Interim profile
Candidate ID: 1303162
Year became an Interim Manager: 2008
Functional Focus: Medical
Corporate Career Summary:
A qualified paediatrician with seventeen years of pharmaceutical experience, encompassing all phases of drug development in many adult therapeutic areas, from Clinical Pharmacology, through early and late phase Clinical Research to Medical Marketing. My unusually broad experience has provided me with an excellent understanding of the formal, classical approach to drug development typical of large pharma, coupled with the more pragmatic, flexible approach, more appropriate to small start-up organisations.
“What made you decide to become an Interim?”
I enjoy the stimulation of diverse challenges, problem solving, working because something important needs to be completed, not because it is 10am on Tuesday and I am being paid to be in the office!
“Any regrets?”
Absolutely none!
“What are the upsides to being an Interim?”
Freedom and Flexibility. I tend to be given important and interesting tasks, because people don’t want to pay a consultant unless they really need help.
“What has been the high point of your Interim career so far..?”
Working with a great team of in–house staff and other consultants to achieve something which no-one thought was achievable.
“And the biggest challenge?”
Juggling two very diverse regulatory submissions at the same time!
“What do you enjoy most about being an Interim?”
The people I get to meet and work with.
“And least?”
Urgent deadlines from all my clients coming at once!
“Contractual must do/must have”
“Any strong words of advice on contractual ‘must do/must have’?”
- Read contracts carefully
- Ensure contract cannot be misconstrued as employment contract or you will have problems with HMRC
“How do you cope with the ‘feast and famine’ nature of interim work?”
So far it has just been feast, but I have lots of interests and look forward to spending more time on them during a quiet time. I always budget well, so that I can ride the “famine” financially.
“What networks would you recommend that keep you in touch and are useful to you?”
Professional Contractors Group (PCG), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine (for medical contractors), Linked-in
“What is the ‘buzz’ that keeps you interimming?”
Really interesting work and variability.
“How do you set a day rate?”
I have a good idea of the going rates.
“What top tips would you give an aspiring interim manager?”
- Try to organise some contracts before you take the plunge
- Keep up networking even when busy
“What basic housekeeping things are important (set up as a Ltd company, get PII, find a good accountant, business cards etc.)?”
- Get a good accountant
- Learn how your accounts work – don’t just rely on what your accountant says as you are ultimately responsible for the accounts
- Set up Limited company – the financial benefits are worth it!
- Be organised with accounts – keep receipts and update accounts spreadsheet regularly
- Bill on time