Oncology Professional Sales Representative, Gauteng South at AstraZeneca

What you will do

• As part of the high-performing team, you will be applying your skills and knowledge to build your business and create value to your customers through multi-engagement channels (face-to-face and virtually) by driving new molecular entities in Oncology.  Our sales strategies are emergent and addresses the currents needs in the market. You’ll be part of the brainstorming and co-creating solutions for our customers and patients.  As a successful candidate, you will engage with Oncologists, respective support staff and multi-disciplinary teams in Johannesburg and surrounds (country trip: Nelspruit) in a multi-account approach where multi-discipline treatment of Oncology patients is practiced with exciting new innovative brands.

Typical accountabilities will include

• Sales representative is responsible for selling Oncology products in the Johannesburg and surrounds (country trip: Nelspruit) Region. Technical expert of specific company products, or patient needs, calling on Oncologists, respective support staff and multi-disciplinary teams. Typically establish long-term relationships with key customers. 

Individual & Interpersonal Effectiveness

• Recognizes and modifies own communication approach when working with colleagues and customers.
• Demonstrates versatility when working with a variety of contacts within the customer organisation.
• Works cross-functionally, sharing information that will help address the needs of individual accounts and decision makers.
• Is innovative in the generation of new ideas and solutions to problems.
• Can influence complex decision-making processes.

Selling Skills

• Develop a deep understanding of the customer/account.
• Derives insights from understanding how both the wider and local healthcare environment influences decision-making.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the patient journey, disease progression and impact upon the patient of different treatment choices.
• Demonstrates active listening skills, to enable greater understanding of the customers values and viewpoints.
• Uses a range of questioning techniques to elicit information relating to the unmet need and treatment options and to maintain positive tension.
• Updates appropriate records and profile information and communicates relevant information to cross-functional team.

Results Driven

• Identifies opportunities and strategies to improve positioning of AZ's specialist portfolio.
• Drives cross-functional and cross-regional collaboration to fully leverage AZ's account management capabilities.
• Shares information, insight, and expertise with sales team members.

Drives the Business

• Seeks to identify opportunities and actions that will help to achieve more strategic objectives.

Business Acumen

• Understands the wider business environment and incorporates this into their territory action plans.
• Applies knowledge of business principles e.g. SWOT analysis, to support sales efforts.
• Analyses appropriate internal/external data to develop their sales strategy.
• Positions relevant market access solutions in the context of AZ's value proposition (including where appropriate cost of diagnostic testing).
• Demonstrates detailed knowledge of the issues stakeholders & accounts face with reimbursement and budgeting, in the interconnected specialist ecosystem.

Knowledge: Healthcare Environment (Skills):

• Shows detailed knowledge of their healthcare ecosystem for their therapeutic area.
• Keeps abreast of the latest developments in the industry and new regulations.
• If appropriate, understands the Diagnostic environment, i.e., companion diagnostics, and potential barriers to effective treatment.

Customer:

• Understands the local healthcare environment, patient pathway and individual HCPs role and situation.

Compliance:

• Follows correct procedures and SOPs for all activities and planned meetings.
• Behaves in an ethical manner in response to requests or challenging situations.
• Ensures AZ's products meet with national and local guidelines and the product license.
• Ensures compliance with the AZ Code of Conduct, Global External Interactions Policy and Standards, and Privacy Policy and standards.

Disease, Science, Therapy, Product, & Competitors:

• Demonstrates solid scientific and disease area knowledge in their therapeutic area.
• Continually builds their scientific and disease area knowledge.
• Possesses detailed knowledge of relevant clinical trials and data.
• Demonstrates extensive understanding of their product portfolio and relevant competitor product.
• If this sounds appealing, please read on to understand the experience and skills we’re looking for…

ESSENTIAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Completed Degree in Health Sciences; life sciences and/or Human Anatomy ie: B.Sc.
• Must have existing relationships with Oncologists in the Johannesburg and surrounds (country trip: Nelspruit).
• Gauteng based role, the candidate must ideally reside in Johannesburg and willing to work Nelspruit as a Country Trip.
• 4-5 years of proven sales experience with a Specialist Oncology track record is desirable.
• Essentially must have 6 - 8 years plus specialist medical Sales experience.
• Valid driver’s license and own vehicle.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with and influence peers.
• Demonstrated communication and platform skills.
• Strong analytical ability.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Excellent communication skills: clear and concise messaging.
• Ability to work closely in collaboration with cross-functional business areas.