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Roche announces global plan to create 500 jobs

Swiss drugs company Roche announced on Monday plans to invest 800 million francs ($879 million) to boost production of “biologic medicines” over the next five years at various sites, including Basel.

Published: 14 October 2013 09:43 CEST

Roche announces global plan to create 500 jobs

Photo: Roche

A 190-million-franc plant in the Swiss city, where the company is headquartered, is expected to create 50 jobs.

All told, Roche said it should create 500 jobs with investments also in facilities in Penzberg, Germany and California.

Biologic medicines are created by biological processes rather than through chemical means and are typically administered via injection or intravenously, the company said.

The Basel plant is to produce antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) products, including its first approved ADC, Kadcyla, and a further eight products in clinical development.

ADC drugs are designed to attach to certain types of cancer cells and deliver chemotherapy directly to them, offering patients a chance to extend their lives with fewer side effects, Roche said.

“Biologic medicines have become an essential part of modern medicine and play an important role in improving the lives of patients,” Daniel Day, chief operating officer of Roche’s pharmaceutical division, said in a statement.

“Increasing our manufacturing capacity also highlights the confidence we have in the research and development of a range of new biologic medicines that will help serve unmet medical needs.”

As part of the expansion, Roche said it would expand biologic manufacturing capacity at its US operations in Vacaville and Oceanside, California, where a 260-million-franc investment is expected to create 250 jobs.

The company said around 200 jobs would be added at its site in Penzberg, Germany where 350 million francs will be spent to boots manufacturing capacity and refurbish equipment.

Roche said it employed 82,000 people worldwide in 2012, when it invested more than eight billion francs in research and development.

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What are the best ways to search for your next job in Switzerland?

The good news is that, as a country that serves as a world centre of finance, pharmaceuticals, and research, Switzerland offers an environment very friendly to English speakers. Unlike some European countries, hiring is a flexible and open process.

That said, some hints will help you in your Swiss job search.

Know where to look

Before beginning your job search, knowing where most of your industry’s jobs are is essential.

As The Local Switzerland has previously discussed, Zurich is Switzerland’s financial capital, whereas most pharmaceutical players are based in Basel.

The life sciences are concentrated in ‘Health Valley’, stretching from Geneva to Montreaux.

Geneva, Zurich, Lausanne, Bern, Basel, and St Gallen also have large universities that employ many researchers from abroad.

Knowing where jobs are based will allow you to concentrate your search, and give you the time to more fully research and understand the needs of particular companies.

READ MORE: Where are the jobs in Switzerland for English speakers?

Develop your Xing as well as your LinkedIn profile

Most job seekers within professional working environments will have a LinkedIn profile to share with prospective employers.

Xing is also a significant player in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, and it’s normal for German-speaking professionals to have an accompanying profile on that platform.

Developing your presence on Xing can demonstrate that you are gaining a greater understanding of the Swiss working environment and establishing yourself as a long-term investment.

READ MORE: Can you find a job in Zurich if you don’t speak German?

Use specialised job boards

While many of the big job boards operate in Switzerland—Indeed and Monster, for example—several job boards focus on Swiss jobs specifically or service a key segment of the job market.

Jobs.ch, jobup.ch, and Jobscout24 are popular sites within Switzerland and are often the first port of call for job seekers. Each has an English version and a user-friendly interface.

Several specialist job boards exist for specialised roles, such as those in the IT or medical research sectors.

Using a profession-based job board allows employers to draw from a more concentrated talent pool while offering job seekers a more significant opportunity to showcase their knowledge and skills.

SwissDevJobs.ch is a popular destination for IT professionals, whereas Praxisstellen.ch specialises in pharmaceutical and medical research jobs. SwissTopJobs.ch is an excellent place to look for C-suite jobs in the finance and banking sectors.

Networking is essential

While there is often a perception that job hunting in Switzerland is very process-oriented, you may be surprised to learn that many positions are filled via word of mouth.

Suppose you have friends or former colleagues already found a position within a Swiss firm. In that case, asking what positions are opening and whether you could apply is not unreasonable or rude.

Word of mouth and hiring through connections are common in the Swiss IT field, but they are also common within several other industries, particularly among startups.

Read More: Where are Switzerland’s biggest international companies?

Use your initiative

You may also be surprised to hear that simply applying to a firm with your resume isn’t looked down upon in Switzerland (or the German-speaking world).

This is known as an Initiativbewerbung (or simply ‘application on the initiative’), and employers often regard it very favourably.

To make an Initiativbewerbung, you’ll need your Anschreiben or lettre de motivation (cover letter), Lebenslauf or resume (curriculum vitae or CV), testimonials from other employers, and copies of any relevant certificates or qualifications.

When naming these files, remember to use the German terms—it will help when they are searched for later!

It’s worth taking the time to identify and address your application directly to the head or manager of the particular department you’re looking to work within. This will create a stronger impression, and there’s less chance of losing it in the daily flow of emails and information.

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