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  • IT Project Manager

IT Project Manager

I project manage the implementation of new computer systems or upgrades to existing systems that support our clinical trial management processes.

Adam, Senior IT Project Manager

What does your typical day involve?

There isn’t a typical daily pattern although I spend probably half my time chairing meetings either face-to-face or moreover now through teleconferences as the project teams span the UK, US, India and other countries. I spend the rest of my time project planning, monitoring project progress, managing key risks and issues and supporting inpidual staff.

Do you work mostly on your own or as part of team?

I always work as part of one or more teams. As a project manager I’m typically leading project teams. This will involve business users, change managers, analysts, technical staff, testers, service management, procurement, legal, vendors – not forgetting the senior management sponsoring the project that provide governance for the project.

How long have you been in your current role?

Approximately four years

What qualifications and experience do you have?

I have A-levels in Chemistry, Physics, Biology and General Studies. I also had to do a mathematics course to support the science subjects but without any formal qualification.

I have a degree in ‘Chemistry with Study in Continental Europe’ from the University of Bristol. As part of this four year degree one year was spent studying at the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie et de Physique in Bordeaux, France.
I have a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Bristol. My research focused on the structure and dynamics of liquid crystals primarily using neutron scattering.

I have a MSc in Information Management from Brunel University. I studied for this part-time as part of the company's IT Graduate Development Programme.

When and why did you decide on a career in the pharmaceutical industry?

Whilst I was doing my PhD I was looking for a career in a science-based organisation but didn’t want to stay in a pure research role. Most of my PhD involved computational modelling so I looked for IT graduate roles within multinational pharmaceutical and chemical companies.

How has your career developed since you left university

I joined the IT Graduate Programme and during the first three years undertook a variety of IT roles at different sites across our different business; working as an information analyst supporting a regional sales force - as a data architect again within our sales and marketing company, as a business analyst with our bioinformatics research group, as a technical support analyst in manufacturing and finally as a junior project manager supporting the research and development (R&D) commercial analysis group.

Over the last eight years I have focused on IT project management for the clinical and regulatory R&D business processes. The number and complexity of projects has increased over those years. I am now an accredited Project Management Professional with the globally-recognised Project Management Institute.
During the last few years I have also line managed several staff and recruited both industrial placement students and graduates. I also mentor new project managers.

Do you think additional qualifications or experience would be an advantage for someone entering the industry now?

If you want a career in IT management then an IT-related degree is very helpful. A science background also gives you more credibility in research-oriented organisations. Soft skills (such as leadership, team-working, communication and problem-solving skills) are as important if not more important though so make sure you develop these.

What is it like socially where you work?

It is pretty good although my one hour travel and two young children don’t leave me much time for evenings out! In the past few months we had a volunteering day that I organised that had 25 of us digging up a park to plant a wild meadow, putting up bird boxes etc, followed by a curry. And last month we had an inter-site sports fun day followed by a barbecue.

What are you most proud of in your career? 

Delivering the last project successfully. It cost about £1.6m, took three years and was rolled out to over 2000 users. I drove the project right from the start and although we had some teething issues with the initial go-live this is now realising real business benefit.

What possibilities are there for your career in the future? 

Whatever I want although personally I like the company I’m with. Being a multinational company I could take up project management positions elsewhere, step up to programme management where I am or do secondments to other roles.

What do you think are the most important skills for someone in your role to have?

Communication and team-working / team-leading skills. As a project manager you need to inspire people to work together to a common objective whilst ensuring their own development and motivational needs are met.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone seeking a career in the pharmaceutical industry?

Seek out and take every opportunity to gain a better insight into what a career in the pharmaceutical industry really means whilst you’re at school or at university. Not only will this demonstrate your passion for this career on your CV but you’ll also have a better idea of precisely what sort of roles in the pharmaceutical industry will suit you best.

