Head of Sales Specialist - Discovery Solutions, Life Science, India

Work Your Magic with us!  

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.  

Role Purpose

Accountable for leading and elevating the technical and scientific support provided to the sales team across India for Merck Discover Solutions. This newly formed role combines deep scientific expertise with strategic enablement to accelerate customer engagement, solution adoption, and win rates across multiple franchises (Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biology, Instruments, etc.). Own the development and execution of technical enablement programs, site-level support excellence, and cross-functional collaboration with Sales, Marketing, Product, and Compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the Sales Specialist function, ensuring high-quality scientific and technical support to the sales force and customers across India.


• Provide strategic technical guidance to Sales Directors and Franchise Leads to secure, design, and position discovery solutions effectively.


• Oversee and develop two direct reports: Lead for Analytical Chemistry and Lead for Biology; set clear goals, coaching plans, and performance metrics.


• Develop and maintain robust technical playbooks, objection handling, proof-of-concept (POC) frameworks, and demonstrator tactics aligned with franchise portfolios.


• Collaborate with Marketing, Field Sales, Global Discovery Solutions teams, and Portfolio leads to translate complex science into customer value propositions and competitive differentiators.


• Drive technical training programs for the sales team, including onboarding, ongoing education, certifications, and field coaching on product capabilities, workflow integration, and regulatory considerations.


• Represent India technical voice in regional Discovery Solutions leadership forums; contribute to global best practices and standardization of technical enablement.


• Lead coordination for trials, pilots, and customer-facing demonstrations; champion best practices for evaluating and communicating ROI and total cost of ownership.


• Ensure adherence to Merck’s ethics, privacy, and data protection standards in all customer interactions and technical engagements.


• Partner with Regulatory, Compliance, and Quality teams to ensure all technical activities meet applicable laws and Merck’s standards.


• Manage the local budget for technical enablement, customer demonstrations, and related activities; track ROI and cost per engagement.


• Monitor and report on key metrics such as response times to technical inquiries, win rate influenced by technical support, quality of technical handoffs, and customer satisfaction.


• Maintain relationships with thought leaders in the Science & Lab Solution space; engage in special projects as assigned.

Experience & Qualifications

• Essential: Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Life Sciences, or related field; advanced degree (PhD/Master’s) preferred.


• 8–12 years of hands-on scientific/technical experience in life sciences, chemistry, analytics, or related Discovery Solutions domains.


• Proven experience in a technical support, solutions scientist, or field-based scientific enablement role within a life sciences or pharmaceutical context.


• Demonstrated leadership experience with direct reports and cross-functional collaboration.


• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.


• Ability to work cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Product, and Compliance teams.


• Desirable: Experience with discovery solutions portfolios, scientific data services, or analytical instrumentation.


• CRM and enablement tools familiarity (e.g., Salesforce).


• Prior exposure to India or South Asia markets with regulatory understanding.

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!

Apply now and become a part of a team that is dedicated to Sparking Discovery and Elevating Humanity!