Location: Johannesburg
Employment Type: Full-Time
Industry: Medical & Pharmaceutical | Clinical Research | International Trade

WatersEdge Solutions is partnering with a global business operating within the medical and pharmaceutical sector to find a commercially driven Partnership Manager. This is a high-impact role combining business development, strategic operations and direct exposure to executive-level decision-making.

The opportunity is particularly well suited to a high-performing professional who wants to develop a deeper understanding of how an international business operates while simultaneously building their own client portfolio and driving growth across the pharmaceutical, biotech and clinical research sectors.

About the Role

The Partnership Manager will work directly with senior leadership on both commercial growth and strategic business initiatives. You’ll move between market analysis and operational strategy on one hand, and prospecting, client engagement and deal-making on the other.

A significant part of the role involves identifying opportunities with major pharmaceutical, biotech and clinical research organisations, particularly across the US and European markets, securing access to key decision-makers and converting opportunities into commercial agreements.

This is not purely an account management position. The successful candidate needs a strong new-business and commercial mindset, combined with the analytical ability to contribute meaningfully to broader business strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Work directly with senior leadership on growth initiatives and market analysis.

• Contribute to important commercial, operational and financial business decisions.

• Develop frameworks to support international scaling, pricing strategies and process optimisation.

• Support data analysis, reporting and the execution of new business strategies.

• Identify and develop new business opportunities across the pharmaceutical, biotech and clinical trial sectors.

• Conduct market research to identify and target major organisations in the US and European markets.

• Secure meetings with senior decision-makers and develop opportunities through to signed commercial agreements.

• Build and manage your own client portfolio.

• Manage client relationships end-to-end, from initial proposal through to post-sales operational coordination.

• Engage with international clients through virtual and face-to-face meetings.

• Travel internationally to target markets where required to build relationships and close deals.

What You’ll Bring

• An exceptional academic record, with matric and university transcripts required.

• A professional degree, with backgrounds such as CA, BCom LLB, Engineering, Actuarial Science or MBA preferred.

• Minimum 3 years’ post-qualification experience within a professional or business environment.

• Proven track record in sales, consulting or business development.

• Strong commercial acumen and ability to identify and convert business opportunities.

• Excellent analytical ability and strategic problem-solving skills.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• An entrepreneurial, self-starting approach with the energy to drive opportunities forward.

• Ability to communicate confidently with senior and executive-level stakeholders.

• Microsoft Office proficiency.

Nice to Have

• Previous experience managing or mentoring a small team.

• Strong Excel capability.

• Experience using data-analysis tools.

• Exposure to pharmaceutical, biotech, clinical research or related sectors.

• Experience developing international business opportunities.

What’s On Offer

• Direct exposure to senior leadership and executive-level decision-making.

• Accelerated learning across international trade, business strategy and medical logistics.

• Opportunity to build and own an international client portfolio.

• Exposure to major organisations across the global pharmaceutical and clinical research industries.

• International client engagement and business travel.

• Long-term career progression opportunities.

• Potential international relocation opportunities.

Company Culture

This is an ambitious, commercially focused environment suited to someone who enjoys moving quickly between strategic thinking and execution. The role offers significant exposure and responsibility, so it will appeal to someone who is naturally entrepreneurial, analytical and motivated by building something rather than simply maintaining an existing portfolio.

The successful candidate will be comfortable engaging at senior levels, taking ownership of commercial opportunities and contributing beyond the traditional boundaries of a business development role.

Please Note: If you have not been contacted within 10 working days, consider your application unsuccessful.