It is no secret that clinical positions are in high demand due to Covid-19 and the rise of an aging population. Right now, clinical operations and biometrics candidates are in need in specific markets. This February, we hosted our first #STEMSeries event of the year. We were honored to be joined by external guests Dr. Caiyan Li, Executive Director, Head of Biostatistics at ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, and Robert McRae, Vice President, Operations and Strategic Alliances at Viracta Therapeutics, Inc. Alongside them was our Real Staffing team Darren Thevathansan, Head of Direct Hire, and Emily Sooter, Senior Manager in San Diego. This powerhouse panel discussed the current state of the clinical operations and biometrics job market, how COVID-19 has influenced their businesses, and tips to help job seekers break into the industry.
Current Landscape of Clinical Operations
Many companies are growing quickly and looking to hire talent within clinical operations. Although, there has been a challenge finding the right candidates to fill needed roles with the appropriate amount of experience. Robert McRae spoke about how organizations are now taking this as a cue to be more flexible with their hiring policies and begin to look for candidates who come from non-clinical operations backgrounds and teach them on the job. This is very exciting for candidates interested in entering clinical operations who don’t have the formal training; organizations are looking for those who want to get their foot in the door.
Since Covid-19 has limited travel worldwide, traditional roles within clinical operations have been slowly adjusting to life ‘not on the road.’ Without travel, operations professionals have been challenged with accessing and monitoring quality data. It’s also harder for these individuals to build relationships with those collecting data, especially if there is a need to see patients. Overall, it’s put a damper on things in the short-term but nothing that can’t be adjusted over time.
Current Landscape of Biometrics
The impact of Covid-19 has negatively influenced many; however, it has been booming for biotech. There are typically three types of jobs within biometrics: statistician, stats programmer, and data managers, and these jobs are currently on the rise in the San Diego market. “Some candidates are concerned about moving to San Diego because it’s not as big as the Boston or Bay Area. However, what we are seeing right now in the San Diego market is that the talent pool is limited, and the demand for jobs is increasing,” said Dr. Caiyan Li.
Those who work within biometrics frequently work closely with the FDA. Since the pandemic hit, there was fear that the communication with the FDA would be limited; however, that hasn’t been the case for Dr. Li and her team. Dr. Li expressed that her relationship with the FDA is better than ever before because they are working more closely with sponsors and communicating “specifically how to handle COVID-19 in our statistical analysis plan for our studies”.
Tips for a successful job search
It’s a candidate’s market right now. However, that should not discourage candidates from searching for a position within clinical operations and biometrics. It might take longer to find the perfect fit, but here are some tips our panel suggested so you can be ahead of the competition.
CROs or Contract Research Organizations. CROs are a great way to get your foot in the door and gain experience. There has been a rise in the number of pharma and biotech companies who have shifted to hiring only on a contract basis. CROs can get you set up to dive into the market effectively.
Show that you can adapt to change. In the age of Covid-19, we know that change can happen in a blink of an eye. Candidates must express that they know how to handle change and handle it well.
Remember it’s a candidate’s market. Even though there is a rise of new jobs in the market, there are still more candidates than positions. The best way to get started is to connect with a recruiter to help you on your journey. Recruiters are a great tool not only to get you a job but to match you with the ideal position that meets your needs and expectations.
Don’t hold yourself back from new opportunities! Just because the pandemic interrupted the way we work, it doesn’t mean that organizations aren’t adapting to this change. This is our new normal.
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Whether you’re a professional looking for a job or a business seeking highly skilled talent, the team at Real is here for you. Contact us for more information.