Acclimatising New Talent into CDMO

Globally, the CDMO market size is growing 10% YOY currently, with economists anticipating further growth to $322 billion by 2033. Life-changing medicines and therapies are constantly being developed, and with the surge in demand, the pharmaceutical industry relies on CDMOs' capabilities to increase speed to market.

The CDMO sector is crucial in the pharmaceutical supply chain, demanding unique skills beyond the traditional talent pool. This growth stems from rising CDMO investments from Private Equity, new drug development and increasing demand for novel therapies. Given their expertise and facilities, the rise of biologics and speciality drugs has led pharmaceutical and biotech companies to rely heavily on CDMOs for their complex and costly manufacturing needs.

Another reason for the growth of the CDMO sector is the industry's regulatory requirements. Drug development and manufacturing must comply with strict regulations, and CDMOs have the systems and processes to ensure compliance. This is particularly important for companies looking to enter new markets, as navigating the regulatory landscape can be challenging. The stakes are high: failure to hire for new projects or retain the people driving success on those projects leads to delays, damaging company reputations, profits, and client relationships.

In order fuel this growth, CDMOs are having to acquire more assets (sites and people), often coming from big pharma off-loading to make room for R&D investments. But it can be daunting for those stepping into the CDMO industry for the first time.

While they have the critical skills for success, they don’t yet speak the ‘language’ of the sector or understand its complexities. Onboarding is an often overlooked but crucial factor in determining the performance and etention of talent.

Why onboarding matters

Most people associate onboarding with a simple induction, but it is an essential and often overlooked process that integrates new employees into the organisation. It goes beyond a mere introduction to an office tour or issuing of equipment. Onboarding is a structured programme intended to acclimate new hires to your company's culture, purpose and ways of working. It starts when the offer is accepted and should be considered part of the recruitment process. A poor onboarding process is the primary driver of early employee turnover, resulting in time, money and productivity loss.

Poor Onboarding Accounts for 20% of Employee Turnover

Benefits of Industry Onboarding for CDMO

Effective onboarding is crucial in the CDMO industry due to its significant role in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Understanding the organisation’s purpose and the process of bringing molecules to market is essential for new employees, especially those transitioning from outside the sector. Aligning new hires with the organisation's mission gives them a deeper perspective on how their role contributes to success and enhances cultural ntegration.

A structured approach and focus on onboarding delivers:

• ‍Adherence to Quality and Compliance: The CDMO industry operates under stringent regulatory requirements. Industry onboarding ensures that new employees understand and adhere to these regulations, reducing the risk of non-compliance which can lead to legal issues and product recalls.‍
• Maintaining High Standards: Onboarding helps instil the company’s quality standards and best practices from day one. This is critical in the CDMO industry where high standards are essential for developing and manufacturing safe and effective products.‍
• Cultural Integration: A structured onboarding process helps new hires integrate quickly into the company culture and workflows, increasing their productivity and reducing the time it takes for them to contribute meaningfully to projects.‍
• Knowledge Transfer: The CDMO industry is highly specialised, often requiring detailed technical knowledge and skills. Onboarding programs facilitate the transfer of critical knowledge from experienced employees to newcomers, ensuring continuity and consistency in operations.
• ‍Building a Skilled Workforce: Effective onboarding helps build a skilled and competent workforce capable of handling the complexities of drug development and manufacturing. This is particularly important given the rapid advancements in technology and processes in the pharmaceutical industry.‍
• Enhancing Employee Retention: A positive onboarding experience can improve job satisfaction and retention rates. Employees who feel well-prepared and supported are more likely to remain with the company, reducing turnover and the associated costs of recruiting and training new staff.‍
• Adapting to Market Demands: The pharmaceutical market is dynamic, with frequent changes in demand and technological advancements. Onboarding helps new employees quickly adapt to these changes and contributes to the company’s agility and responsiveness.

Vector understands the need for CDMOs to move with agility and pace when it comes to talent. We have developed the industry's first specific onboarding solution to support the successful transition of new talent into this exciting industry. This solution accelerates and scales the onboarding process, while allowing for personalisation to align with the organisation's specific needs fully.

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