Building a Bioprocessing Workforce Through Partnerships
Frank Fazio discusses the workforce needs of bioprocessing, the challenges of attracting and retaining talent, and how partnerships with schools, colleges, and universities are helping St. Jude build a sustainable talent pipeline for the future. The post Building a Bioprocessing Workforce Through Partnerships appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News .
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital President Frank Fazio discusses the workforce requirements for bioprocessing and the challenges in building and sustaining a diverse team. The workforce needs range from those with a GED or high school diploma to PhDs and scientists with postdoctoral experience. Bioprocessing job roles span various skill levels, making it a multi-pipeline workforce.
Geography plays a significant role in workforce availability. In cities like Boston, Research Triangle Park, or San Francisco, there is a deep candidate pool due to numerous bioprocessing companies. Conversely, in other markets, securing personnel with GMP experience becomes more difficult.
According to Fazio, the two primary challenges in attracting and retaining a skilled workforce are the attraction of talent and their maintenance. The organization's mission often serves as an attraction factor, where people are drawn to meaningful work like developing groundbreaking technologies or addressing unmet medical needs.
However, retention hinges on workplace culture, compensations, intellectual challenges, and career growth opportunities. In highly competitive markets, compensation becomes increasingly crucial as startups may offer salaries 15% to 20% above the market rate, thereby altering the competitive landscape.
Fazio emphasizes the positive influence of St. Jude's mission on attracting talent, stating that the organization's mission is a significant draw. Yet, talent can also be enticed by the allure of cutting-edge technologies such as gene therapies and messenger RNA. These technological advancements generate considerable enthusiasm and help attract skilled individuals.
The St. Jude mission offers an advantage in recruiting, as people are attracted to the mission and the technology itself. Additionally, by fostering a culture that values education and offering career growth opportunities, talented employees remain within St. Jude, contributing to the organization's growth while gaining valuable skills.
Written by urgent.news from GEN Biotechnology's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
