Virology Customer Representative - Pittsburgh, PA

Merck; Juneau (AK); Remote; USD 104,000 - 164,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company is seeking a Virology Customer Representative in Juneau, Alaska. This field-based sales role requires significant sales experience and expertise in communicating with healthcare professionals about virology products. The candidate will engage with customers to understand their needs, develop strategies, and ensure effective customer relationships. Offering a competitive salary and benefits, this position is designed for motivated sales professionals wishing to make a difference in health outcomes.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Retirement options

Paid holidays and vacation

Qualifications

• 2-6 years sales experience or 6 years of equivalent experience in healthcare/scientific areas.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Communicate product information tailored to customer needs.
• Engage in discussions with healthcare professionals.
• Act as the primary point of contact for customer accounts.
• Coordinate customer strategy for select accounts.
• Maintain understanding of practice structure and business model.

Skills

Sales experience

Communication skills

Business acumen

Relationship building

Compliance

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Overview

The Virology Customer Representative is a key member of the Customer Team and supports the company's customer-centric business model. They work with the Customer Team to understand customer needs, support pull-through activities aligned with the customer strategy, and uphold company values and standards to demonstrate better health outcomes to healthcare professionals and their patients. The role models professionalism and leadership by exhibiting the knowledge required for the Field Sales competencies.

Territory Information

• This is a field-based sales position covering the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania territory.
• The ideal location to reside is within this territory or within a reasonable commuting distance to workload center.
• Travel varies based on candidate’s location within the geography.

Primary Responsibilities

• Communicate product information in a meaningful and relevant way to each customer; tailor discussions and interactions based on understanding of customer needs.
• Engage in informed discussions about products with healthcare professional (HCP) customers – know when and how to seek and provide additional information.
• Within select customer accounts, act as the primary point of contact for the customer, meet with key customers/personnel to understand practice structure, business model, key influencers and network structure, customer needs and identify business opportunities.
• Coordinate with the customer team to develop customer strategy for select accounts – outlining strategy for interactions/relationships, solutions and potential offerings.
• Share learnings and best-practices from one customer to help other customers meet their needs.
• Demonstrate a focus on better health outcomes (considering the HCP & patient experience).
• Provide input into resource allocation decisions across customers.
• Identify and select programs/services available in the library of resources to address customer needs.
• Maintain understanding of practice structure, business model, key influencers/network structure and share information with relevant stakeholders.
• Influence beyond specific geography or product area.
• Embrace and maximize new technological capabilities and channels to engage customers.
• Engage in all job responsibilities with high ethics and integrity, with emphasis on compliance with all relevant laws, policies and regulations.

Virology Specific

The Virology Customer Representative demonstrates the ability to:

• Execute at each stage of the sales process.
• Position Virology products versus competition by focusing on appropriate patient types and use of approved resources.
• Stay ahead of market trends, assess impact on the business, and make proactive recommendations.
• Innovate in fast-changing environments with resilience and adaptability.
• Ask strategic questions to understand customer healthcare needs and use insights to position Virology products and collaborate on focused strategies.
• Identify customer/market segments and industry conditions in the local market, with emphasis on Specialty Pharmacy and Virology distribution challenges.
• Drive results by managing the Virology product portfolio through prioritization and account planning.
• Articulate HIV payer environment complexities and stakeholder roles in product access.
• Develop and execute account plans in collaboration with Virology Account Team and cross-functional stakeholders to improve value for customers and patients.
• Embrace current and future multichannel engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate to maximize customer interactions and territory management with Virology and non-Virology stakeholders.
• Create and manage relationships with difficult-to-access customers in a no-sample environment.
• Adopt a business-owner mindset during change, including flexibility across customer segments and portfolios.
• Maintain high-level compliance with all Company policies and procedures.

Position Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree with 2-6 years sales experience OR a minimum of high school diploma with at least 6 years of equivalent experience in fields such as professional sales, marketing, military or healthcare/scientific areas not related to sales (pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical devices).
• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Minimum of two years working with Infectious Disease customers (preference for HIV product or launch experience).
• Preference for specialty sales experience across multiple markets, with launch experience preferred.
• Experience in pharma, biotech or medical device sales.
• Experience developing and executing plans to engage customers and meet needs.
• Experience establishing and maintaining relationships.
• Experience in highly regulated environments with strong compliance.
• Account experience in complex hospital systems, teaching institutions and community hospitals.
• Ability to identify account inter-dependencies and build partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Experience with complex payer environments and understanding of pharmacy stakeholders.
• Current disease-state customers view the candidate as a trusted representative.
• Experience interacting with scientific thought leaders and developing advocates.
• Ability to develop relationships in challenging environments with limited samples.
• Strong business acumen and account management skills.
• Current relationships with key opinion leaders within designated accounts preferred.
• Leadership, planning, organization, self-motivation, initiative, and ability to learn and convey complex information.
• Commitment to ethics and integrity in a compliant environment.

Current Employees apply HERE (text only)

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE (text only)

EEO, Accommodation, and Notices

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only: Our company is committed to inclusion. Please click here to request accommodation during the application or hiring process. As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants. We prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about rights under US EEO laws, visit the EEOC Know Your Rights and related resources. We encourage applicants to learn about privacy and state-specific notices at the company site.

U.S. Hybrid Work Model: Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will work a Hybrid schedule (three days on-site per week, with Friday remote) unless business needs require otherwise. This does not apply to field-based positions. See policy details for exceptions.

Salary range: $104,200.00 - $163,900.00. Eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentives where applicable. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, retirement options, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. More information at the company benefits page.

Application: You can apply at the company careers site. The posting end date is 09/30/2025.