Field Veterinarian at QuintilesIMS

Position Objective

• To lead operational activities in the respective Sub-Saharan Africa country through the management of in-country veterinary diagnostic and outreach team services, and to source new business opportunities and partnerships supporting growth of local veterinary and farming networks

Supervises:

• In-country veterinary and diagnostic teams, with direct report from the Field Veterinarian and Diagnostic Manager

To liaise with:

• Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
• Initiative Manager
• In-country Operations Leads in initiative regions
• In-country Outreach and Diagnostic teams in initiative regions
• Regulatory Affairs Managers and regional Regulatory Affairs colleagues in the BenAfME) and Veterinary Affairs Manager.
• External collaborators and stakeholders, initiative partners, NGOs, governmental organisations and other distribution initiatives
• Internal stakeholders
• External collaborators and stakeholders, initiative partners, NGOs, governmental organisations and other distribution initiatives
• National Regulatory Authorities, and veterinary and farming associations.

Main Responsibilities
Expansion and improvement of QuintilesIMS activities in the initiative country to support the SSA region, through the following activities, including, but not limited to:

• Leadership of in-country diagnostic and outreach teams to ensure that veterinary diagnostic and outreach services offered meet the business needs in-country and initiative scope
• Generation of new business opportunities through relationship development with new key stakeholders
• Supporting and improving existing client business relationships in the region, together with regional business managers
• Acting as an ambassador for the initiative, and ensuring that initiative funding is used efficiently to maximise resource allocation to benefit the local region in a sustainable manner
• Monitoring sales data and providing input for business leads sales volumes for accurate sales forecasting for the initiative duration and beyond
• Organisation of business networking events for local veterinary professionals, farmers and businesses
• Oversight and maintenance of the regional initiative budget, ensuring financial reporting in agreement initiative requirements
• Assisting the Regional Director with business activities in SSA initiative regions through knowledge transfer with other Operations Leads in the other initiative countries
• Collaboration with the Surveillance and Evaluation Unit to ensure continuity between epidemiological activities with veterinary business activities
• Participate in team and/or BenAfME activities, as appropriate
• Other specific duties and responsibilities as detailed in annual Objectives, or agreed with Line Manager

African Livestock Productivity and Health Advancement (A.L.P.H.A.) initiative
As part of QuintilesIMS’ business expansion activities in Sub-Saharan Africa, alongside grant funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation , development and implementation of the A.L.P.H.A. initiative in Uganda, Nigeria and Ethiopia is underway with the following objectives:

• Investment in sustainable collaborative business and supply networks that will lead to a thriving animal health and related business community
• Improved availability of QuintilesIMS’ veterinary medicines through importation permits and product registration in selected countries to extend the number of disease interventions available to treat livestock diseases
• Adaption of QuintilesIMS product packaging and manufacturing to ensure the requirements of smallholder farmers are met for smaller product volumes packaged in the most cost-efficient manner
• Local distribution network improvement to go the ‘last mile’ to reach the small holder community
• Improved livestock health and productivity through the reduction of animal diseases
• Development of a sustainable diagnostic infrastructure to improve the correct diagnosis of livestock production diseases affecting farmers in sub-Saharan Africa
• Provision of a full consultancy service to complement diagnostic results and recommend appropriate medicine use and biosecurity measures to maximize the effectiveness of control measures
• Supporting local veterinarians and relevant veterinary authorities in implementing livestock vaccination programs by supplying relevant high quality vaccines and technical bulletins and services
• Delivery of outreach clinics to improve medicalization of remote farming communities and to deliver relevant education to help increase profitability of small-holders and overall livestock farming.

Required Academic Background/Skills/Experience

• Bachelors (i.e. first) degree in a Business or Management related discipline, or relevant business management experience if suitable
• Over 5 years’ previous team leadership experience in a managerial role
• Previous experience working in sales or a logistics-driven business
• Previous experience driving business opportunities in Africa
• Experience in the local market
• Excellent leadership skills with an entrepreneurial focus
• Excellent organisational skills with diligent record-keeping
• Proven ability in generating successful new business relationships
• Excellent communication skills (written and spoken English), including fluency in local business languages
• Ability to multi-task and to work to demanding timelines, whilst remaining focused on strategic goals
• Demonstrated competence in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to negotiate to obtain necessary resources and technical support to address project/product needs
• Able to be based full-time in initiative country (Nigeria/ Ethiopia/ Uganda)
• Able to travel to business meetings in-country (travel time <80%), and within Africa, Europe and the US (travel time <5%
• Full driving license