Product Manager LAP – Centurion needed at Virbac

Area of responsibility 1: Product management, ensure a high level of confidence on the LAP product range – internal (sales force) and external level (customers).

Main activities

• Plan and implement short and long term strategies for your own range of products
• Develop and carry out marketing plans for new and established products – aligned with Brand Plan
• Ensure consistent brand messaging aligned with company objectives and Brand Plan
• Identification, development, registration and launch of new products
• Ensure effective technical support to key stakeholders and sales force
• Review and feedback on portfolio strategies and industry trends during monthly meetings with management
• Administrate promotional budget within budget limits

Expected results

• Technical support and positioning of Act 101 product range
• Area of responsibility 2: Training, education and knowledge transfer

Main activities

• Stay abreast of all product and industry related developments by attending continuous training delivered by corporate, congress, seminars and events in fields of FPA expertise.
• Maintain a high level of expertise – Research and Self-train on new technical updates and share knowledge with the various teams (management, sales etc)
• Develop and execute training (technical and product) of sales force and key stakeholders
• Collaborate with Technical Support Manager (LAP) to identify and address possible technical challenges experienced by sales force and product managers

Expected results

• Technically strong sales force – setting tone for new developments
• Area of responsibility 3: Customer guidance, advisory and troubleshooting.

Main activities

• Demonstrate responsiveness by ensuring immediate and necessary actions to address adverse drug reactions reported by sales force
• Conduct customer visits through professional consultation, follow through and liaise outcome with Technical Support Manager
• Closure of ADR according to company SOP

Expected results

• To ensure relevance of Virbac products within the FPA market in South Africa as well through effective networking opportunities

Area of responsibility 4: Key Accounts

Main activities

• Regular Key Account veterinary practice visits
• Develop and action strategic call schedule aligned with knowledge sharing of new developments and Virbac product positioning for new or current product marketing roll-outs
• Collaborate with Area Sales Managers to identify business opportunities and schedule visits with vet practices as and when needed

Expected results

• Knowledge sharing and partnerships

Area of responsibility 5: Scientific expertise management and network

Main activities

• Maintain a network with Animal Health Institutes, labs, universities, KOL’s and suppliers of animal health equipment to stay abreast of new technologies and facilitate collaboration in the marketplace
• To ensure relevance of Virbac products within the FPA market in South Africa as well through effective networking opportunities

Requirements (Diploma and experience)

• Degree in Veterinary Medicine, with SAVC registration, ideally with strong focus on food producing animals – cattle and sheep
• Additional marketing and technical service experience advantageous – Ideally experience as practicing vet in Livestock practice (cattle/sheep)
• Solid understanding of all FPA and other regulatory bodies’ rules and regulations
• Understanding of general business management and marketing practices
• Understanding of online systems for feedback purposes (enquiry feedback loops and systems)

Skills

• Know-how : job-related skills required to complete activities
• Presentation skills and interdepartmental project management skills
• Research and report writing skills
• Languages: Full English and Afrikaans proficiency
• Operational marketing skills
• Creativity and innovative skills
• Planning and organising skills
• Information Technology: High level Microsoft Office and Google Suite

Behaviours : Interpersonal skills required to complete activities

• Analyse problems and situations
• Understands how own activity affects business results and ensures the effectiveness of own actions/projects in terms of quality, cost and added value
• Learning agility, analytical mindset and critical thinking
• Develops positive, constructive working relationships with people from different environments, functions and work units
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Understands implicitly others’ culture, their requirements and priorities, and their feelings, and knows how to take them into account in his argumentation to promote their acceptance
• Demonstrate ability to learn and develop