Head of Sales, Ruminants

Elanco; Centurion; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Elanco is seeking a Head of Sales, Ruminants for South Africa to lead commercial activities across the ruminant sector, including feedlots, dairy, beef and pasture-based production. You will own the business unit’s commercial strategy, drive profit and growth, and guide cross-functional collaboration with veterinary and technical teams.

The role requires veterinary qualifications and 7–10 years in animal health with proven senior leadership in sales or business unit management.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of progressive experience in animal health or veterinary pharmaceuticals.
• Proven ability to lead commercial teams and drive revenue growth.
• Experience in senior commercial management or bus. unit leadership with P&L responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Develop multi-year and annual commercial plans for the ruminant business with P&L accountability.
• Lead positioning of ruminant portfolio including parasiticides, vaccines, antimicrobials, feed additives and diagnostics.
• Build strategic relationships with feedlots, dairy integrators, distributors and livestock producers.
• Recruit, coach and retain high-performing sales and technical teams through performance management.

Skills

Sales leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

People management

Education

BVSc / BVMCh / DVM or equivalent

Tools

CRM software

Market analysis tools

Job description

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals! As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People. At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights. Making animals’s lives better makes life better – join our team today!

Your Role:

Head of Sales, Ruminants As Head of Sales, Ruminants - South Africa, you will lead Elanco’s commercial activities across the intensive and extensive ruminant sectors, including feedlots, dairy, beef, sheep and pasture-based production. You will own the business unit’s commercial strategy, profit performance and execution, combining veterinary expertise with strong market and business insight to deliver sustainable, above-market growth. The role also provides strategic leadership across the wider affiliate and creates value for livestock producers, customers and Elanco.

Your Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute multi-year and annual commercial plans for the ruminant business, with accountability for profit and loss, operating expenses, revenue growth and market share performance.
• Lead the commercial and technical positioning of Elanco’s ruminant portfolio, including parasiticides, vaccines, antimicrobials, feed additives, metabolic therapeutics and technical diagnostic services.
• Build strategic relationships with corporate feedlots, dairy integrators, veterinary wholesalers, agricultural cooperatives, distributors, buying groups, livestock producers, veterinarians and academic experts.
• Use market intelligence, customer insights and industry analysis to identify growth opportunities, guide brand and lifecycle strategies, and respond to disease trends, commodity cycles, competitor activity and broader market conditions.
• Recruit, coach and retain a high-performing sales and technical field team through structured performance management, customer relationship management, sales effectiveness, field coaching and continuous capability development.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Veterinary degree such as BVSc, BVMCh, DVM or equivalent, with current or eligible registration with the South African Veterinary Council.
• 7–10 years of progressive experience in the animal health or veterinary pharmaceutical industry.
• At least 2–3 years of demonstrated success in senior commercial management, sales leadership or business unit leadership, including sustained revenue and market share growth.
• In-depth knowledge of ruminant therapeutics, livestock production systems, feedlot operations, pasture-based dairy production and parasite control programmes.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in an international matrix organisation.

What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):

• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification in business, commercial management or marketing.
• Strong understanding of disease epidemiology and the clinical, economic and production implications of livestock health challenges in Southern Africa.
• Experience leading customer seminars, field trials, farmer training programmes or other science-based commercial initiatives.
• Demonstrated capability in strategic decision-making, commercial negotiation and organisational change management in volatile market conditions.
• Fluent English and Afrikaans proficiency and experience engaging with South African agricultural stakeholders.

Additional Information:

• Travel: Approximately 40–50% nationally, with international travel as required. The role may also require attendance at evening and weekend agricultural events, congresses and farmer gatherings.
• Location: Johannesburg or Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa.

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer.

For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) is a global leader in animal health dedicated to innovating and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets, creating value for farmers, pet owners, veterinarians, stakeholders, and society as a whole. With nearly 70 years of animal health heritage, we are committed to helping our customers improve the health of animals in their care, while also making a meaningful impact on our local and global communities. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching life and our Elanco Healthy Purpose™ CSR framework – all to advance the health of animals, people and the planet. Learn more at www.elanco.com.