Field Sales Manager, SF Bay area

The businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany•Emeryville, CA

4d•$71,600 - $125,300•Onsite

About The Position

The Field Sales Manager is a field-based, customer-facing sales role covering an assigned territory in the San Francisco Bay Area. The position requires daily presence in the territory and a minimum of four days per week conducting in-person customer visits. The manager builds and grows accounts through face-to-face engagement with customers, laboratory teams, procurement departments, and decision-makers. Virtual meetings may supplement, but do not replace, in-person customer coverage. The role involves prospecting, qualifying and closing sales opportunities; promoting Sigma products and technologies through demonstrations and technical discussions; and developing account and territory strategies that support business goals. The manager works with Marketing and Inside Sales teams, documents customer activity and territory coverage in CRM, and manages territory routing and priorities independently. Some overnight travel within the territory is required, along with travel to sales meetings, trade shows, and scientific conferences, including occasional weekends.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, or a very closely related science field.
At least 2 years of field sales experience, including demonstrated success covering a geographic territory in person.
Proven ability to identify, drive, and close sales through a technical and tactical consultative approach in face-to-face customer settings.
Ability to manage time, territory routing, and priorities independently while working remotely from a manager and predominantly from a home office or vehicle.
Excellent communication and negotiation skills, including the ability to influence and educate others in person.
Ability to develop, implement, manage, and track strategic and tactical plans independently and with a team.
Strong organizational, prioritization, and planning skills for account, territory, and project management.
Ability to work successfully with minimal supervision and sustain a high level of in-person activity.
Must live in or relocate independently to the assigned Bay Area territory and maintain daily presence there.
At least four days per week in the field conducting in-person customer visits.
Valid driver’s license with a clear driving record and ability to drive extensively within the territory.

Nice To Haves

Experience in sales and/or territory management.
Experience selling reagents and/or technology platforms.
Knowledge of purchasing departments and account management, including maintaining and growing top laboratories within key accounts through regular on-site presence.
Working knowledge of genomics, proteomics, and/or cell-based assays; practical or sales experience in these areas is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

Generate and qualify sales leads through in-person prospecting, laboratory walk-throughs, and on-site relationship building.
Close profitable business by meeting or exceeding sales goals and objectives.
Build, grow, and manage key accounts in the assigned territory, using in-person presence as the primary engagement model.
Promote awareness of Sigma technologies and products through on-site demonstrations, seminars, and technical discussions.
Develop face-to-face customer relationships that support penetration, retention, and loyalty.
Devise and implement account and territory strategies, including an in-territory call plan and coverage model, to support sales and strategic business goals.
Collaborate with Marketing and Inside Sales teams to identify, develop, and close opportunities, serving as the on-the-ground presence for jointly managed accounts.
Work with Inside Sales to address competitive barriers, increase sales, and identify product improvement or development opportunities based on customer and lab observations.
Work on site with purchasing departments to understand procurement processes and develop strategies to mitigate sales barriers.
Submit timely sales activity reports, call reports, and territory coverage documentation, and maintain accurate CRM records after customer visits.
Plan territory routes to maximize in-person selling time and ensure key accounts are not covered only remotely.