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Biotech: Drive and innovation are keys to succeeding

Working for the future

THIS STORY APPEARED IN

January 22, 2012|By Sarah Shemkus

Lisa Anderson says she seeks candidates who can be adaptable, flexible,… (josh reynolds for the boston…)

After working as a human resources consultant, Lisa Anderson joined the staff at Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge. Now, as director of strategic staffing, she seeks the right people to drive the growth of the biotechnology company.

Available jobs Most of the jobs available at Vertex fall in the area of drug development, Anderson said. The company is currently hiring clinical project managers, biometrics experts, and research scientists.

“The more drug programs we have, the more clinical trials we’re going to run,’’ she said. “We need to bring in those folks that can help to run those trials.’’

But biotechs like Vertex also have a variety of openings for support staff: administrative assistants, database specialists, business analysts. As the company expands, there is also a growing need for people to design and manage computer systems that support the company’s clinical work, Anderson said.

“Sometimes when people hear ‘biotech,’ they assume that every person you hire is a scientist of some sort,’’ Anderson said. But the support positions “are also integral to our success,’’ she said.

Types of people and skills Vertex looks for employees who can build careers with the growing company, Anderson said. Therefore, she seeks candidates who, in addition to relevant skills, possess a range of attributes, including the ability to be adaptable, flexible, and accountable.

Communication skills are also valued highly. Those most likely to succeed, Anderson added, have drive and a sense of innovation. “Hire for spark and train the rest,’’ Anderson said.

For many jobs, specific training is required. A large portion of the staff works in research and development, and “they pretty much all have science, medicine, or nursing background,’’ Anderson said. For jobs in information technology, however, familiarity with the systems and software Vertex uses - particularly Oracle and contract management program iMANY - is more important than a formal education in science, she said.

How to get the skills Though a background in science is helpful at Vertex, applicants need not head back to school for a four-year degree in chemistry for many positions, Anderson said.

“You need to show you have some understanding of what goes into the drug development process, which you can obtain from basic networking with colleagues and friends,’’ she said.