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Why a career in QAV could be perfect for you

Jenny Latham our consultant managing the role
Posted by Jenny Latham
Published on 26 April 2022

Quality Assurance Validation (better known as QAV) is a significant area of importance for the life sciences industry and the Quanta team. Careers in QAV can be extremely rewarding, help you build a range of valuable skills, and provide a lucrative and interesting step into the life sciences industry.

Life science organisations are constantly looking for skilled QAV workers to help ensure that their products are safe for use. From start-ups to global powerhouses, the opportunities to use your skills in this industry are endless.

Here we take a look at what QAV is and why it is a rewarding career move.

What is QAV?

Quality Assurance Validation (QAV) is a wide industry that covers all aspects that could have an impact on the quality of pharmaceutical products and medical technology. Quality assurance specialists are vital to the life sciences industry as they ensure that the products that are being prescribed to patients are safe for use and as efficient as possible. QAV specialists often assist the CQV team and work together to protect the safety of patients.

The main objectives of QAV are:

  • to ensure that the prescribed medicine effectively provides the desired effect to the customer;

  • to secure patients’ safety and prevent them from accidentally being administered an incorrect or contaminated medication;

  • to ensure medicines comply entirely with the strict regulations.

Gain essential transferable skills

Although a range of careers in the life science industry require a very specific skill set, there are several crossovers that can allow you to move into new positions as your career progresses. While working in QAV, you can build a range of transferable skills that could propel your life sciences career to new heights.

There are a range of roles available within the industry, including Quality Engineers, quality assurance specialists, QA leads and more. QAV approaches with projects and the crossover between CQV, documentation review and approval utilizing tools such as the ASTM E500 risk based verification approach, therefore keeping your soft and hard skills up to date is a must.

A role in QAV can prepare you for a variety of roles within the life sciences industry and beyond. Aside from scientific expertise, working in a QA role develops crucial transferable skills such as teamwork and problem-solving. Once you have some hands-on experience within the industry, your valuable knowledge of how drugs or devices are made will be sought after within several life science professions.

Make a positive contribution to people’s lives

The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated to ensure that medical products are safe and provide efficiently for the people that require them. That means the equipment used to produce pharmaceuticals needs to adhere to strict standards and tests.

Quality assurance validation provides firms with the support and expertise needed to create products and services that meet the expectations and requirements of customers. The standards and procedures defined by a quality assurance program help prevent product defects before they arise. By being a part of this process, you can make a true difference in the lives of millions and contribute to the safety of pharmaceuticals across the globe.

An opportunity to travel while working

The nature of the life sciences industry means that there will typically be more demand for skilled QAV workers where the main key investments are happening. The location of the job usually depends on the organisation and where they are based, but this career choice offers the opportunity to work in a range of countries

Ireland has seen a wave of activity in recent years, with huge pharma companies from the United States investing in life sciences developments. We’ve also seen high demand for QAV Engineers, specialists and more in Switzerland and Denmark, with contract and permanent work available.

Find your next QAV job with Quanta

Quanta is a professional life sciences recruitment agency dedicated to making a positive impact on health and life science sectors across the globe. We’re always on the lookout for passionate, professional candidates to connect to our available job positions so that we can provide our clients with the very best employees for their companies.

No matter how many years of experience you have in life sciences, our team at Quanta can help. Contact us today and we’ll gladly be of assistance – or browse our quality assurance jobs and life sciences jobs to take the next step in your career.