Senior Commercial Manager

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Commercial Manager based in South Africa.** Take a leading role in driving business development and sustainable revenue growth within the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector. As Senior Commercial Manager, you will oversee complex commercial opportunities from initial qualification through solution development, pricing, negotiations, and contract execution. You will build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders while developing commercially attractive solutions that align customer needs with operational capabilities and business objectives. Working across international teams, you will contribute to strategic growth initiatives, strengthen commercial processes, and support high-value client partnerships. You will also help develop pricing methodologies, proposal frameworks, and best practices while mentoring colleagues and promoting continuous improvement. This is an opportunity to combine commercial leadership, strategic thinking, and client engagement in a collaborative, quality-focused environment that contributes to patient safety. ### Accountabilities: Lead strategically important commercial opportunities and support business growth by developing client relationships, creating competitive proposals, and negotiating commercially sustainable agreements. You will work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure that opportunities progress efficiently and that proposed solutions meet client requirements while supporting profitability, compliance, and operational delivery. - Monitor and manage inbound commercial opportunities, ensuring timely follow-up, qualification, and progression. - Develop and maintain strong relationships with prospective and existing clients, including senior decision-makers and key stakeholders. - Lead client scoping discussions to understand business objectives, service requirements, and project expectations. - Identify cross-selling and upselling opportunities to expand existing client relationships and generate additional revenue. - Represent the organization at industry conferences, client meetings, presentations, and other business development activities. - Act as the primary commercial point of contact throughout the opportunity lifecycle, from initial engagement to contract execution and operational handover. - Lead complex commercial opportunities, coordinating qualification, solution development, pricing, proposal preparation, negotiation, and final agreement. - Develop effective commercial strategies, pricing approaches, and negotiation plans that support business objectives and profitability targets. - Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders to develop commercially compelling solutions that are operationally feasible and aligned with client expectations. - Manage commercial governance processes, internal reviews, approvals, and decision-making activities. - Maintain accurate opportunity records and ensure that commercial activities are consistently tracked and documented in the CRM system. - Develop robust pricing models that balance client requirements, delivery costs, commercial competitiveness, and profitability. - Lead the preparation of Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), commercial proposals, and client presentations. - Coordinate the preparation, review, and submission of commercial documentation, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery. - Support contract development, negotiation, and execution in collaboration with relevant internal stakeholders. - Coach and mentor commercial colleagues, sharing expertise and promoting consistent commercial practices. - Contribute to the development and standardization of commercial processes, pricing methodologies, templates, reporting tools, and operational workflows. - Identify and implement improvements that increase efficiency, proposal quality, commercial consistency, and overall business performance. **Requirements:** You bring substantial commercial or sales experience within the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry, with a strong understanding of the commercial dynamics of regulated healthcare services. You are confident leading complex opportunities, developing pricing strategies, preparing proposals, and negotiating agreements. You combine strong client relationship skills with analytical thinking, attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities. You can work autonomously, collaborate across international teams, and contribute to continuous improvement while supporting the development of colleagues. - More than five years of experience in a commercial, sales, or business development role. - Professional experience within the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry. - Good knowledge of pharmacovigilance or regulatory affairs. - A bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medical Sciences, Healthcare, or another relevant discipline. - Demonstrated experience managing complex commercial opportunities, including pricing, proposals, negotiations, and contract development. - Strong client relationship management, stakeholder engagement, and negotiation skills. - Ability to develop commercially sound solutions that balance client requirements, operational delivery, and business objectives. - Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Outlook. - Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple opportunities, competing priorities, and deadlines. - Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with sound commercial judgment and attention to detail. - Excellent written communication skills, including strong spelling, grammar, and document preparation capabilities. - Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and build productive relationships with clients and colleagues. **Preferred Qualifications:** - A master's degree in a relevant discipline. - Additional relevant professional qualifications. - Experience coaching, mentoring, or developing junior commercial colleagues. - Experience improving commercial processes, developing pricing strategies, or optimizing commercial tools and reporting systems. **Benefits:** - Fully remote working arrangements. - Annual bonus opportunities and employee recognition programs. - Five weeks of annual leave, in addition to public holidays and personal days. - Home office support. - Career development and professional growth opportunities. - Exposure to international clients and global projects. - A collaborative, inclusive, and supportive work environment where contributions are valued.