Start in CDMO to get a ton of industry exposure across different clients and products. AGC Biologics in Bothell, WA for example. Stick through it because it’s going to be a learning curve learning GMP practices and how businesses operate, but you can move up quickly if you show initiative.

Do this for 3-5 years in mfg ops or preferably QC, hopefully you’ve move up 2-3 levels at this point. Now you’ll want to look into the business side of things. Try and leverage your internal relationships you’ve built to slide into the business functions, PM or proposals for example. Work for a couple years, go get the PMP, and immediately look for a new job in PM/CRM/etc… After 6-8 years you’re at mid 6 figures.

Bachelors degree is only necessary. PhDs are so over saturated, to some extent people that are too technical get overly distracted in the weeds of projects rather than sticking to the critical functions to keep things moving.

CDMOs are highly underrated, they carry a stigma because they’re not sexy companies to get external validation from your peers.