Robert Goodwin, Senior Account Manager, Oxford PharmaGenesis

I stumbled across the MedComms industry more by accident than design in 2017. Having graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2013 with a BSc in sport science and human biology, my first step into post-education life was at a recruitment consultancy. Although it was a steep learning curve, that role helped to underline my passion for project management.

I next worked in an operations role at a private tuition establishment, which enabled me to develop my project management skills further while also undertaking formal project management training. After completing a PRINCE2 course in 2016, I began to look for a role to use my new and refined skill set. Shortly afterwards, I was contacted about a project coordinator position at Oxford PharmaGenesis for the newly formed Patient Engagement Team.

With limited knowledge of the MedComms industry, I based my decision to take the role mainly on the feel of the team, the company and the people. I remember arriving early for my interview and being offered a cup of tea and a chat by a future colleague who happened to greet me at the door. This was not a planned element of the interview process, but exemplified the people-orientated culture at Oxford PharmaGenesis. I soon realised that the role also offered me the chance to apply my degree to my work, which was an added incentive.

I have now worked at Oxford PharmaGenesis for nearly 5 years, and have achieved personal success and contributed to the overall success of my team and the company. My career at Oxford PharmaGenesis has progressed from project coordinator to senior account manager, now working across two fantastic teams. I get to work with clients from right across the globe, including San Francisco, Melbourne, Moscow, Istanbul and Central Europe. As with all project management roles, there are points when the work is challenging, but at Oxford PharmaGenesis you’re never on your own, and I’ve found that the team gets stronger from facing these challenges together.

It is a cliché, but no 2 days or projects are the same. The huge variety of projects and opportunities has really surprised me since I began working at Oxford PharmaGenesis, be it travelling around the world (to attend conferences or business development meetings), working on a gamified app for children that teaches them about antibiotic resistance, or even contributing to communications on the latest treatments and vaccines. Oxford PharmaGenesis provides you with a platform to drive your own development. If you’re looking for a new challenge or career, then don’t hesitate to explore it with Oxford PharmaGenesis.

This personal profile first appeared in the FirstMedCommsJob careers guide, The business of medical communications: a guide to getting started in account management, published January 2022