Employer: Watchmaker Genomics
Department: Sales (EMEA Commercial Team)
Industry: Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Genomics, Molecular Diagnostics & Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)
Location: Salt River, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (On-Site)
Position Type: Full-Time, 12-Month Internship Programme
Target Candidates: Life Sciences Graduates (BSc in Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or related field)
Experience Level: 1–2 years in a customer-facing role (preferably scientific); prior sales experience is a plus
Compensation: Market-Related Biotechnology Internship Salary
Posted Date: 28 October 2026
Closing Date: Tuesday, 10 November 2026
About Watchmaker Genomics & The Inside Sales Internship
Watchmaker Genomics is an innovative life science company headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, with a state-of-the-art R&D and manufacturing facility in Salt River, Cape Town. Watchmaker specializes in the design, engineering, and production of high-performance DNA- and RNA-modifying enzymes enabling high-growth applications in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), molecular diagnostics, and personalized medicine.
Watchmaker Genomics is inviting applications for a 12-Month Inside Sales Specialist Internship (EMEA) based in Salt River, Cape Town. Reporting directly to the Commercial Director for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), the intern will work alongside international Regional Business Managers to drive sales growth, prospect high-value laboratory accounts, qualify sales leads, and support scientific distributors across the EMEA region.
Key Responsibilities & Commercial Workflows
The Inside Sales Specialist Intern will execute ten core commercial deliverables across the EMEA region:
1. Lead Prospecting & Account Qualification
- Customer Engagement: Prospect new research accounts, university laboratories, and clinical diagnostics clients across EMEA using email, LinkedIn, cold calling, and virtual meetings.
- Portfolio Sales Support: Support Regional Business Managers in driving sales for Watchmaker’s broad portfolio of NGS reagents and molecular biology enzymes.
2. Marketing, Tenders & Event Support
- Conference & Lead Generation: Support pre- and post-conference marketing campaigns, trade shows, and brand awareness efforts to generate qualified sales leads.
- Tender & Distributor Support: Assist in compiling documentation for customer-specific scientific tenders and provide operational support to international distributors.
- Marketing Alignment: Collaborate with the global marketing team to execute and track outbound digital marketing campaigns.
3. CRM Management & Tool Development
- CRM Administration: Maintain detailed customer notes, interaction histories, and opportunity pipelines within the CRM system.
- Sales Tools: Assist in developing internal commercial sales tools and collateral to optimize the customer experience.
- International Travel: Potential travel to international scientific conferences across the EMEA region.
Candidate Profile & Minimum Entry Requirements
To qualify for consideration, applicants must meet the following mandatory academic and professional criteria:
- Educational Qualifications (MANDATORY LIFE SCIENCES DEGREE):
- Completed Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) in Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or a closely related quantitative life science discipline (Mandatory).
- Work Experience Level:
- 1 to 2 years of experience in a customer-facing role, ideally within a scientific, laboratory, or biotechnology environment (Mandatory).
- Advantageous: Previous experience in technical sales, lead generation, or CRM administration.
- Technical Knowledge & Software Stack:
- Eagerness to build in-depth technical knowledge of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies and enzyme chemistry (Mandatory).
- Proficient in Google Suite, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and modern CRM platforms (Mandatory).
- Work Eligibility & Vetting:
- Must be a South African Citizen (preferred) or hold valid legal authorization/permits to work full-time in South Africa (Mandatory).
- Subject to standard pre-employment background checks, drug screening, and reference checks.
- Key Soft Skills:
- Top-notch written and verbal communication skills; exceptional interpersonal abilities to build trust quickly with international scientific clients.
Mandatory Application Requirements (PDF Submission)
Applicants MUST submit their application in PDF format on the official Watchmaker Genomics careers portal (watchmakergenomics.com):
- Letter of Motivation / Cover Letter (Upload under the “Cover Letter” section — Applications without a Motivation Letter will be automatically rejected).
- Updated Resume / Curriculum Vitae (CV) highlighting relevant scientific qualifications and customer-facing experience.
- Professional References: Selected candidates will be required to supply contact details for three professional references and a current pay slip.
Application Guidelines & Selection Steps
- Prepare Document Package: Combine your CV and Letter of Motivation into clean PDF files.
- Online Portal: Apply directly via
watchmakergenomics.com. - Closing Deadline: Tuesday, 10 November 2026 (Position may close early if high application volumes are received).
Sample Selection & Scientific Sales Interview Questions
NGS Technical Knowledge & Lead Qualification
- Question (Technical Engagement): “How do you approach initiating a cold outreach conversation with a Senior Genomics Researcher or Lab Manager to introduce Watchmaker’s specialized RNA-modifying enzymes?”
- Question (Sales Lead Qualification): “What key criteria (BANT: Budget, Authority, Need, Timeline) do you use to qualify whether a university research lab lead is ready for a commercial NGS proposal?”
How to Apply
Apply online directly via the official Watchmaker Genomics Portal:
- Employer: Watchmaker Genomics
- Department: Sales (EMEA Region)
- Location: Salt River, Cape Town, Western Cape
- Position: Inside Sales Specialist, EMEA – Intern (12 Months)
- Education: BSc in Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or Life Sciences
- Closing Date: Tuesday, 10 November 2026