Vaccines Sales Representative

Merck; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global pharmaceutical company is seeking candidates for a graduate program in their Vaccines Business Unit. This 2-year program offers the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in managing a sales territory. Participants will acquire valuable skills in pharmaceutical selling, stakeholder networking, and product knowledge. Requirements include a Business or Health Sciences degree, proficiency in MS Office, and a driver’s license. The role is ideal for individuals interested in building a career in pharmaceutical sales.

Qualifications

• Candidates must hold a Business or Health Sciences Degree.
• Computer proficiency in MS Office suite is required.
• Ideally, some prior exposure to Sales / Marketing is preferred.
• A valid Driver’s License is necessary.
• Previous learnership experience or SMART course will be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Acquire detailed product and clinical trial knowledge.
• Arrange appointments with key stakeholders.
• Make presentations to doctors and corporations.
• Plan work schedules and manage targets.
• Create quarterly territory action plans.

Skills

Communication

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Detail-Oriented

Pharmaceutical Sales

Professional Presentation

Time Management

Education

Business / Health Sciences Degree

Post graduate qualification

Tools

MS Office suite

Job description

Job Description

We are looking for future commercial leaders to be part of our company's Vaccines Business Unit.

During this program you will work alongside sales and marketing managers to manage your own sales territory and HPV portfolio.

This graduate program will run over a period of 2 years. During this time, you will have the opportunity to participate in various learning experiences through a structured development program.

Role responsibilities (What you can look forward to learning)

• Acquire detailed product and clinical trial knowledge
• Arrange appointments with key doctors, pharmacists, clinic sisters, private schools and corporates
• Make presentations to doctors, pharmacists, clinic sisters, private schools and corporates
• Well organized and have a high work ethic
• Plan work schedules, weekly and monthly timetables. This may involve working with the area sales team or discussing future targets with the sales manager
• Regularly attend company meetings, technical data presentations and briefings
• Create quarterly territory action plans

Qualifications

• Business / Health Sciences Degree
• Computer proficiency in MS Office suite (MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point)
• Post graduate qualification would be an advantage
• Ideally some prior exposure to Sales / Marketing
• Driver’s License
• Previous learnership experience or SMART course will be advantageous

What will be the outcomes of your graduate experience?

• Pharmaceutical Selling skills
• Pharmaceutical product and market knowledge
• How to create and drive a territory action plan
• Understanding of the Vaccines healthcare system in South Africa
• Stakeholder networking with key stakeholders in the Vaccines field

Required Skills

Communication, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Detail-Oriented, Pharmaceutical Sales, Professional Presentation, Time Management

Preferred Skills

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status: Intern/Co-op (Fixed Term)

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date: 01/30/2026

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