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Australasian Biotechnology (backfiles)
AusBiotech
ISSN: 1036-7128
Vol. 12, Num. 5, 2002, pp. 18-19
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Australasian Biotechnology, Vol. 12, No. 5, Oct-Nov, 2002, pp. 18-19
RECRUITMENT TRENDS IN BIOTECH
Employment remains firm in the Biotechnology Sector
Jeremy Wurm
Brooker Consulting
Code Number: au02029
In the absence of hard empirical data
about employment trends in the
Australian biotechnology field, the
anecdotal evidence gathered from
discussions with leading recruitment
firms working in the sector paints a
picture of a still buoyant employment
market.
According to a number of well-placed
commentators, the stockmarket
downturn appears to have had
relatively little impact on employment
of the stockmarket downturn
compared with the decimation of jobs
that has occurred within the more high
profile information technology and
communications sector.
Not that the biohealth/biotechnology
sector has escaped completely
unscathed - there have been several
casualties most notably GroPep in
recent times.
A cautious confidence perhaps best
sums up the prevailing mood amongst
recruiters and human resources
managers within the larger
biotechnology companies, although this
confidence is coupled with a wariness
that Australia cannot stay immune
indefinitely from the destruction of
shareholder value being seen in North
America, Japan and Europe.
Keeping a weather eye on the financial
markets is doubly significant for the
Australian biotechnology sector
because of its youthfulness and the
umbilical cord between it and the need
to raise continuing capital.
In turn this feeds directly into
employment prospects and trends
within the biohealth/biotechnology
field.
Jeremy Wurm, Managing Director of
biotechnology recruitment firm,
Brooker Consulting, commented that
"There is continuing demand in the
field - I would describe it as buoyant
but at the same time it has
unquestionably been affected by the
uncertainties in the marketplace which
has led to a decline in funding and in
the formation of new IPOs."
"The reality is that the climate is a
tougher one, and it has underlined the
truth that when the US sneezes, we all
catch the cold!"
"There is still a demand of course -
good science needs to be
commercialised; that hasn't changed,
just that the commercial funding
vehicles are not so robust."
Mr Wurm, a veteran in an industry
which has barely 15 years of history in
Australia, describes the biotechnology
area as "still the happening area,
certainly by comparison with the
information technology and
communications field; biotech is being
seen as a hope of the future".
He said there was still confidence
within senior management and Boards
to continue to invest and to continue to
employ.
Suzy Baxter, head of the science and
technology division at Brisbane-based
Davidson Recruitment, commented
that there were "a lot of vacancies, a lot
of movement in the market", although
adding that the last two years had seen
overall growth.
Davidson Recruitment specialises in the
south-eastern Queensland region where
it has developed a strong reputation for
dealing with the spectrum of
employment positions within the
biotechnology sector.
Ms Baxter, who has a BSc Hons, said
that the firm casts its net widely to
attract the best potential candidates
including the expatriate community.
She says that the firm is having "good
success with expats with three or four
(people) in the pipeline, although the
high level of tax in Australia is definitely
a problem."
She commented that the rate of growth
of the biotechnology sector "is linked to
the availability and quality of the talent
pool of individuals with proven track
record".
Her observation was echoed by Trevor
Neville of Nizza Recruitment service
who said that "employers are closely
looking at the non-technical skills of
candidates (including) skills of
adaptability, problem solving, project
management, time management,
presentation skills, people skills and the
ability to network".
One noticeable trend, according to
Jeremy Wurm, is the impact of
pharmaceutical mergers on the supply
of people to the biotechnology field.
"We are seeing people from the
pharmaceutical industry targeting the
biotech field and the commercial
expertise that they often bring with
them is highly prized. People are also
seeking to get into biotech area from
the ICT field."
"There is no question that there is a lot
more international interest; we are
getting more resumes landing on the
desk from people keen to get into the
Australian market which is seen as have
remained strong. Expats are also
looking to come back in greater
numbers."
He added: "With the successful
AusBiotech event, what was very
interesting was that there were so many
people from overseas, such as the US
and UK attending; Australia seen as
being strong. People are keen to look at
how we are performing."
Mr Wurm who has participated in the
appointment of 40 CEOs in the past 15
years, said there was still strong demand
for senior appointments "who can
combine commercial and scientific
know-how, and IP strengths; people
who can walk the talk"
Skills priorities
As the sector matures, the
demand for
skilled laboratory and R&D staffers is
being increasingly complemented by the
fast-growing need for seasoned
executives in particular disciplines.
Suzy Baxter said that occupational and
skill priorities needed by biotechnology
firms included regulatory affairs and
clinical development managers,
computational and combinatorial
chemists, protein biochemists, synthetic
chemists, business development
managers and investment analysts.
She said there was a shortage of
available talent "in the regulatory,
quality and clinical development areas,
particularly as companies move through
the commercialisation pipeline."
Facing a persistent shortage in
operational talent with expertise in the
particular requirements of
biotechnology, the sector is turning
towards better methods of training and
upgrading middle ranking people in the
industry.
Ms Baxter is on the PMSEIC (Prime
Minister's Science, Engineering and
Innovation Council) Management Skills
Working Group which is examining
ways of improving the breadth and
depth of management skills in
individuals in high-growth companies,
including those in the biotech sector.
She commented that companies were
"often looking internally to upskill".
Rates of pay for talented people are
holding up well in the current climate,
with companies being prepared to pay
what is needed to attract top managers
and in particular seasoned CEOs,
although the ability to do so is being
constrained by the tougher financial
environment.
Interestingly, one emerging trend is for
recruitment consultants to be involved
in helping to select directors as well as
senior managers.
Copyright 2002 - AusBiotech
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