Senior Key Account Manager Molecular Diagnostics (Cape town)
Danaher · Cape Town
Join Cepheid – A Danaher Company
Key Account Manager – Cape Town, South Africa
Shape the Future of Diagnostics Across Southern Africa
Cepheid, a global pioneer in molecular diagnostics, is part of Danaher Corporation, a $200B+ global science and technology leader with over 75,000 associates and 20+ operating companies including Beckman Coulter, Radiometer, Cepheid, and Leica Biosystems. At Danaher, our purpose is clear: Helping Realize Life’s Potential.
As part of our continued growth across the Middle East & Africa region, we are looking for a high-performing Key Account Manager to join our Southern Africa team, based in Cape Town. This role is ideal for someone with deep experience in diagnostics and healthcare, coupled with strong sales and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
About the Role
As a Key Account Manager, you will be responsible for the strategic growth and management of Cepheid’s key customers and commercial partners across your region. You will drive performance by managing commercial relationships, securing tenders, maximizing product adoption, and leading account development initiatives.
This is a high-visibility role with regional impact, working cross-functionally with Marketing, Customer Care, Service, and Global Operations to ensure exceptional delivery of diagnostic solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Achieve and exceed quarterly and annual sales targets across Southern Africa
Develop and execute regional account strategies, ensuring competitive positioning in partnership agreements and national tenders
Act as primary point of contact for direct customers and regional distributors
Engage with clinicians, KOLs, laboratory leaders, procurement groups, and policy stakeholders to drive product acceptance and market penetration
Lead commercial expansion in private sector channels such as commercial labs, private hospitals, and alternative healthcare facilities
Support pre- and post-marketing activities, events, evaluations, and studies in collaboration with the Marketing team
Maintain strong competitive intelligence to adjust sales and marketing strategies based on market feedback
Identify and pursue growth opportunities through annual implementation plans aimed at increasing menu adoption, account penetration, and market share
Provide accurate forecasts, funnel management, and reporting using Salesforce (SFDC)
Evaluate and manage distributor performance; qualify new distributors following the CPTK process
Train and support distributor teams, internal stakeholders, and customer staff where needed
Collaborate cross-functionally using Danaher’s DBS (Danaher Business System) methodology to drive continuous improvement, growth, and operational excellence
Ensure installed base availability and customer satisfaction KPIs are met by working closely with Customer Care and Service teams
Demonstrate territory planning and data-driven decision-making through effective funnel analysis and internal resource orchestration
Handle ad hoc business development projects essential for the company’s long-term success in the region
What We’re Looking For
Undergraduate degree in Life Sciences or related medical/scientific discipline
5+ years of diagnostics or healthcare industry experience, ideally across diverse geographies or multicultural environments
Strong sales and scientific acumen, particularly in lab diagnostics or molecular platforms
Demonstrated success in key account management, strategic selling, and stakeholder engagement
High level of financial and business acumen with proven success in managing budgets and understanding P&L dynamics
Excellent communication, presentation, and planning skills
Proactive and self-driven with the ability to work cross-functionally and independently
Willingness to travel up to 50% regionally and internationally
Preferred Experience
Multilingual – Fluency in English required; additional regional or global languages are a plus
Experience in managing tenders, contracts, or public-private partnerships
Prior exposure to distributor/channel management models
Background in leading or contributing to healthcare transformation projects is an advantage
Why Cepheid? Why Danaher?
Joining Cepheid means joining a company that is redefining the way diagnostics are delivered. Our solutions enable rapid, accurate decisions that save lives – and you’ll be at the center of that mission.
As a Danaher company, we offer you:
Access to global talent development and career mobility across 20+ world-class brands
A culture of innovation, diversity, and continuous improvement through the Danaher Business System
Mentorship, leadership training, and skill-building programs
The chance to contribute to meaningful work with real-world impact on patient outcomes
If you're ready to be part of a high-growth environment that values integrity, purpose, innovation, and accountability, we invite you to apply and become a part of the Cepheid journey in transforming diagnostic care across Africa.
Join our winning team today. Together, we’ll accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow’s science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life.
For more information, visit www.danaher.com.
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