External Product Specialist Life Science - Zuid Nederland

We are “Avantor”, a Fortune 500 company, leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the BioPharma, healthcare, education & government, and advanced technologies & applied materials industries. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities in the industries we serve.


We are currently looking for an External Product Specialist for our Life Science Product Portfolio to join our business on a full time basis. Your role territory will cover the North region of the Netherlands.

In your role, you will support our Account Managers by providing specialist product support for our Life Science portfolio of products at our BioPharma customers.

What you’ll do on a typical day

Promote and sell our Life Science portfolio of products both directly to our customers and through our Account Managers.
Provide technical and product support to account managers.
Organise and attend regular visits with customers, fulfilling sales and margin targets.
Provide weekly reports to your Sales Manager and maintain customer data, showing visits attended, prospects, and other tasks.
Establish positive relationships with suppliers to ensure support for business growth via joint marketing activity and price support.


What you’ll need to be successful at Avantor

Knowledge of Life Science Products is essential
Extensive sales experience or relevant occupational experience to ensure maximisation of sales opportunities and growth. Any major or key account management experience is desirable.
Excellent Dutch and English (verbal and written) communication skills as you will be communicating with various stakeholders both internally and externally
Strong IT skills, including proficiency with the Microsoft Office package and good report writing ability
Flexibility to travel regularly within your region, and the organisational skills to manage your own schedule to be effective


What we offer


This opportunity offers the chance to work within a dynamic environment with the possibility to develop your personal and professional skills.

We are offering a competitive salary, 7 month contract that will be extended after a successful performance review, company car, car allowance, along with a bonus scheme and other benefits.

We are currently looking for an External Product Specialist - Life Sciences to join our VWR Life Sciences team on a full-time basis, covering the South region of the Netherlands.

Are you passionate about Life Sciences, customer engagement and business development? In this field-based role, you will be responsible for developing and growing a portfolio of Life Sciences customers across your territory.

You will work with customers active in academic research, healthcare, biotechnology, biopharma and industrial Life Sciences, supporting their needs across areas such as cell biology, molecular biology and protein analysis.

Working closely with our Account Managers, suppliers, technical specialists, marketing and internal commercial teams, you will identify customer needs and translate them into relevant technical and commercial solutions from Avantor's broad Life Sciences portfolio.

What you’ll do

• Develop and grow a portfolio of Life Sciences customers across the South Netherlands territory, with responsibility for both existing business and new customer acquisition.
• Identify, qualify and develop new commercial opportunities through active prospecting, customer visits, networking, scientific events and other relevant channels.
• Understand customers' scientific applications, workflows and challenges and recommend appropriate technical solutions from our Life Sciences portfolio.
• Promote our products and solutions through technical presentations, demonstrations, seminars, workshops and customer events.
• Build strong relationships with researchers, laboratory managers, procurement teams and other relevant customer stakeholders.
• Manage opportunities throughout the sales cycle, from initial qualification through quotation, negotiation and closing.
• Prepare commercial proposals, negotiate pricing and commercial conditions, and follow up on customer projects.
• Work closely with Account Managers to develop strategic customers and identify cross-selling and growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with our technical support, marketing, customer service and other internal teams to provide a strong customer experience.
• Develop productive relationships with our strategic suppliers and coordinate joint customer visits, commercial activities and business development initiatives.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date customer, activity and opportunity information in the CRM.
• Deliver against agreed sales and margin objectives for the territory.
• Monitor competitor activities, market developments and emerging technologies to identify new business opportunities and market trends.

