Regulatory affairs is a growing field that impacts all aspects of the pharmaceutical sector. From manufacturing to marketing, a career in regulatory affairs can span the entire drug development process and recruitment agencies will work alongside pharmaceutical companies to fill an array of career opportunities.
What does a regulatory affairs job entail?
Jobs in regulatory affairs are concerned with ensuring medical products are safe and have the proper licensing. This is done in line with legal requirements and a regulatory affairs department will ensure that a pharmaceutical firm complies with legislation set by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Staff duties can vary, however most roles will be responsible for advising on legal constraints, submitting necessary documents to regulatory bodies and offering guidance on areas such as marketing. Professionals will also need to keep up-to date on international legislation, depending on the countries where the product will be distributed.
Salaries and Entry requirements
A starting salary for a regulatory affairs officer tends to be £18K-£23K, however this is impacted by location and type of employment. Experienced or specialist professionals can command salaries in excess of £50K, while senior personnel with more than 10 years in the industry can earn £100K+.
Junior and entry-level jobs will usually require a university degree and recruitment agencies will look to identify graduates with qualifications in a science related discipline such as pharmacy or biomedicine. Experience in a research, analysis or quality assurance role is also favoured by employers. Additionally, recruiters will look for candidates with organisational skills, scientific understanding and an awareness of legal issues.
On the job training can aid career progression and help staff achieve a regulatory manager position. Further training is also available from The Organisation for Professionals in Regulatory Affairs (TOPRA).
Recruitment in regulatory affairs
With a concentration of pharmaceutical / healthcare companies headquarters, based around London and the M4 corridor, recruitment agencies that supply regulatory affairs staff will see a lot of demand from the South East. Many of these firms will also have bases elsewhere in the UK and this creates further demand nationwide. The majority of vacancies will be on a permanent basis, but larger firms will also offer short term contract jobs.
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