Partnership Manager

WatersEdge Solutions; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

WatersEdge Solutions seeks a commercially driven Partnership Manager to join a global medical and pharmaceutical business based in Johannesburg. You will blend business development, strategy and executive exposure to drive growth across pharma, biotech and clinical research sectors.

You will work with senior leadership on commercial initiatives, identify opportunities in US/European markets, and develop client engagements from prospecting to signed agreements, building your own portfolio and

Qualifications

• An exceptional academic record, with matric and university transcripts required.
• A professional degree, with backgrounds such as CA, BCom LLB, Engineering, Actuarial Science or MBA preferred.
• Minimum 3 years’ post-qualification experience within a professional or business environment.
• Proven track record in sales, consulting or business development.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to identify and convert business opportunities.
• Excellent analytical ability and strategic problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• An entrepreneurial, self-starting approach with the energy to drive opportunities forward.
• Ability to communicate confidently with senior and executive-level stakeholders.
• Microsoft Office proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with senior leadership on growth initiatives and market analysis.
• Contribute to important commercial, operational and financial business decisions.
• Develop frameworks to support international scaling, pricing strategies and process optimisation.
• Support data analysis, reporting and the execution of new business strategies.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities across the pharmaceutical, biotech and clinical trial sectors.
• Conduct market research to identify and target major organisations in the US and European markets.
• Secure meetings with senior decision-makers and develop opportunities through to signed commercial agreements.
• Build and manage your own client portfolio.
• Manage client relationships end-to-end, from initial proposal through to post-sales operational coordination.
• Engage with international clients through virtual and face-to-face meetings.
• Travel internationally to target markets where required to build relationships and close deals.

Skills

Sales

Consulting

Business development

Analytical skills

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Self-starter

MS Office

Education

CA

BCom LLB

Engineering

Actuarial Science

MBA

Tools

CRM software

Data analysis tools

MS Office

Job description

Location: Johannesburg
Employment Type: Full-Time
Industry: Medical & Pharmaceutical | Clinical Research | International Trade

WatersEdge Solutions is partnering with a global business operating within the medical and pharmaceutical sector to find a commercially driven Partnership Manager. This is a high-impact role combining business development, strategic operations and direct exposure to executive-level decision-making.

The opportunity is particularly well suited to a high-performing professional who wants to develop a deeper understanding of how an international business operates while simultaneously building their own client portfolio and driving growth across the pharmaceutical, biotech and clinical research sectors.

About the Role

The Partnership Manager will work directly with senior leadership on both commercial growth and strategic business initiatives. You’ll move between market analysis and operational strategy on one hand, and prospecting, client engagement and deal-making on the other.

A significant part of the role involves identifying opportunities with major pharmaceutical, biotech and clinical research organisations, particularly across the US and European markets, securing access to key decision-makers and converting opportunities into commercial agreements.

This is not purely an account management position. The successful candidate needs a strong new-business and commercial mindset, combined with the analytical ability to contribute meaningfully to broader business strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Work directly with senior leadership on growth initiatives and market analysis.

• Contribute to important commercial, operational and financial business decisions.

• Develop frameworks to support international scaling, pricing strategies and process optimisation.

• Support data analysis, reporting and the execution of new business strategies.

• Identify and develop new business opportunities across the pharmaceutical, biotech and clinical trial sectors.

• Conduct market research to identify and target major organisations in the US and European markets.

• Secure meetings with senior decision-makers and develop opportunities through to signed commercial agreements.

• Build and manage your own client portfolio.

• Manage client relationships end-to-end, from initial proposal through to post-sales operational coordination.

• Engage with international clients through virtual and face-to-face meetings.

• Travel internationally to target markets where required to build relationships and close deals.

What You’ll Bring

• An exceptional academic record, with matric and university transcripts required.

• A professional degree, with backgrounds such as CA, BCom LLB, Engineering, Actuarial Science or MBA preferred.

• Minimum 3 years’ post-qualification experience within a professional or business environment.

• Proven track record in sales, consulting or business development.

• Strong commercial acumen and ability to identify and convert business opportunities.

• Excellent analytical ability and strategic problem-solving skills.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• An entrepreneurial, self-starting approach with the energy to drive opportunities forward.

• Ability to communicate confidently with senior and executive-level stakeholders.

• Microsoft Office proficiency.

Nice to Have

• Previous experience managing or mentoring a small team.

• Strong Excel capability.

• Experience using data-analysis tools.

• Exposure to pharmaceutical, biotech, clinical research or related sectors.

• Experience developing international business opportunities.

What’s On Offer

• Direct exposure to senior leadership and executive-level decision-making.

• Accelerated learning across international trade, business strategy and medical logistics.

• Opportunity to build and own an international client portfolio.

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