What you’ll need to be successful

• Education: A Master's degree or equivalent higher education in Life Sciences, such as Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or a related scientific discipline. A combined scientific and commercial background would also be relevant. A PhD in a Life Sciences discipline is considered an advantage.
• Experience: Previous experience in B2B sales of scientific products, solutions or services is expected. Experience working with research laboratories or Life Sciences customers would be a strong advantage.
• Scientific knowledge: Good understanding of Life Sciences research environments, ideally including cell biology, molecular biology and/or protein analysis.
• Commercial mindset: Strong customer orientation with the ability to identify needs, develop opportunities and translate scientific challenges into relevant solutions.
• Communication: Strong communication, presentation and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage both scientific and commercial stakeholders.
• Languages: Excellent Dutch and English, both written and spoken, as the role requires regular communication with customers as well as an international internal and supplier network.
• Organisation: Ability to work independently, organise your own territory and priorities, and maintain a strong level of field activity.
• Digital skills: Comfortable working with CRM systems and standard Microsoft Office applications.
• Mobility: Willingness and flexibility to travel regularly throughout the territory.

What we offer

This role offers the opportunity to work in a broad and dynamic Life Sciences environment, combining scientific expertise, customer interaction and commercial responsibility.

You will have access to a wide portfolio of Life Sciences technologies and suppliers and will work within an international team, with opportunities to further develop both your scientific and commercial skills.

A competitive compensation package, company car, bonus scheme and additional benefits are provided in line with Avantor's local employment conditions.

Are you passionate about quality, compliance, and continuous improvement? Do you enjoy coordinating projects, collaborating across teams, and ensuring products meet the highest standards? We are looking for a Quality Assurance Specialist to join our team and play a key role in supporting quality processes, documentation, and product release activities.

About the Role

As a Quality Assurance Specialist, you will be responsible for coordinating and independently managing projects while providing guidance and support within the quality function. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to maintain compliance, support quality systems, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Quality & Compliance

• Maintain and support quality systems and quality documentation.
• Perform electronic data entry and manage the distribution and updating of QA forms.
• Generate, review, revise, and maintain controlled documentation.
• Edit and update procedures and policies as required.
• Communicate QA standards and expectations across departments.
• Support material release activities requiring a high level of attention to detail.
• Assist with released material movement and product disposition documentation.
• Generate variance reports and other product-related reports.

Project Coordination & Process Improvement

• Coordinate and independently manage assigned projects.
• Lead cross-functional meetings related to project activities when required.
• Analyze existing procedures and policies and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide information, guidance, and support to team members within the functional area.

Quality Systems & Audits

• Participate in ISO 9001 audits and contribute to ISO 9001 program documentation and implementation.
• Ensure compliance with applicable procedures, standards, and regulations.
• Act independently as the Qualified Person for product disposition, release, or rejection when applicable.
• Ensure each batch has been manufactured and tested according to established release procedures.

Team Support

• Assist with training and cross-training of department personnel.
• Serve as a temporary backup for team members when required.
• Support the development and knowledge sharing of colleagues within the department.

What We're Looking For

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or technical school, or
• Minimum two years of Quality Assurance experience within an ISO-registered company, or
• An equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency with: Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint
• Experience with Agile methodologies is considered a plus.

Skills & Competencies

Communication Skills

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business documents, technical procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Strong report writing, business correspondence, and procedural documentation skills.

Analytical Skills

• Basic understanding of statistics and business performance metrics.
• Ability to analyze business systems and processes and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Working Style

• Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to work independently with limited supervision.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Team-oriented with excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Positive attitude, professionalism, and dependable attendance.

Physical Requirements

This position requires:

• Regular sitting, standing, walking, reaching, talking, and hearing.
• Occasional lifting or moving of items up to 25 lbs (approximately 11 kg).
• Ability to meet visual requirements including close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision, and focus adjustment.

For safety reasons, contact lenses are not permitted in production, laboratory, engineering shop, or equipment work areas. Prescription safety glasses will be provided where applicable.

Work Environment

• Moderate noise level.
• Ability to work in non-climate-controlled environments when required.
• Collaborative and quality-focused workplace culture.

Ready to take the next step in your career? We'd love to hear from you!

#LI-Onsite

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor?

Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science.
 
The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor.
 
We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world. Apply today!

EEO Statement:

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

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3rd Party Non-Solicitation Policy:

By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation.