Strategic Account Manager

Elanco; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in animal health is looking for a Strategic Account Manager to drive sales and develop relationships in Sub-Saharan Africa. You will be responsible for executing strategic account plans and managing key distributors. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Veterinary or Animal Science and a proven track record in sales within the animal health sector.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in key account management or sales in the animal health industry.
• Ability to develop relationships with key decision-makers.
• Fluency in English (French preferred, Portuguese is a plus).

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic account plans.
• Drive sales growth for animal health products.
• Conduct regular market analysis to identify opportunities.

Skills

Key account management

Sales strategies

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Fluency in English

Education

Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Science

Business Administration

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

CRM software

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, works with dynamic individuals, and acquires new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights. Making animals' lives better makes life better – join our team today!

Your role

The Strategic Account Manager (SAM) will play a crucial role in driving sales growth and developing trusted long‑term relationships with strategic accounts within the Sub‑Saharan Africa export territory. The SAM will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic account plans, managing a portfolio of key distributors and producers, offering value‑added solutions while maximizing profitable sales opportunities across our portfolio of leading animal health products.

Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and monitor strategic account plans to achieve or exceed sales and distribution goals.
• Prepare robust territory business plans mapped to commercial objectives and execute strategies for key distributors and veterinary clinics.
• Identify emerging business opportunities, market trends, and potential sales risks in export markets.
• Build and nurture strong, long‑term relationships with key decision‑makers at assigned accounts.
• Conduct action and present business reviews with accounts/distributors to demonstrate Elanco's value, address needs, and identify new opportunities.
• Drive sales of the company's animal health products within the territory, achieving or exceeding assigned sales targets and focusing on market share gains and new product launches.
• Negotiate and manage commercial agreements, pricing, and contract terms with key accounts.
• Coordinate internal resources (technical, supply chain, regulatory) to deliver on customer commitments.
• Conduct regular market analysis to identify opportunities and threats, adapting sales strategies accordingly.
• Stay informed about competitor activities, market trends, and customer needs.
• Act as the "voice of the customer" within Elanco, championing requirements across internal teams such as Marketing, Technical, Regulatory, and Supply Chain.
• Support customer training, technical adoption, and differentiated service with technical services and local teams.
• Ensure accurate 12‑month rolling forecasts for key/identified distributors/customers, emphasizing continuous improvement on forecast accuracy.
• Provide regular reports and communication on account performance, market conditions, competitor activities, threats & opportunities, with solutions to identified issues/challenges.
• Minimize over‑stock, expired stock, or out‑of‑stock situations by sourcing in‑country sales out data, providing analysis and action to maintain stock levels within month‑cover targets.
• Travel regularly within the assigned Sub‑Saharan Africa territory to visit clients and attend industry events as required.
• Adhere to all company policies, procedures, and ethical guidelines, including those related to sales practices and interactions with healthcare professionals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Science, Animal Science, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Proven track record of success in key account management or sales within the animal health industry, ideally with experience in the Sub‑Saharan Africa region.
• Demonstrable network of contacts in the region (highly beneficial).
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to develop and implement effective sales strategies.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to build rapport with diverse stakeholders.
• Fluency in English (French preferred; proficiency in Portuguese a significant advantage).
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with ability to interpret market data and make informed decisions.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a proactive and results‑oriented approach.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and CRM software.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the assigned territory.

At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for this role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply.

You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!

Elanco is an EEO / Affidavative 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.