Be responsible for heading the operations for all aspects of the business. Have a good understanding of regulatory requirements for new registrations, experience in setting up promotional arrangements and managing the same with distributors. A proven track record of sales and marketing is essential in order that the country’s performance of is managed, by driving and coordinating activities consistent with established goals, objectives and policies, as directed by the overall SSA strategy. Support in developing AstraZeneca as a great place to work.

Key Performance Areas

Manage team effectiveness and engagement:-

• Appoint, build and maintain a first class effective and cohesive country team and provide ongoing motivation to a diversely representative team of individuals.
• Agree team and team member roles, performance criteria, objectives and standards of work execution and monitor performance on an ongoing basis. Identify areas requiring development; and offer guidance and support as required.
• Collaborate with Human Resources in the development of team members by providing challenging and relevant development opportunities to prepare them for future roles and build SSA capability.
• Formulate and action Individual Development Plans (IDP) aligned to AstraZeneca’s values and management accountability’s.
• Ensure the coaching process is firmly entrenched. Assess coaching plans and reports submitted and provide input on implementation as require.
• Implement appropriate recognition and incentive schemes to align the team with SSA and company goals ; effectively manage the incentive and reward scheme process to drive performance.
• Facilitate regional and interdepartmental participation, collaboration, interaction, communication and support. Address blockers that inhibit effective collaboration.

Provides input to develop strategic country business plan and provision of leadership:-

• Assists with the development and implementation of a strategic business plan for the country that reflects the longer-term objectives and priorities of AstraZeneca – assess and prioritize sales and marketing opportunities; medical activities and compliance; country and customer needs; employees and organizational requirements.
• Successfully communicate the business plan as approved by MCP: SSA to align teams with SSA and company goals; tailor SSA plan, defining local strategies to maximize and consolidate market-share. Define actions to build team capabilities.
• Guide and support teams in the development and implementation of the business strategy, ensuring close collaboration with other managers and departments and mobilization of resources across the business to deliver against the strategy.
• Give strategic input into investment/resource allocation per product. Review and implement country strategies for capturing of market opportunities and competitive response.
• Represent AstraZeneca to key players, opinion leaders and other identified stakeholders in the country.

Manage achievement of strategic business plan:-

• Drive performance to ensure that country objectives and standards of performance are understood and owned by the team, anticipate and remove obstacles so that teams can deliver results and succeed.
• Share learning’s and best practice from other markets with teams.
• Oversee market access strategy with key stakeholders in the pharma industry in the country.
• Provide strategic insight and oversee the pricing strategy for all product lines in the country.
• Work collaboratively with central medical department to ensure delivery of business critical regulatory needs within agreed timelines.
• Ensure establishment of common purpose with distributors and manage delivery of distribution objectives.

Financial budgeting and control:-

• Entrench a cost-conscious mindset in the country and monitor and ensure that key activities are delivered within budget.
• Proper management of resources with the aim of optimizing investment and creating maximum return.
• Consolidate feedback and forecasts from managers and provide quarterly forecasts on the budget and projected year end spend, market conditions and a thorough understanding the market place.
• Collate monthly feedback report for country on finance, strategy achievement and implementation issues.

Maintained administrative systems and control:-

• Ensure effective, accurate and co-ordinate systems are in place for monitoring and controlling the country’s performance against business plan and budget.
• Ensure team members utilize admin systems and meet admin requirements; ensuring accurate and current data availability.
• Monitor, analyze and report as required on strategic business plan implementation and take corrective action as required.

• Relevant Tertiary Science Qualification.
• Minimum of 5 years working experience in the commercial pharmaceutical industry at management level.
• MBA will be an added advantage.

Distinguished Competencies

• Business Acumen: Uses commercial awareness in country to identify and capitalize on opportunities for product, market development or service. Uses financial information systems which provide relevant, up-to-date information to allow for strategic decision-making. Ensures responsible expenditure and asset management to minimize exposure to risk of loss or damage. Maximizes return on investment.
•  Industry knowledge: Demonstrates knowledge of the major issues facing the industry in country and the significant developments in a range of areas. Proactively keep abreast of issues of a broader nature and share information with management.
•  Networking/ relationship building: Develops and capitalizes on internal/ industry-wide networks to facilitate achievement of key AstraZeneca business objectives and achieve influence and results externally.
•  Coaching/mentoring: Coaching/mentoring others in a range of tasks, relevant to their developmental needs. Demonstrates values in-line with the AstraZeneca values.