What kind of roles would I be suitable for in the pharma industry based on my manufacturing/production background?

If you have a  MANUFACTURING/PRODUCTION background, you could retrain to perform the SAME or SIMILAR job within the pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturing industry.

Here are some of the typical roles and the expected salaries:

Process Technician

Operates equipment, monitors processes and documents results in strict adherence to protocols. They are involved in all stages of the manufacturing process and in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, their role often occurs within a clean-room environment.

Some companies might call this role:

• Chemical Process Technician
• BioProcess Technician
• Cleanroom Operator

Manufacturing Technician

Work in a discrete manufacturing environment, run and maintain factory equipment and assembly processes, monitor and check the product quality and document results in strict adherence to protocols.

Some companies might call this role:

• Manufacturing Operator
• Production Operator
• Production Technician
• Assembler

Packaging Operator

Responsible for taking the finished product of a manufacturing process and ensuring that it is packaged in line with company and industry standards, making it ready for sale or distribution.

Some companies might call this role:

• Packaging Technician

And with a few years experience,

Production Supervisor

Directly responsible for overseeing and organising the equipment, staff and processes on a production floor. They will oversee scheduling and routine production activities as well as acting as first-line troubleshooting should problems arise.

Some companies might call this role:

• Process Supervisor
• Manufacturing Supervisor