Singapore’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector is one of the country’s fastest-growing industries. But while it’s often seen as highly technical or specialised, the career possibilities are more diverse than you might expect.
To shed light on the opportunities, skills, and realities of the sector, we spoke to Manjit Kaur, Associate Director in Life Sciences at Randstad Singapore, who works closely with employers and jobseekers in the industry.
What roles are in demand?
“The industry is typically split into four main areas — research and development, engineering and maintenance, manufacturing, and commercial,” says Manjit.
On the research side, there’s “strong demand for scientists, research officers, and lab development specialists due to the skills shortage in Singapore”.
She adds: “Singapore serves as a regional hub for life sciences and healthcare, especially in advanced manufacturing. So there’s ongoing demand for roles like facilities specialists, process engineers, production biotechnologists, and those in quality assurance and control.”
But demand isn’t limited to technical roles. “We’re seeing rising interest in commercial positions such as medical scientific liaisons and business development managers,” Manjit notes. “Companies are looking for people who can bridge scientific knowledge with business strategy. In fact, our survey found that 45% of employers expect more demand for sales and business development talent in 2025.”
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What does career growth look like?
“Career advancement is usually linear,” Manjit explains. “You typically grow deeper in your specialisation or progress to manage larger projects or teams.”
“On the research track, for instance, you may start as a laboratory analyst or research assistant. Over time, you can move into roles that lead research activities, eventually becoming Head of R&D.”
For engineering and biomanufacturing roles, she says, “Many start as production technicians and can progress into lead engineers or site directors. These areas also offer paths into highly specialised roles like quality assurance specialists or health, safety and environmental experts.”
On the commercial side, the pace of growth depends on your network and performance. “Talent with strong technical backgrounds and a solid network of healthcare professionals tend to have better chances of moving into leadership positions, including project management or market access roles,” shared Manjit.
How do mid-career switchers break in?
“The pharma and biotech industry is highly specialised, so switching over from an unrelated field can be challenging,” Manjit admits. “It’s not realistic, for example, for a software developer to become a research technician without going through proper training.”
However, she says there’s room for jobseekers coming from adjacent sectors. “Engineers from the food or chemical manufacturing sectors can consider making the switch, especially if they already understand health and safety protocols. But they do need to build knowledge in life sciences terminology and technical processes, like handling active pharmaceutical ingredients.”
She also highlights that professionals with commercial and tech-related expertise may have an easier time transitioning into the pharma and biotech space. “If you have experience in project management or data analysis, there’s potential to move into corporate functions like marketing, regulatory affairs, or operations — provided you pick up industry-specific knowledge.”
“Career transition programmes, like those offered by SkillsFuture, are a great way to acquire relevant skills. Courses that provide professional certifications can also improve employability,” she adds.
Common myths about working in pharma and biotech
“A lot of people think you need a PhD or need to be a ‘genius’ to work in this sector — but that’s not true,” says Manjit. “While a strong scientific background helps for certain research roles, the industry is actually very interdisciplinary.”
“There are rewarding careers here for people without science degrees, like in Finance, Human Resources, Business Development, and more.”
Another common misconception is that all jobs require laboratory work. “Most roles actually don’t. Take quality assurance or regulatory affairs, for example. The primary responsibilities of these roles involve documentation and regular audits. Even in quality assurance, most of the work is done on laptops in an office environment, and not in labs,” shared Manjit.
And it’s not just about medicines either. “The sector spans far beyond drug development,” she points out. “There’s exciting work happening in areas like agriculture, like crop genetics, as well as industrial applications such as biofuels and biomaterials.”
Do I need formal qualifications?
“Employers do value formal qualifications, especially for technical or regulatory roles,” Manjit says. “Professional certifications like GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), GLP (Good Laboratory Practice), PMP (Project Management Professional), and analytics-related certifications are highly relevant.”
But that doesn’t mean you need a specialised degree to break in. “If you’re applying for commercial or operations roles, employers also care about transferable skills like project management, stakeholder engagement, and data analysis. Still, they’ll expect you to understand the sector’s technical terms and regulatory context. Taking time to study or get certified shows your commitment to building your capabilities and knowledge required to make the switch,” Manjit shared.
What if I don’t feel ‘qualified enough’?
“You don’t have to be hyper-qualified to build a career here,” Manjit says reassuringly. “Singapore is a regional hub with lots of corporate and commercial activity. That creates space for talent from various backgrounds to enter the sector and grow a meaningful, purpose-driven career.”
Her advice? “Start small. Many people enter through junior or less specialised roles to gain domain knowledge. Structured training programmes provided by companies or government bodies can help ease that transition.”
Manjit also encourages job seekers to think long-term. “Beyond training, continuous learning is key. The industry is evolving rapidly, with the introduction of new technologies and regulations. Engage a career coach if you can, especially one who knows the life sciences space. They can help you map your strengths and position your experience in a way that suits the roles and organisations you are vying for.”
What’s changing in the industry?
The industry is undergoing rapid change, particularly with the increasing demand for healthcare services related to chronic and preventable diseases. “We’re seeing more investment in areas like cell and gene therapy, AI-driven drug development, digital health, and precision medicine,” says Manjit.
This means new roles are emerging, such as bioprocess engineers, cell culture specialists, bioinformatics experts, and digital health product managers. “There’s especially high demand for people who can combine life sciences knowledge with digital skills and data analysis,” she adds.
Final advice
Breaking into or growing in the pharma and biotech space might seem daunting, but it’s more accessible than you think. As Manjit puts it: “If you’re curious, adaptable, and willing to learn, this industry can offer you not just a job, but a meaningful, future-ready career.”
Jobseekers or mid-career switchers who are keen on joining the pharmaceuticals and biotech sector can get support and on-the-job training by signing up for the following Career Conversion Programmes for Biomedical Manufacturing by Workforce Singapore:
- CCP for Biomedical Manufacturing Professionals and Operators (PMET)
- CCP for Biomedical Manufacturing Professionals and Operators (RnF)
If you need professional advice on navigating your career journey, register for Polaris to access a suite of personalised career guidance programmes designed for employed individuals who are looking to elevate their careers through career planning. Good luck!
This article was done in collaboration with Randstad Singapore.