Case studies

  • Analytical Chemist
  • Analytical Chemist (Discovery)
  • Animal Technologist
  • Apprentice - Higher Laboratory Scientist
  • Biologist (biomarkers)
  • Biologist (DPMK)
  • Biologist (imaging)
  • BioPharmaceutical Scientist
  • Biostatistics Manager
  • Business Engagement Director
  • Chemical Biologist
  • Chemical Engineer
  • Chemist (manufacturing)
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  • Chemistry (discovery)
  • Chemistry Outsourcing Manager and Synthetic Chemist
  • Clinical Data Manager
  • Clinical Quality Assurance Advisor
  • Clinical Research Analyst
  • Clinical Research Associate
  • Clinical Research Manager
  • Clinical Research Project Manager
  • Clinical Safety Scientist
  • Clinical Safety Scientist 2
  • Clinical Scientist
  • Clinical trials supplies
  • Commercial Account Manager
  • Commercial Director
  • Compliance Director
  • Contract Manager
  • Data Sciences Manager
  • Director Medical Affairs
  • Drug Safety Associate – Video
  • Drug Safety Officer
  • Epidemiologist
  • Executive Sales Representative
  • Geneticist
  • Graduate Trainee Biologist
  • Graduate Trainee Chemist
  • Graduate Trainee In Vivo Scientist
  • Head of Drug Safety and Local Safety Officer
  • Head of Health Economics
  • Head of Market Access
  • Healthcare Manager
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Industrial Placement (Medicinal Chemist)
  • Industrial Placement (Medicinal Chemistry)
  • Industrial Placement (Regulatory Policy)
  • Industrial Placement Biologist
  • Industrial Placement Chemist
  • Industrial Placement Pharmacologist
  • Industrial Placement Pharmacologist - Respiratory
  • Industrial placement student – biologist
  • Industry Accountant
  • IT Project Manager
  • Laboratory Technician (biology)
  • Laboratory Technician (chemistry)
  • Lean Coach
  • Learning and Development Business Practice Lead
  • Legal Coordinator
  • Manufacturing Operative
  • Market Access Director
  • Mathematical Modeller
  • Medical department intern
  • Medical Director and Managing Director UK & Ireland
  • Medical Director UK and Ireland
  • Medical Director UK and Republic of Ireland
  • Medical Information Scientist
  • Medical Physicist
  • Medical Writer
  • Medical writer (freelance)
  • Medicinal Chemist
  • Medicinal Chemist – Video
  • Medicinal Chemistry Director
  • Occupational Health Manager
  • Patent Attorney
  • Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist
  • Pharmaceutical Technologist
  • Pharmacist (formulation)
  • Pharmacist (pre-registration)
  • Pharmacokineticist (DMPK) – Video
  • Pharmacologist
  • Pharmacovigilance Scientist
  • Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  • Product Manager
  • Production Coordinator
  • Project Manager / Director
  • Public Relations Executive
  • Public Relations Officer
  • Quality and Compliance Vice President
  • Regulatory Affairs and Qualified Person
  • Regulatory Affairs Associate
  • Regulatory Affairs Consultant (Freelance)
  • Regulatory Affairs Executive
  • Regulatory Associate
  • Research Project Leader
  • Research Scientist – Video
  • Sales Representative
  • Scientific Affairs Manager (Nutrition)
  • Senior statistician
  • Specialist Medical Representative
  • Statistician
  • Summer placement student
  • Synthetic Medicinal Chemist – Video
  • Toxicologist
  • Toxicologist (Contract Research)
  • Toxicology Study Director
  • Training Director
  • Training Instructor
  • UK and Ireland Medical Director
  • Veterinary Surgeon

ABPI

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales 
(registered number 09826787) and its registered office is at 7th Floor Southside,105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT.
Telephone +44 (0) 207 9303477

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Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA)

The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) was established by The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry to operate the ABPI Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry independently of the ABPI. The PMCPA is a division of ABPI which is a company registered in England and Wales (registered number 09826787) with its registered office at 7th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QT.

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The Office of Health Economics (OHE) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (registered number 09848965) and its registered office is at 7th Floor Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT. OHE provides independent research, advisory and consultancy services on policy implications and economic issues within the pharmaceutical, health care and biotechnology sectors.