Does anyone have expertise/advice on getting into the Pharmaceutical industry relm of Project management, particularly for a company providing pharmaceutical therapies?
Candace GrantHead of Technology| Academics West LLCBrooklyn, Ny, United States
I'm interested in learning about drug development Project management experience. The jobs I see ask for pharma industry experience but the role itself seems pretty straightforward in terms of applying project management expertise. Has anyone started their career as a PM in a completely new industry. I would love to hear your experience. Saving Changes...
Well, I do not have any experience in this industry.
However, I think that PMs are generally subject matter experts in this industry.
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1 reply by Candace Grant
Jul 10, 2021 2:42 PM
Candace Grant
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I agree that we are subject mater experts, but most jobs I've seen so far really want a great operations manager with industry specific knowledge. I'll keep looking:)
I'm no expert in that industry, but I do have experience moving between technical domains where I had essentially no prior experience. One thing to remember is that there are more parts to the business than the primary science and technology aspect. For example, I worked at a nutritional supplements manufacturer during college, and was promoted from the warehouse to the office after showing them how grocery stores organize their merchandise to reduce picking the wrong item off the shelf.
You are unlikely to get a PM job requiring extensive technical knowledge you lack, but you may find a way to enter the industry, and use that opportunity to move into the PM position. It could even be a PM position, but in something generic like an ERP system, or manufacturing expansion.
You will certainly want to figure out how to market yourself to match your skills, to their needs and I would suggest researching the industry and prospective employers to better understand the general and specialized needs. Often employers are less interested in how much technical knowledge you bring with you, than your ability to learn quickly on the job. I certainly know many people who have started in a business management oriented position, and moved into managing technical projects from the related experience.
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1 reply by Candace Grant
Jul 10, 2021 2:45 PM
Candace Grant
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This sounds great! Thanks for the clarification on this. I'll look into better marketing strategies and more research on the companies. Thank for the input.
You typically need experience in this industry or a really high advanced degree to jump into a pharma PM role overseeing drug development due to the regulations.
With no experience in the industry, it's better to come in from the IT side at the company and try to transfer. Even then though it might be tough because many of the senior roles require a PharmD or PhD if you want to do true drug development
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1 reply by Candace Grant
Jul 10, 2021 2:43 PM
Candace Grant
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This was very insightful Susan, thank you!
Saving Changes...
Candace GrantHead of Technology| Academics West LLCBrooklyn, Ny, United States
Jul 06, 2021 8:27 AM
Replying to Abolfazl Yousefi Darestani
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Well, I do not have any experience in this industry.
However, I think that PMs are generally subject matter experts in this industry.
I agree that we are subject mater experts, but most jobs I've seen so far really want a great operations manager with industry specific knowledge. I'll keep looking:) Saving Changes...
Candace GrantHead of Technology| Academics West LLCBrooklyn, Ny, United States
Jul 06, 2021 1:49 PM
Replying to Susan Marangos
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You typically need experience in this industry or a really high advanced degree to jump into a pharma PM role overseeing drug development due to the regulations.
With no experience in the industry, it's better to come in from the IT side at the company and try to transfer. Even then though it might be tough because many of the senior roles require a PharmD or PhD if you want to do true drug development
This was very insightful Susan, thank you! Saving Changes...
Candace GrantHead of Technology| Academics West LLCBrooklyn, Ny, United States
Jul 06, 2021 10:30 AM
Replying to Keith Novak
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I'm no expert in that industry, but I do have experience moving between technical domains where I had essentially no prior experience. One thing to remember is that there are more parts to the business than the primary science and technology aspect. For example, I worked at a nutritional supplements manufacturer during college, and was promoted from the warehouse to the office after showing them how grocery stores organize their merchandise to reduce picking the wrong item off the shelf.
You are unlikely to get a PM job requiring extensive technical knowledge you lack, but you may find a way to enter the industry, and use that opportunity to move into the PM position. It could even be a PM position, but in something generic like an ERP system, or manufacturing expansion.
You will certainly want to figure out how to market yourself to match your skills, to their needs and I would suggest researching the industry and prospective employers to better understand the general and specialized needs. Often employers are less interested in how much technical knowledge you bring with you, than your ability to learn quickly on the job. I certainly know many people who have started in a business management oriented position, and moved into managing technical projects from the related experience.
This sounds great! Thanks for the clarification on this. I'll look into better marketing strategies and more research on the companies. Thank for the input. Saving Changes...