It goes without saying that the pandemic has significantly impacted the dynamics of the workplace in the present, but it seems likely that it may have also accelerated already emerging trends like increased digital communication tools, remote working schedules, and new automation. While the digital and technical landscape of companies has taken great strides in the decades that preceded the pandemic, the past year-and-a-half has forced companies to act quickly and adapt to an ever-evolving situation with tact and flexibility.
As time has continued on, many companies have begun to embrace the multitude of benefits yielded from the transformation and innovation brought about by technological changes and implementations.
However, it’s not just employers that have seen the benefits of a new relationship between the employer and employee through a lens of innovation, but employees and job seekers have become both acclimated and welcoming to an operating model that affords more remote work or hybrid-working models. In fact, according to a Pew Research Center survey, 54% of those surveyed say that if given a choice, they’d prefer to continue remote work a majority of the time when the coronavirus outbreak is over.
While there is a multitude of factors that play into the larger scope of remote work —such as industry, the socioeconomic divide between upper- and lower-income workers, qualifications, and more— it is clear that the life sciences industry was already moving toward remote work or a hybrid-operating model. That being said, it’s important to know what the options are for a life sciences industry professional as they look to navigate an increasingly digital workspace in search of a fulfilling remote role.
Here are five paths to consider for remote work in the life sciences industry:
Pharmacy
A popular remote life science option is working as a home-based pharmacist, offering more freedom and flexibility in the pharmaceutical practice. with new mobile applications and digital technologies, there are increasing professional opportunities to deliver clinical care and expertise outside a standard-setting. Of course, the role requires the proper licensure and degree from an accredited university, but the prospects in the life sciences industry are plentiful including options to consult for hospitals and clinics or handle prescriptions for mail-order drug companies, short- and long-term care facilities, and other similar businesses.
“There is great potential in telepharmacy,” says Jenny Piper, a Clinical Pharmacist at one of the largest Cancer Institutes in the United States. “Telepharmacy helps address some of the short staffing issues that are common, especially in today’s economy, but telepharmacy also introduces greater levels of convenience for patients and customers, which is a win-win for healthcare institutions.”
Clinical
For remote clinical work, the top option would be as a Clinical Research Associate (CRA), typically charged with managing and monitoring clinical trials and studies pertaining to biotechnological and pharmaceutical products, drugs, and procedures. This also means ensuring Good Clinical Practice (GCP) compliance and coordinating with key internal and external stakeholders, which can also require extensive regional travel.
Sales
Prior to the pandemic, a job in the sales department would have likely warranted more travel depending upon the company relationships, new business development strategies, tradeshows for the industry, and more. However, as companies continue to rely upon and leverage new digital technologies, there is an opportunity for professionals with subject matter expertise in the life sciences industry and either a sales background or transferrable skills such as strong interpersonal abilities or a data-driven mindset to find success in the sales side of the industry.
Shared Services
In the past year-and-a-half, leaders have had to make tough decisions on both the present and future strategy for their companies that extend beyond just the rapid implementation of remote working tools and navigating increased digital collaboration. Due to rising costs in other areas, businesses are feeling the pressure to identify areas that can yield additional advantages and profitability. One increasingly popular strategy is by operating through a shared services model which can have an array of benefits including increased efficiency, effective consolidation, and enhanced operational transparency. Under this model, areas such as compliance, IT, and project management may likely see a permanence of remote work while transitioning into a larger scope of work for a shared services model that extends their regional or organizational responsibility.
Bioinformatics & Data Science
In the same vein of new technologies and innovation, companies in the life sciences industry and focusing now more than ever on the capture, analysis, and interpretation of big data. This means knowledgeable professionals who can store, handle and manipulate this data are in high demand, and with a wide range of applications for the industry. While the requirements for roles in this field may be a bit more comprehensive, this is an increasingly essential component in the biopharma space.