In-Market Brand Lead

Novartis; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 350 000 - 450 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company seeks a Sales Representative in Midrand, Gauteng, responsible for achieving monthly sales and market share targets. The role requires collaboration with healthcare professionals and insights into customers' needs. Candidates need a relevant degree and 1-2 years of experience in pharmaceutical sales, with a focus on compliance and ethics. Join us to make a real impact in healthcare while enhancing your professional skills in a dynamic work environment.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of experience in pharmaceutical selling or as a Specialist Representative.
• Digital/engagement track record preferred.
• Mastery of product knowledge and therapeutic area.

Responsibilities

• Achieve monthly sales targets and market share objectives.
• Demonstrate improvement in brand metrics and customer experience.
• Collaborate with Novartis stakeholders to support sales targets.

Skills

Account Management

Commercial Excellence

Communication Skills

Compliance

Conflict Management

Cross-Functional Coordination

Customer Insights

Ethics

Healthcare Sector

Influencing Skills

Negotiation Skills

Selling Skills

Technical Skills

Education

4-year degree in business or allied medical sciences

Job description

Job Description Summary

The position is responsible for achieving SFE monthly target for the assigned territory customers or therapeutic area by promoting effectively the different ethical products to healthcare professionals through the execution of approved marketing strategies and programs. The position is also expected to collaborate with colleagues use expertise and strong professional relationships to enable the right patient to get the right solution at the right time.

Responsibilities

Major accountabilities include the following:

Achievement of Market Share Target

• Demonstrate improvement on brand metrics: brand awareness / recall, message retention, prescription intent and trial rate.
• Ensure positive customer experience in reference to Net Promoter score, overall HCP satisfaction rating and HCP retention rate.
• Attain market share objective.
• Achieve monthly sales targets.
• Meet other set key performance indicators (KPIs).

Disease Therapeutic & Product and Competitors Area

• Mastery on product knowledge, clinical studies and updates on the assigned therapy area or following major areas.
• Ensure brand lead and key account activities are aligned to customer insights.
• Acts as point of integration and collaboration for specific Novartis brands in specific territories/accounts to ensure full 360‑degree approach to account.
• Maintain knowledge of disease therapeutic product & competitors.

Selling Expertise

• Demonstrate expertise on virtual patient‑centric selling using omnichannel engagement tools and framework.
• Explore needs from customer's perspective and adapt brand messages to enable the right patients to get the right solutions at the right time.
• Effectively communicate brand messages and benefits to target customers aligned to the digital marketing communication strategy.
• Responsible for achievement of the territory plans and aims to deliver the required territory sales targets.

Market & Customer Acumen

• Demonstrate clear understanding of the needs and pain points of target HCPs and closely feed back to in‑market brand lead / medical for more relevant content and programmes.

Sales Reports Updates and Support

• Conduct regular brand/KAM reviews to ensure brand and KAM strategies are up‑to‑date and effective.
• Provide detailed reports and updates on projects implemented and other business‑related expenses and all relevant business correspondence with the use of appropriate presentation tools/equipment.
• Always maintain business updates through training and other information sources (internet, books, etc.).
• Use ONCORE for congress events and attendees.
• Liquidate expenses in a timely manner.
• Provide professional support in continuing medical education.

Collaboration with Stakeholders

• Pro‑actively collaborate with other Novartis stakeholders in sales and across functions (e.g. Medical, Patient Access) to achieve sales targets and when required to support cross‑functional competencies.
• Partner with the customers by providing value‑added services for patients.

Ethics Risk and Compliance

• Ensure teams ER/VC to good pharmacovigilance practice (GPVP) quality and adverse event reporting.
• Ensure awareness and understanding of the Novartis code of ethics and other ERC guidelines and policies (Speak‑Up Office, Pharmacovigilance, Anti‑bribery, Conflicts of Interest, BeSure, etc.).
• Adhere to the highest ethical standards in the industry and abide by the Novartis code of ethics and other ERC guidelines and policies.
• Report potential misconduct or violations to the Code of Ethics and other ERC guidelines to Manager, CPO, Head Legal, ERC, P&O, Speak‑Up Office.
• Drive and ensure completion of all mandatory training programs and understanding for the team.
• Reporting of adverse events/special case scenarios related to Novartis products within 24 hours of awareness.

Minimum Requirements

• Education – 4‑year course preferably business and allied medical sciences from a reputable institution.
• Work Experience – At least 1–2 years of strong track record as a Specialist Representative or solid exposure in pharmaceutical selling.
• Digital/engagement track record preferable.

Digital Savvy

• Mastery on product knowledge, clinical studies and updates on the assigned therapy area.
• Expert on patient‑centric selling using omnichannel engagement tools and framework.

Skills

• Account Management
• Commercial Excellence
• Communication Skills
• Compliance
• Conflict Management
• Cross‑Functional Coordination
• Customer Insights
• Ethics
• Healthcare Sector
• Influencing Skills
• Negotiation Skills
• Selling Skills
• Technical Skills

Languages

English.

Employment Type

Full‑Time

Experience

Years – 2 (or as per requirement)

Vacancy

1

Employment Equity Statement

Novartis South Africa is committed to promoting equity (race, gender and disability) through the filling of this post with a candidate whose transfer / promotion / appointment will promote representativity in line with the numerical targets as contained in our Employment Equity Plan. While we are prioritising designated groups our selection process will still be based on the most suitable candidate with the necessary skills and experience as outlined in the job description.

Why Novartis

Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend peoples lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world.