Life Sciences recruitment activity heats up

Singapore's life sciences sector is experiencing a boom in recruitment activity as overseas-based pharmaceutical companies continue to set up regional head offices here. This is leading to a spike in demand in the sector for regularly affairs, sales, and marketing professionals.

As noted in our latest Hays Quarterly Report of skills in demand, while global consolidation is having an impact locally, the shortage of talent within life sciences continues to fuel ongoing demand.

We're seeing major consolidation activity in the life sciences sector globally with mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures beginning to impact the Asian recruitment market.

But at the same time we're seeing a shortage of local candidates, which is leading to a rising number of senior vacancies across many pharmaceutical and device organisations. A number of candidates have left the industry, which is creating higher demand for the professionals who remain. This is most notable in regulatory, medical, and compliance functions.

The recent pre-election hold on foreign employment pass applications has also created fierce competition for experienced and local life sciences professionals across all functions.

Typically multinational life science employers in Singapore will source niche talent both locally and overseas. However the hold on foreign employment pass applications has led to employers competing for a finite pool of local candidates.

In terms of the specific candidates in demand, regularly affairs is at the top of the list. Given Singapore's position as a regional hub for most multinational organisations, the greatest demand is for regulatory affairs professionals with strong leadership skills and wide geographic submission experience.

Commercial opportunities within the pharmaceutical and medical device areas have been increasing along with the hiring criteria for sales representatives. Candidates in demand must have a solid scientific education, excellent communication skills, and strong commercial integrity as well as a driver’s licence and their own transportation.

Manufacturing professionals with biologics expertise are also in high demand to work for a growing number of new organisations establishing and qualifying manufacturing plants in Singapore. These new ventures are producing high-value biological pharmaceutical products utilising novel specialist technologies.

Marketing professionals with strong scientific communication experience are needed too in response to the patient-driven push towards content marketing.

HEOR, market access, and public policy are also hot role functions helping organisations stay competitive.

In terms of candidate trends, we're noticing that candidates are increasingly aware of the importance of developing the skills they need to grow their careers in Singapore. More life sciences candidates are asking for advice on MBA and other post-graduate courses to help them stand out.

We're also seeing more candidates in the sector looking for stability in the role they will accept. But given the dynamic nature of the sector, we encourage candidates to see organisational change as an opportunity to develop and grow your career.