Strategic Account Activation Lead - SOUTH

Job Description The Strategic Account Activation Lead serves as a professional sales leader building and maintaining profitable relationships with assigned strategic accounts, specifically group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and corporate accounts within the Animal Health Area. The role focuses on building strong relationships with strategic account stakeholders at regional and field levels to understand their business models and partnership opportunities while translating strategy into sales results across a 10-15 state region including MO, KS, AR, OK, TX, MS, LA, AL. Strategic Responsibilities (10%) Execute sales strategies within assigned accounts and communicate delivered strategies to our company's Animal Health Sales leaders Identify marketing opportunities across teams for partnership and shepherd the opportunities to completion Develop and clearly articulate the value of our full partnership with strategic account decision makers to elevate mutually beneficial outcomes Demonstrate professional and advanced presentation skills focused on providing solutions for the customer Utilize “other centered selling” and develop business planning capabilities to maximize sales performance within the assigned geography Operational Responsibilities (70%) Align with Area teams to build synergies between Animal Health and strategic account field level management (Regional Director and Medical Directors) Act as a “connector” in aligning the strategic account hierarchy with Animal Health resources (marketing, professional services, etc.) Work cross‑functionally with corporate account managers to execute tactical plans within influential regional strategic accounts Deliver on key performance measures of primary assigned strategic accounts through collaboration with internal departments Regularly document all key account activities, including sales trends, performance metrics, risks, and opportunities Communicate product relevance to regional decision makers to drive Animal Health product recommendations at clinic level; customize discussions based on aligned goals Input and utilize call notes in MAXX (Salesforce) Attend Strategic Account Area & National Meetings and Animal Health Area/Regional leadership meetings Conduct quarterly business reviews to ensure accounts understand the value of the MAH relationship and their performance relative to growth expectations Troubleshoot and resolve any account issues, championing resolution Deliver consistent messaging that supports Animal Health’s strategic priorities Use analytics and insights to enhance decision‑making and tactical execution Leadership Responsibilities (20%) Lead identification of key account management timelines for critical leadership discussions, quarterly reviews, and presentations Take the lead on issues to understand how all scenarios and groups work together across organizations; advocate for aligned priorities and goals Partner, communicate, and facilitate collaborative interactions with peer organizations to align tactics and long‑term strategies Ensure plans/actions/decisions do not negatively impact other species or business units Share best practices and organizational learnings with the Marketing organization and company‑wide where appropriate Lead without authority, driving key strategic imperatives with Area RM teams and TMs Background & Education High School diploma and 15 years of experience in sales/account management within the Animal Health industry, or Bachelor’s degree in business, animal science, or related field and 10 years of sales/account management experience Demonstrated experience within the U.S. animal health industry landscape Required Skills & Abilities Results oriented and able to work independently with little direct supervision Forward‑thinking problem solver Superior organizational, analytical, and time‑management skills Collaborative across all species, coordinating activities and leveraging resources to identify opportunities and resolve customer issues Understanding of business contribution and willingness to adopt changes to current processes Expertise in identifying unmet and evolving customer needs and delivering customer‑centric solutions Proven ability to build sustainable partnerships with customers using business insights Skilled in developing and implementing accurate business plans Excellent oral, written, and presentation communication skills Strong understanding of financial and business metrics Strong selling and negotiation skills Sound decision‑making and innovative thinking Residence within or near the geographic area Required Skills Account Management Corporate Account Management Corporate Account Sales Industry Knowledge Key Account Management Key Account Strategy Leadership Results‑Oriented Sales Sales Leadership Strategic Account Sales Preferred Skills Relationship Building Sales Performance Sales Results Strategic Selling Equal Employment Opportunity As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit the EEOC resources. Salary and Benefits Salary range: $156,900.00 – $247,000.00. Successful candidates will be eligible for annual bonus and long‑term incentive where applicable. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, retirement (401(k)), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. #J-18808-Ljbffr Merck & Co.