MSD’s Aoife Allen didn’t start out in the pharmaceutical sector, but a natural curiosity and broad skillset stood to her when the time came to make a change.
Graduating from University College Cork in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Irish and sociology, Aoife Allen, a process operations technician at MSD Ireland, wasn’t certain of the direction in which her career was heading.
“I was inspired by friends who had found rewarding careers in the pharmaceutical industry,” Allen told SiliconRepublic.com. “I then started looking into MSD, and the way in which they welcomed candidates from all backgrounds really resonated with me. I really felt their commitment to nurturing diverse talent and providing pathways for personal and professional growth, no matter your previous experience.”
In pivoting, Allen was given the opportunity to explore a new industry, develop new skills and even apply transferable skills to this new venture. “Coming from a background in customer service, where I worked in the building and agricultural industries, it was quite a big change for me. But from day one, I felt supported to learn, grow, and contribute.”
What is your role within this company?
I am a process operations technician at MSD’s site in Brinny, Co Cork. My team is involved in manufacturing various types of vaccines that make a difference for people and patients. That makes the job feel really rewarding, as no matter what you’re doing on any given day, you know that you will have an impact and make things better for someone somewhere. Every day, I see first-hand how our work contributes to improving patient outcomes and public health, which is incredibly motivating.
If there is such a thing, can you describe a typical day at work?
Since my very first few days in the role as a new hire, I realised early on that there’s no such thing as a typical day – every day is different and brings on new opportunities to learn, problem-solve and develop. I think that’s why MSD places so much importance on ongoing training, giving us the chance to learn new skills, get involved in new areas of the pharmaceutical process, and always look to tackle things in an innovative way with curiosity and creativity. The variety keeps things interesting, and the supportive culture means there’s always someone willing to help or share knowledge.
Each day on-site provides the opportunity to do something different, and there’ll always be a helping hand when needed. In my role, I also benefit from really flexible working structures because I work on shift. That means even from a timetable perspective every day is different, mixing day shifts and night shifts in a way that fits my own life and schedule and allows me to get the best work-life balance.
What types of projects do you work on?
In my time with MSD Brinny so far, my work has centred on supporting a range of manufacturing and process improvement activities as part of a collaborative team. I’m often involved in initiatives that help streamline operations and enhance efficiency, ensuring we deliver the best possible outcomes for people and patients. What I find most rewarding is the sense of teamwork and shared purpose, whether it’s learning new processes, contributing to continuous improvement, or supporting colleagues, there’s always an opportunity to make a positive impact.
What skills do you use daily?
There are a wide range of skills I use on a daily basis, including technical skills, problem-solving and troubleshooting, teamwork and communication, organisational skills, good manufacturing practices, adhering to standard operating procedures, operational health and safety, attention to detail, and critical thinking. MSD places a strong emphasis on collaboration and innovation, so we’re encouraged to share ideas and work together to solve problems. These skills along with a willingness to learn are central to our success.
That’s why I feel like my previous background in customer service was actually very helpful – I’ve been able to apply a lot of those skills into this entirely new area, while also learning a lot of new technical skills that have just taken me to a whole different level. It feels very rewarding when you can apply everything you’ve learned in the past towards something meaningful, while also feeling like you’re learning and upskilling all the time.
What is the hardest part of your working day?
I think the most challenging part is problem-solving. Because no two days are alike, that means you’re constantly having to think on your feet, overcome issues as they arise, and look at things from a new angle to find new solutions. But you get so much value and excitement from that as well, and you’re constantly growing and pushing to new heights.
The culture on-site is so supportive that you never feel alone – you can work independently and autonomously, but there’s always experts around to help, give you a steer in the right direction, challenge and build on ideas critically, and ultimately help you get to the best results possible. That focus on mentorship and learning has been so beneficial to me in my time with MSD so far.
Do you have any productivity tips that help you through the working day?
I find that keeping a simple to-do list always helps me. I’ve learned that the busier you are, the more important it is to take the time to put things down on a list – not just to make sure you get everything done, but also to be able to look at your tasks as a whole to be able to properly prioritise and see where you can find efficiencies.
I’ve also learned that fueling your body, staying hydrated and getting enough rest are so important too. They all seem simple, but they are effective. At MSD, the team places a huge emphasis on wellbeing – spanning everything from physical health, mental health, occupational health, financial health and social health. That holistic approach to health and wellbeing really makes a difference and I feel has helped me grow both professionally and personally as I start my career, being able to achieve a really healthy work-life balance from the get-go and allowing me to bring my best self to work every day.
When you first started this job, what were you most surprised to learn was important in the role?
Coming from outside the pharmaceutical sector, a lot of things were new to me. I knew I was going to need to do a lot of upskilling and learning on the technical elements, but I was probably surprised to see how many of my existing skills I was able to leverage in my new role. I was also surprised to see that the ongoing focus on learning and development wasn’t just something I needed to do because I was coming from outside the industry, but that it’s really part of the culture for everyone. Whether you have a specialist PhD and decades of experience or like me you did something completely different at school and are fresh in the door, everyone is always looking to learn, grow, to keep upskilling, finding new technologies, new ways of doing things.
Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.
