Jobs in Pharmaceutical Sales

Looking for a new role in Pharma Sales? Take a look at our current vacancies >

We work on Pharmaceutical Sales and Training jobs for global pharmaceutical, healthcare, and biotech companies across the UK and Europe. We place candidates into roles at all levels, including Key Account Managers, Primary and Secondary Care Specialists, and Territory Managers.

Find out more about a career in Pharmaceutical Sales below or speak with our specialist consultant Ben Hassanzadeh for an informal chat: 01625 541 036 / benjamin@carrotrecruitment.com

Pharma Sales roles that we recruit for:

• Medical Representative
• Hospital Representative
• Key Account Manager
• Healthcare Development Manager
• Regional Business Manager
• National Sales Manager

What is Pharmaceutical Sales?

Pharmaceutical Sales Reps are the salespeople employed by Pharma, biotech, or healthcare companies to sell their products to a variety of external stakeholders. These Sales Reps are also involved in educating and influencing healthcare professionals and key opinion leaders on the benefits of the company’s products.

In the UK there is a strict code of conduct which must be observed, set by the Associate of British Pharmaceutical Industries (ABPI). Pharmaceutical Sales Reps will be expected to pass exams set by the ABPI, but these are sometimes part of a graduate or entry-level role in the industry.

A Pharmaceutical Sales role is more varied than it used to be. Those working within the sector are now also expected to engage many different stakeholders, including patient groups, to ensure they understand issues while providing solutions via products to these groups. There is a lot of networking involved and information gathering, as well as presenting, attending conferences, appointment making, and influencing.

Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives have many options available to them. When starting out in a career in Pharma Sales you will be trained fully, with Pharma companies investing heavily in your development. This often makes the process of getting a Pharmaceutical Sales job so rigorous. If you don’t have prior experience, Pharma companies will expect you to have certain traits instead, as well as some experience shadowing a Pharmaceutical Sales Rep.

To be successful within Pharmaceutical Sales, you’ll need to have a flair for sales, with great influencing skills. You’ll need to be highly organised, have great tenacity, be professional and trustworthy, well-groomed, personable, and a natural communicator. Your negotiation skills will need to be top-notch, you’ll be required to be persistent and an excellent team player. There are often many hours spent on the road driving so you will need stamina too.

On the flip side the rewards can be huge and career progression speedy, with many avenues open to you, such as marketing, overseas work, and healthcare devices sales (which is different from Pharma Sales and does not require an ABPI certification. You can find out more about medical device sales here).

Career progression in pharmaceutical sales can be rewarding, and it typically involves moving up the corporate ladder by taking on more responsibilities and advancing to higher-level positions.

Here's a general outline of potential career progression within Pharmaceutical Sales:

           Pharmaceutical Sales Representative:

1. • Entry-level position responsible for promoting and selling pharmaceutical products to healthcare professionals.
   • Responsibilities include building and maintaining relationships with healthcare providers, educating them about products, and meeting sales targets.
   
   

   Senior Sales Representative:

   • After gaining experience and consistently meeting or exceeding sales targets, you may be promoted to a senior sales representative role.
   • In this role, you may be given additional responsibilities, such as mentoring junior representatives, leading sales initiatives, and working with more complex products.
   
   

   District Sales Manager:

   • District managers oversee a team of sales representatives in a specific geographic area.
   • Responsibilities include setting and monitoring sales targets, providing coaching and training to the sales team, and ensuring that sales strategies are implemented effectively.
   
   

   Regional Sales Manager:

   • Regional sales managers are responsible for a larger geographic area, overseeing multiple districts.
   • They collaborate with district managers to ensure that the overall sales strategy is successful, analyze sales data, and report to higher management.
   
   

   National Sales Manager or Sales Director:

   • National sales managers or directors have responsibility for the entire sales division within a country.
   • They set the strategic direction for the sales team, manage budgets, and work closely with other departments, such as marketing and product management.
   
   

   Vice President of Sales:

   • In larger pharmaceutical companies, the vice president of sales oversees all sales operations within a country or region.
   • They have a significant role in shaping the company's sales strategy, and they report directly to top-level executives.
   
   

   Global or International Sales Roles:

   • Some professionals in pharmaceutical sales progress to international or global roles, where they manage sales strategies and teams in multiple countries.
   
   

   Transition to Other Roles:

   • With experience in pharmaceutical sales, you may have the opportunity to transition into roles in other areas of the pharmaceutical industry, such as marketing, product management, clinical research, regulatory affairs, or medical affairs.

It's important to note that career progression in pharmaceutical sales often depends on factors such as performance, results, leadership skills, and the company's structure and opportunities. Building strong relationships with healthcare professionals, consistently meeting or exceeding sales targets, and staying updated on industry trends can significantly enhance your prospects for advancement in this field. Additionally, continuing education, training, and certifications can be valuable for career growth and development.

Wondering how to progress your Pharma Sales career? This guide is packed with insights that you may find useful!

If you'd like to know more about working within Pharmaceutical Sales and how your skillset can fit into any opportunities within the sector, get in touch with Ben to discuss your requirements: 

benjamin@carrotrecruitment.com

01625 541 036