The new hot jobs in pharma - emerging high-demand skill

21 Jul 2008

The pharmaceutical industry offers more career opportunities than just in the field of research and development, and there are a number of emerging areas worthy of career consideration, including the sectors of scientific and engineering, and drug discovery and testing.

Pharma companies are at the cutting edge of technological advances and invest well in the latest state-of-the-art technology, providing positions for skilled engineers, Courses Careers UK notes.

These careers include a range of career choices – from involvement in the design and operation of a manufacturing plant to the construction of automated equipment to assist research teams or the development of delivery systems, such as inhalers.

Courses Careers UK says companies are in need of "highly skilled engineers to use this technology to devise innovative solutions to a range of problems". It claims now is an exciting time to pursue a career in a pharmaceutical field as "the industry is booming".

According to recent government figures, the pharma industry is one of the UK biggest and most lucrative industries, valued at more than £12 billion for exports and almost £9 billion for imports in 2005.

In addition, The Engineer recently reported that business intelligence specialist Espicom found that the UK also has one of the world's largest medical device markets, valued at about £4.7 billion.

As the European market is the second largest in the world after the US, pharma is a good source of job opportunities. An article in the journal stated: "The days when engineering opportunities within the sector were limited are long gone. Engineers are no longer solely involved in building infrastructure, maintenance and facility management."

In particular, the journal said, pharma giants like AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) are promoting the work of chemical engineers early in the process development and electrical engineers are more and more being involved in designing wireless-capable devices, with nanotechnology in particular noted as an area to watch.

AstraZeneca recruitment manager Jez Chance told The Engineer that future demand for engineers was hard to predict but suggested there was a steady ongoing demand for engineers at all levels and across a range of disciplines.

Carolyn Mason, professional excellence manager at GSK, which supports the IchemE Awards, added that engineers often overlooked the sector and the company was keen to raise awareness of such opportunities.

Changes in the work of physicians involved in areas such as clinical development and drug safety are presenting challenges to find the right candidates for these highly-skilled jobs.

Physicians are well-paid, according to a report by Online Recruitment Magazine, and as their actual numbers within the industry have declined, the ones most skilled in more than one therapy area or function are exceptional.

Directive 2004/27/EC, implemented in October 2005 by the EC Regulatory Body, make it essential for every pharmaceutical or biotech company to be led by what it defined as a qualified person, who does not have to be a physician but who must have been formally trained as such.

This had led to high competition within pharma, as qualified and experienced people who met the requirements of a qualified person are "very rare", according to the website.

Online Recruitment noted that those willing to take on such a position are "in high demand and able to command very attractive salary and benefits packages". It added: "Recruiters with their finger on the pulse are positioned to add considerable value to their clients with these needs."