Key Account Manager - Northern England (m/f/d) in Reading

About PAION

PAION is a pharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development, manufacturing and distribution of medicines for intensive care, anaesthesiology and infectious diseases. Our products make a real difference in the hospital settings where care is most critical.

The role

The UK is possibly one of the most rewarding, and most demanding, markets in our European portfolio. Getting a product into NHS hospitals means winning on clinical value, securing a place on the formulary, and navigating tight budgets and complex local decision-making, all before a single prescription can be written.

We are looking for a Key Account Manager who sees that challenge as an opportunity: a true door-opener and self-starter who takes ownership of Northern England as if it were their own business. You will build access where none exists today, turn a “no” into a “ yes”, and keep going until things get done.

Territory: Northern England, with future expansion into Scotland.

Your responsibilities

• Open doors and win new accounts: proactively identify, approach and secure new hospital customers across your territory, and grow the existing customer base through regular, high-quality visits.
• Drive formulary access: own the route to formulary inclusion at Trust, regional and ICS level, including submissions, committee preparation and follow-up, until PAION products are approved and available to prescribe.
• Map and influence decision-makers: identify key stakeholders (clinical leads, pharmacy, procurement, finance and medicines management committees) and develop tailored strategies for each account.
• Manage the full sales process: from first contact and product explanation to quotations, contracting, tendering and ordering, including wholesaler and distribution set-up.
• Manage budget and funding barriers: build the value case together with your customers, working with the commercial and medical teams to find a way through budget constraints.
• Deliver customer projects: coordinate and implement medical and scientific projects with customers, in close cooperation with the European medical team.
• Be visible in the field: represent PAION at conferences, congresses and regional events, and build a strong professional network across the North and Scotland in the future.
• Work as one team: collaborate closely with colleagues in Sales, Marketing and Medical across the UK and Europe, and share market insights that help shape our UK strategy.

You are a commercial professional with a pharmaceutical background and a proven track record of winning new business.

• Training or certification as a pharmaceutical representative or consultant (e.g. ABPI).
• 4–5 years’ experience in customer acquisition, key account management and project management.
• Hands-on experience of selling into the NHS, including formulary applications, new product introductions and working within constrained budgets. Hospital sales experience is a strong advantage, as is knowledge of NHS purchasing and procurement structures.
• Based in Northern England, with a willingness to travel extensively within the region.

Personality and work style

• Entrepreneurial and self-driven: you take initiative, set your own direction and do not wait to be told what to do next.
• Resilient and persistent: you treat a “no” as the start of the conversation, and find another route, another stakeholder or another angle.
• A natural networker: you enjoy building relationships, opening new doors and creating opportunities where others see obstacles.
• A confident closer: you combine strong communication and negotiation skills with the commercial judgement to turn interest into signed business.
• Credible and knowledgeable: you explain products and their clinical and economic value clearly and with authority.
• Organised and accountable: you manage your territory independently, with a focus on long-term, trusted customer relationships.
• Open and team-minded: you are keen to learn, open to new ideas and arguments, and happy to share what works.

Join a growing company driving innovation in critical care and anaesthesia. You will have real ownership, a short line to decision-makers and the freedom to build your territory your way, supported by a collaborative UK and European team. If you want to make a visible impact and see the results of your own initiative, this is the role for you.

We look forward to receiving your application at recruiting@paion.com.

If you have any questions, please contact HR@paion.com.