Managing Director – Animal Health Belgium

Job Description

Managing Director - Animal Health Belgium

At Animal Health Belgium, leadership is a chance to shape the future of animal health-advancing science, strengthening partnerships, and making a lasting difference for animals, people, and the communities we serve. We are looking for a purpose-driven, visible leader with full P&L responsibility for the Belgian organisation, who embodies our Enterprise Leadership Skills: shaping our future through bold, strategic choices; unlocking potential by growing talent and building inclusive, high-performing teams; and delivering impact through execution excellence, ownership and accountability, and energising others around shared ambition.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Cluster Lead BeNeLux, the Managing Director for Animal Health Belgium holds overall responsibility for leading, developing, and executing the strategic vision and operational management of the organisation within Belgium, with full accountability for the country P&L and sustainable business performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the country strategy in alignment with global Animal Health objectives.

• Own and execute the strategic account approach for top customers, buying groups, and corporate accounts, ensuring aligned value propositions, governance, and sustainable partnerships.

• Oversee all business operations, including sales, marketing, finance, regulatory affairs, and supply chain management.

• Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing management team, promoting a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

• Ensure regulatory compliance with Belgian and European standards, as well as our company’s internal policies.

• Represent Animal Health Belgium externally, building strong relationships with key stakeholders, customers, industry associations, and regulatory bodies.

• Drive business growth through identifying market opportunities, expanding product portfolios, and maintaining customer satisfaction.

• Hold full P&L accountability for Animal Health Belgium, including revenue growth, gross margin, operating expense management, resource allocation, and forecast accuracy; set targets and ensure delivery of business objectives.

• Champion sustainability initiatives and corporate social responsibility within the organisation.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 15 years proven senior leadership experience in the animal health, pharmaceutical, or related life sciences industries.

• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of the Belgian animal health market.

• Excellent knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry standards.

• Outstanding communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to deliver results in a complex, fast-paced environment.

• Fluency in English and French or Dutch; additional language skills are an advantage.

• Relevant academic qualifications (e.g., Veterinary Medicine, Life Sciences, Business Administration).

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with an innovative mindset.

• Resilient and adaptable to change.

• Ethical, transparent, and committed to our company's values.

• Strong leadership presence and the ability to inspire others.

Location

Based in Belgium, with occasional travel required for meetings and conferences.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

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