Strategic Account Executive - Life Sciences

Strategic Account Executive – Life Sciences – Hybrid

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About the Job

The Life Sciences sales team is hiring a Strategic Account Executive to assist one of our platinum accounts in shaping their data and AI strategies and modernizing their solutions.

The Strategic Account Executive leads customer engagement, generates new revenue, and protects recurring revenue for SAS' strategic customers. The focus is on fostering long-term satisfaction and loyalty while growing SAS business. The role extends beyond sales, requiring collaboration across departments for a customer-centric strategy.

This role involves expert knowledge of industry software and hardware, strategic selling skills, and the ability to negotiate global Enterprise Agreements in complex environments. With proven success in joint planning and execution, the Strategic Account Executive helps achieve SAS's goals of delivering value and expanding our presence.

The role will be based in the UK (Marlow, Glasgow, London) with hybrid working model and will require traveling as per business needs across EU and outside of the EU.

As a Strategic Account Executive – Life Sciences, You Will

• Develop and execute a multi-year rolling strategic account plan with extended cross functional Account Team that meets or exceeds customer objectives and SAS Software, Cloud and Services revenue goals.
• Regularly review and align strategy with customer and internally. Lead matrix sales team according to the strategic account plan in alignment with SAS Sales Leadership.
• Take full accountability for projects and initiatives internationally (where applicable), across all major lines of business, while leading the engagement of the extended SAS account team (sales support, post-sales, R&D, Hosting, Executive and C-Suite).
• Drive joint account planning and execution in alignment with Strategic Accounts delivery framework. Collaborate with executive sponsors and functional leaders to ensure strategic alignment and measurable outcomes.
• Grow New Software and Cloud revenue through demonstration of excellent strategic value-and transformational sales capabilities, as well as deep understanding of the customer industry and SAS capabilities.
• Conduct business development – identify business needs and translate them to SAS capabilities to grow new opportunities innovatively, together with sales support functions and the extended sales team.
• Manage high-risk escalation issues for the strategic customer at SAS and drive them to closure, balancing SAS and customer interests.
• Regularly align all post-sales lines of business behind the strategic account plan and build lines of communication to flag challenges and opportunities.

Required Qualifications

• Experience in a similar role and in developing and executing multi-year strategic plans.
• Experience in leading cross functional teams in a matrix organization.
• Knowledge and understanding of Life Sciences industry specifics is preferred.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate territory dynamics and develop a sales plan; ability to communicate technical and business concepts and relate them to SAS applications and user needs; ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of SaaS complex solution sales ideally with a focus on data analytics, AI, Generative AI. Awareness of SAS solutions and services preferred.
• Fluent in English.
• Equivalent combination of related education, training and experience may be considered in place of the above qualifications.

Additional Competencies, Knowledge and Skills

• Sales Planning: Develops and executes strategic sales plans to achieve revenue targets and drive business growth.
• Customer Centricity: Prioritizes customer needs and delivers tailored solutions that enhance satisfaction and loyalty.
• Relationship Building: Cultivates strong, trust-based relationships with clients and stakeholders to foster long-term partnerships.
• Obstacle Navigation: Proactively identifies and overcomes challenges to maintain momentum and deliver results.
• Insight Driven Value Creation: Leverages data and market insights to craft compelling value propositions that address client pain points.
• Self-Motivation: Demonstrates initiative and drive to exceed goals independently in a fast-paced, target-driven environment.

Benefits Highlights

• You will receive a competitive salary package and fringe benefits.
• You will grow in an energizing and flexible environment.
• You will enjoy flexibility as we operate in a hybrid model.

At SAS, it's not about fitting into our culture – it's about adding to it. We believe our people make the difference. Our inclusive workforce brings together unique talents and inspires teams to create amazing software that reflects the diversity of our users and customers.

Additional Information: SAS only sends emails from verified "sas.com" email addresses and never asks for sensitive, personal information or money. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of any type of communication from, or on behalf of SAS, please contact Recruitingsupport@sas.com.

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