Strategic Account Activation Lead - SOUTH

Job Description The Strategic Account Activation Lead serves as a professional sales leader in building and maintaining profitable and proactive relationships with assigned strategic accounts, specifically group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and corporate accounts at our company's Animal Health Area business level. The goal is to support the Animal Health products and services in their offerings to veterinarians and customers. The Lead focuses on building strong relationships with strategic account stakeholders at the regional and field sales organizational level to understand their business models, unique value offerings, and partnership opportunities. The role serves as a conduit among c‑suite, regional leadership, and field execution teams, translating strategy into sales results across the designated geography (MO, KS, AR, OK, TX, MS, LA, AL). Strategic Responsibilities (10%) Execute sales strategies within assigned accounts and communicate delivered strategies to Animal Health Sales leaders. Identify marketing partnership opportunities across teams and shepherd them to completion. Develop and articulate the value of the full partnership with strategic account decision makers to elevate mutually beneficial outcomes. Present professional, advanced solutions-focused presentations to customers. 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. Act as a connector between the strategic account hierarchy and internal resources such as marketing and professional services. Collaborate with corporate account managers to execute tactical plans for influential regional strategic accounts. Deliver on key performance measures of primary assigned accounts through collaboration with internal departments. Document and communicate all key account activities, sales trends, risks, and opportunities. Communicate product benefits meaningfully to regional decision makers, customizing discussions based on aligned goals. Input and utilize call notes in MAXX (Salesforce). Attend Strategic Account Area & National Meetings and company leadership meetings. Conduct quarterly business reviews to demonstrate value and performance relative to growth expectations. Troubleshoot and champion resolution of account issues. Deliver consistent messaging in line with Animal Health’s strategic priorities. Use analytics and insights to enhance decision‑making and tactical execution. Leadership Responsibilities (20%) Identify and adhere to key account management timelines for critical reviews and presentations. Lead cross‑organizational collaboration, becoming an advocate for aligned priorities and goals. Partner, communicate, and facilitate collaborative interactions with peer organizations. Ensure plans do not negatively impact other species or business units. Share best practices and learnings with marketing and company‑wide groups. Lead without authority, driving key strategic imperatives with Area RM teams and TMs. Background & Education High School diploma and fifteen years of sales/ account management experience in Animal Health; or Bachelor’s degree in business, animal science, or related field and ten years of sales/account management experience. Demonstrated experience within the U.S. animal health industry landscape. Required Skills and Abilities Results oriented, able to work independently with minimal supervision. Forward‑thinking problem solver. Superior organizational, analytical, and time‑management skills. Collaborative, coordinating activities across species, leveraging resources and account knowledge. Understanding of business contribution and willingness to adopt process improvements. Expertise in identifying unmet and evolving customer needs for long‑term solutions. Proven ability to build partnerships and sustain relationships with business insights. Experience developing and implementing accurate business plans. Excellent oral, written, and presentation communication skills. Strong grasp of financial and business metrics. Strong selling and negotiation skills. Sound decision‑making and innovative thinking history. Candidate must reside near a major U.S. airport to satisfy travel requirements. Preferred Skills Relationship Building Sales Performance and Results Strategic Selling Benefits Salary range: $156,900.00 – $247,000.00. Competitive base pay is based on education, qualifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and business needs. Eligible for annual bonus and long‑term incentive. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, retirement (401(k)), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate/sick days. Detailed benefits information available at the company careers site. Equal Opportunity Employer We provide equal opportunities for all employees and applicants and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, or other legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. #J-18808-Ljbffr Merck