Sales Director Benelux

Change people’s lives and love what you do! Cochlear develops world-leading medical devices that help people hear. As a top 100 medical device company and market-leader in implantable hearing devices, more people choose a Cochlear-branded cochlear implant system than any other. Our employees tell us that the number one reason they enjoy working for Cochlear is the opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives.

The Sales Director Benelux in our Cochlear office based in Mechelen is responsible for ensuring consistent unit and revenue sales growth with profitable results, growing market by market penetration and/or share gains. He/she strives for improving customer relations, focuses on new business opportunities, supports his/her team to develop and engage. Efficient expense management is a requirement.

Job Overview & Purpose

The Sales Director Benelux is responsible for the sales on CI, Baha and Acoustic implant systems and upgrades. The Sales Director Benelux should continue to develop strong customer relationships with all relevant partners in the clinics, centers, rehab centers, referral pathway and beyond. Through a strategic sales approach based on Cochlear Benelux' building blocks, the sales manager continues to improve the entire customer experience to maximise revenue and long term sustainable growth for the region.

Accountabilities For The Role:

Accountability 1: Managing the Benelux CI and Acoustic sales activities

• Perform monthly sales analysis
• Set out sales strategy as a member of the management team (short term and long term)
• Initiate sales initiatives and campaigns in collaboration with marketing and customer service
• Support General Manager in strategic framework
• Accountability 2: Managing, building, and developing the Benelux Sales team  

• Set Pricing Strategy

• Periodic Forecasting

• Initiate sales initiatives and campaigns in collaboration with marketing and customer service
• Support General Manager in strategic framework
• Accountability 2: Managing, building, and developing the Benelux Sales team  
• Build a team where, on an ongoing basis, each individual - knows what the key priorities are and how these support the business priorities; receives the feedback and coaching they need to ensure they are working on the right things and demonstrating the HEAR behaviours; works collaboratively within the team and across teams to achieve our goals
• Apply situational leadership consistently during goal setting, one-on-one meetings and objective tracking.
• Champion a workplace of genuine respect and equity where each individual feels safe and valued. Instill trust and resilience and foster open two-way communication. Lead by example and drive engagement.

• Manage Periodic Meetings

• Optimise communication within the team
• Optimise cross-functional team communication following the One Cochlear mindset
• Accountability 3: Strategic Account management
• Optimise communication within the team
• Optimise cross-functional team communication following the One Cochlear mindset
• Accountability 3: Strategic Account management
• Develop strategic account management plans together with the General Manager and Territory Managers following our sales methodology and sales processes with three key goals to optimize the customer’s journey
• Drive new candidates connected to the selected clinic
• Maximise our brand position in the clinic on all levels
• Optimise the clinical workflow through our connected care p
• Maintain good records in CRM systems
• Follow up contracts & tenders together with Territory Managers, including Periodical meetings with procurement of key accounts
• Yearly update of pricelists in collaboration with customer service management
• Support the 5-year plan for the business

Accountability 4: Managing National and International events

• Coordinate commercial positioning around national and local events with sales team and marketing
• Coordinate invited speakers/delegates to international events

Accountability 5: Systems & Process:

• Regularly update Cochlear’s internal Customer Relationship Management system (Salesforce) following our business requirements  
• Actively promote and use Cochlear’s  feedback and quality management systems and ensure that all staff are trained, so that everyone contributes to delivering the highest quality products and services.

Accountability 6: Knowledge Maintenance:

• Keep CI and Acoustics product knowledge up to date through internal and external training and events
• Attendance/involvement at EMEA events, forums and networks
• Continual review of current research and competitive positioning
• Attend and contribute to team and cross functional business meetings
• Maintain and enhance professional qualifications in line with professional body requirements
• Participate in clinical training development within the L&D EMEA group and regional train the trainer programme

Required Skills

• Strong goal orientation and self-motivation
• Clinical and audiological experience with Cochlear Implants, hearing aids and/or Acoustic implants
• Proven successful track record in business, sales and clinical / technical areas
• Previous training experience in a clinical setting

• Contact Database Experience

• Excellent Presentation Skills

• Strong computer literacy with PowerPoint expertise

• Driving License

• Fluent in Dutch and English with a good knowledge of French

• Confident Interpersonal Style

• Team Orientation

• Flexibility

• Strong in building and maintaining customer relationships with customers from different backgrounds in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands

Desired Skills

• Strong understanding of regional business culture and commercial dynamics
• Extensive experience in cochlear implantation or acoustic implants both clinically and in business
• Proven track record of sales, business acumen, marketing and negotiation skills at a strategic level
• Experience managing distributed teams and scaling sales operations
• Training experience in the healthcare sector
• Clear and confident presentation and training skills as well as extensive training and coaching experience in the audiology field
• Dutch – French – English speaking
• Knowledge of the Dutch and Belgian Healthcare system

Education

• Successful completion of either the BSc in audiology or MSc in audiological science or equivalent
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field (MBA is a plus)

Work Experience

• People Management

• Sales experience 3-5 years in related field

What We Offer

An attractive remuneration package and flexible extra-legal benefits

An extensive onboarding and training program

An enjoyable work environment with attention to life-work balance and homeworking

A stimulating environment with growth opportunities and opportunity to meet multi-disciplinary colleagues across the globe

This is your chance to be part of a premier organization with a great culture, working in a dynamic, growing and rapidly evolving environment to deliver outstanding results that benefit our customers every day. Be part of something purposeful and APPLY now by clicking on the link below and see your career grow!

Cochlear Summary

Cochlear’s mission is to help people hear and be heard. Around the world, more people chose a Cochlear-branded hearing implant system than any other. Our employees tell us that the number one reason they enjoy working for Cochlear is the opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives. Learn and grow with us as we tackle the most complex challenges in helping people to Hear Now. And Always. Cochlear is the global market leader in implantable hearing solutions including cochlear implant systems (CI) and bone anchored hearing aids (Baha™).

Equal Opportunities

Cochlear is committed to providing equal opportunities to avoid unlawful discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, religion/belief or age. In line with our corporate ethics and statutory obligations we strive to ensure that the work environment is free of harassment and bullying and that everyone is treated with dignity and respect - this is an important aspect of ensuring equal opportunities in employment.