Where did you study?

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University (Durham, NC, USA) and a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Toronto (Toronto, Canada).

In which Roche location are you currently working?

I work at the Headquarters in Basel, Switzerland and my office is at Grenzacherstrasse.

What can you tell us about that location?

The Roche office is very close to major tram and bus stops. I walk to work every day, which is approximately 10 minutes from my home in Kleinbasel. The area where I live is vibrant, with lots of shops, bars and restaurants just around the corner – it’s the busiest part of the city and good for those who enjoy the feel of living in a city center. Regardless of where one lives in Basel, the commute is usually between 15-20 minutes and the public transportation is very efficient. The Roche site hosts a fantastic dining facility as well as numerous cafes. The office is a stone throw away from the Rhine which is great for lunch breaks or a quick walk to clear your head.

Why did you decide to join Roche?

Having worked in the pharmaceutical/health care industry for a number of years, I was aware of Roche’s excellent reputation as a world leader in personalized health care and its focus on innovative medicine. Given my particular background in oncology and Roche’s presence in the field it was an obvious choice for me. I was also impressed with the enthusiasm with which my colleagues presented themselves during the interview process and felt that collaboration and cultural awareness were encouraged at Roche.

What is your current job?

I joined Roche at the Australian affiliate as a Health Economist in 2009 and recently moved to Switzerland to commence a global role in Global Health Economic and Pricing. My current job title is Health Economic Modeler within the Modeling Outcomes Research Statistics and Epidemiology group.

My daily responsibilities vary and include analytical work, scientific research, interacting with other Roche affiliates to understand their market access needs and collaborating with the International Payer Strategy Leads to optimize market access strategies for Roche products. What I enjoy most about my job is the range of involvement in diverse disciplines including economics, statistics, research, business and project management.

What makes it such a great job?

My current role entails working on and supporting market access strategies in various countries and health care systems. There are differences in health systems between countries and the evolutionary nature of these differences combined with the implications on pricing and market access strategies makes this an exciting space to work in. There is also an opportunity to directly influence business strategy through innovative analytical work which can be quite rewarding. Finally, Roche has a strong focus on personal development and supports employees in constantly building and maintaining critical skill sets.

Can you pick at least three of the attributes of Roche and explain in detail what they mean to you?

The most important things for me from a professional point of view are work-life balance, respect and to have an interesting job.

To me, work-life balance means being passionate about ones career without losing focus on outside interests and relationships and realizing their importance. I feel that through prioritization and team collaboration one can maintain efficiency as well as pursue other avenues in life which are both healthy and personally fulfilling. For example I am planning to participate in a triathlon in Zürich together with my product team.

I think respect refers to valuing other individuals’ thoughts, abilities and experiences both professionally and on a personal level. Through mutual respect it is possible to bring out the potential in each individual within a team environment which usually results in the maximization of synergy. Finally, I think in today’s global business environment it is important to be culturally aware and respect ways and thoughts to which we may not have been conventionally exposed to.

An interesting job is one where there are opportunities to fully leverage ones skills and make meaningful contributions on a regular basis as well as be able to learn from other’s experiences and outlooks. Such a job would encourage creativity and provide an environment in which an individual is neither confined in terms of personal development nor easily bored. Last but certainly not least, an interesting job would offer opportunities to collaborate with dynamic individuals with diverse professional and cultural backgrounds.

Why is Roche a great place to work?

The company values its employees, encourages team collaboration and provides the resources and environment where everyday challenges can be tackled creatively.

How would you describe the people working here?

People working at Roche are highly motivated, intelligent and dedicated. The integrity and professionalism with which employees conduct their daily business is inspirational. It is a fantastic learning environment where the eagerness to learn as well as a willingness to share knowledge is evident.

What would you advise job seekers who want to join us?

Roche is a great place to work, network and develop your career. If you are looking for challenges and opportunities to make a difference and value diversity and team work then Roche is the right choice for you! To find out more about current vacancies within Global Health Economics and Pricing at Roche please apply online.