“Just like when I was in the military, we collaborate across a number of different teams,” said Arnold. “Logistics gets us what we need, whether materials or the actual patient cells. One shift sets everything up for the next, then we do the same.”
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“There’s a bit of a start-up feel to this work,” Seamus said, “but we’re on a firm foundation with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals. Each day I meet with the previous shift, discuss any issues, assign work and manage the workload, and then work on continuous improvement projects with other teams as well. We’re always trying to streamline and find efficiencies, which could help us help more patients.”
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Diverse Backgrounds Mean Stronger Teams
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When the topic of workforce inclusion and diversity come up, both managers are adamant in touting its role in making BMS a stronger, more dynamic and resilient company, while infusing the culture in every location with the liveliness and energy needed to do such important work.
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“Diversity is very important to BMS,” said Arnold. “I have people on my team from all different races, religions, spanning ages and generations, and we all work amazingly well together.”
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Seamus concurred, noting that diversity takes many forms. “It’s a diverse and inclusive campus,” he said. “You have PhDs and scientists alongside people who are not, and everyone’s opinions are equally valued in their respective fields.”
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Good People Skills Make Great Managers
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Not surprisingly, when questioned about what skill sets they’d recommend for candidates interested in their roles, both managers highlighted the importance of cultivating a strong team. “Listening is the biggest thing,” said Seamus. “It’s priceless to hear what my associates have to say, what they need, how can we improve and what’s going well, too.”
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“Empathy and openness to understand and listen,” added Arnold. “As a manager, you're dealing with people. In my case, some of them are fresh out of college and experiencing the manufacturing world for the first time. But while their experience may be limited, they show no less value and potential than somebody who's been in the industry 10 years.”
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Next Steps in Your Career Journey
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Cell therapy is one of the most groundbreaking forms of cancer treatment being studied today, and is still in its infancy, so the growth potential of this science, your career and the ability to help patients are incredible – and manufacturing manager is a critical, hands-on role in this field. BMS' focus on inclusion and diversity means recruiting and retaining people like Arnold and Seamus and their teams, assisting them in their growth and advancement, to help play a role in our mission of transforming patients’ lives through science.
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If any part of this article piques your interest in a potential career change despite the fact that cell therapy manufacturing manager might not have been on your list of options, keep in mind Arnold's and Seamus’ backgrounds along with their on-going success, growth and satisfaction. Check out some cell therapy operation job descriptions (part of our Global Product Development and Supply organization) and imagine yourself doing this transformational work. We look forward to hearing from you.
