

Then we’d like to meet you and bet you’d like to meet us.

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for a Strategic Account Manager to join our North America Life Sciences business (remote). This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the Life Sciences function. This position will report to the General Manager of the North America Life Sciences.

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Working knowledge of the pharmaceutical and excipient markets, including formulation technologies, manufacturing processes, supply chain dynamics, and emerging industry trends.
• Hands-on experience using CRM platforms, account planning tools, commercial analytics, and market intelligence to identify growth opportunities and develop strategic customer plans.
• Partner with a talented cross-functional team spanning Commercial, R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Regulatory, and Marketing, working together to solve customer challenges and accelerate growth.
• Bring your ideas to the table. We value entrepreneurial thinking, innovation, and a CEO mindset. You'll be empowered to challenge the status quo, create new opportunities, and help shape the future of our business.
• Own your business. You'll lead strategic customer relationships, develop long-term growth strategies, and serve as a trusted advisor to some of the most innovative companies in the life sciences industry.
• Travel Responsibilities. You'll spend up to 50% of your time traveling to customer sites, industry events, and Ashland locations to deepen partnerships, uncover opportunities, and collaborate with colleagues across North America
• Actively contribute to the organizational goals by taking initiative, executing on goals and focusing on performance and safety
• Improve the organization capacity and capabilities through building collaborative relationships, optimizing diverse talent and utilizing positive communications and influence with others

In order to be qualified for this role, you must possess the following:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Life Sciences, Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant industry experience.
• 7+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical, excipient, biotech, CDMO, or broader life sciences industry, with a demonstrated track record of commercial success.
• 3+ years of experience managing strategic accounts, key customer relationships, business development initiatives, or commercial growth programs.
• Strong business acumen, communication, and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence senior decision-makers, navigate complex organizations, and drive profitable growth.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel up to 50% throughout North America to customer sites, industry events, and Ashland locations.Demonstrated responsible and ethical behavior at all times
• The ability to help the company drive greater value through understanding the business, making complex decisions and creating the new and different

The following skill sets are preferred by the business unit

• Advanced degree preferred, such as an MBA, M.S., or Ph.D. in Business, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with injectable drug products and parenteral formulations.
• Experience working in a global, matrixed organization, partnering with cross-functional teams across Commercial, R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Regulatory, and Marketing.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland LLC. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care and pharmaceutical. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer.

At Ashland our vision is to be a leading, global specialty chemicals company whose inspired and engaged employees add value to all we touch. In fact our people, employees, customers and vendors define who we are. They are the driving force behind everything we do.

Not only do we value our customers but we value our employees, and we work to offer them a dynamic and challenging environment. We hold ourselves to high standards at Ashland, and we value integrity and honesty.

Ashland has a history of attracting the best people and keeping them. The reasons are simple: industry competitive salary and benefits, pay-for-performance incentive plans and a diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued. People come to Ashland and stay. As a growing Fortune 500 specialty chemicals company, we offer opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization. Our values define who we are and what we care about as a company. If you are looking for a relationship with a company instead of simply a job, this may be a great fit.

Ashland is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. NOTE: We do not accept resumes from external staffing agencies or independent recruiters for any of our openings unless we have a signed recruiting agreement in place to fill a specific position.