Technical expertise remains fundamental for IT roles within the life sciences sector. With data platforms, AI, automation, and digital research tools all transforming how discoveries are made and how therapies reach patients, IT professionals are building, maintaining, and improving the systems that make this possible. However, as the boundaries of science, data and technology blur, it’s clear that technical capability alone is not sufficient.
The most successful professionals, and the teams they work with, are preeminent because of their soft skills – the human qualities that enable collaboration, problem-solving and adaptability in this complex, tightly regulated and highly cross-disciplinary industry.
Whether you’re recruiting or working within the industry, understanding which soft skills matter most can make the difference between adequate or exceptional high-performing, future-ready teams.
Cross-disciplinary communication
The life sciences are inherently collaborative. IT professionals must frequently engage with scientists, clinicians, regulatory specialists and business leaders, each with their own distinct expertise and priorities. The ability to communicate clearly across disciplines and to translate technical ideas into terms others can understand is therefore essential.
It’s not simply about explaining technical terms in plain language; it’s about active listening, reflective questioning and articulating ideas in a way that promotes mutual understanding. For example, a software engineer who can explain data management systems in the context of laboratory workflows, or a project manager who can interpret scientific requirements in technological terms, will build strong partnerships, deliver quality outcomes and add significant value to their organisation.
Effective communication drives productivity, reduces errors and strengthens collaboration between scientific and technical domains. Employers should look for candidates who can demonstrate experience in cross-functional projects or having worked effectively with non-technical colleagues, not just technical expertise.
Domain understanding
Ultimately, the effectiveness of IT systems in life sciences organisations depends on their alignment with scientific objectives and regulatory frameworks. IT professionals who possess an understanding of the sector’s principles, such as GxP compliance, data integrity standards or clinical trial processes, are well equipped to design solutions that meet both technical and operational needs.
This domain understanding ensures that technology supports, rather than complicates, scientific processes. For example, a developer who appreciates the importance of traceability in laboratory data can will be able to design systems that align seamlessly with quality and compliance standards to ensure that they’re fit for purpose.
Employers benefit enormously from IT professionals who show curiosity about the science they specialise in. Candidates who express an active interest in how science informs technology decisions, or who have taken the time to learn about the industry’s standards, integrate faster and contribute more strategically.
Adaptability and agility
The pace of change within the life sciences sector is extraordinary. Advances in artificial intelligence, automation, digital twins and data analytics are reshaping how data is generated and analysed and how research and development take place.
Adaptability is, therefore, indispensable. IT professionals must be comfortable working in dynamic environments, adopting new tools and embracing continuous learning. Agile working methodologies, for instance, are now standard across biotech and pharmaceutical development and enable teams to respond effectively to changing requirements and priorities.
Employers can foster adaptability by creating a culture that values experimentation and supports skills development, encourages learning, and sees mistakes as progress, not failure. They should look for candidates who’ve demonstrated resilience, perhaps through managing systems migrations, learning new programming languages or working in start-up environments.
Critical thinking and problem-solving
The complexity of life sciences data and systems means that the challenges IT professionals face are rarely straightforward. Their roles frequently involve navigating complex, data-rich environments, whether that involves reconciling data from different instruments, maintaining compliance or integrating legacy systems into cloud infrastructure. These tasks require analytical thinking and a structured approach to problem-solving.
Critical thinking – questioning assumptions, weighing compromises and evaluating risk – is, therefore, one of the most valuable attributes an IT professional can possess. Effective problem-solvers can assess a situation from multiple angles, technical, operational and regulatory, and can propose solutions that are both efficient and sustainable and which don’t compromise compliance or data integrity.
Employers should look for evidence of analytical thinking in candidates by asking them to describe how they approached a complex project or resolved a challenging issue.
Collaboration and empathy
Life sciences projects succeed best when people trust each other enough to share ideas openly, challenge assumptions and work towards a culture of shared purpose. That means that IT professionals and scientists must display empathy and aim to understand their colleagues’ pressures, constraints and priorities.
An empathetic IT professional appreciates the urgency faced by research teams – tight deadlines, regulatory demands, and the importance of accuracy – which enables them to adapt their approach, collaborate effectively, and build trust across departments.
IT candidates should be asked to demonstrate how they have challenged ideas constructively and communicated honestly and empathetically to inspire resilience and creativity.
Ethical awareness and responsibility
As data volumes grow and AI becomes more integral to research and healthcare, ethical awareness has emerged as a core professional competency. IT professionals handling genomic information, patient data or predictive algorithms must have an appreciation of the ethical dimensions to their work, including privacy, consent, bias and data stewardship. They need to think beyond compliance and consider fairness, transparency and the long-term implications of how data is used.
Employees who demonstrate a strong sense of integrity and responsibility add enormous value to life sciences organisations and help them to demonstrate that they act in the broader interests of patients and society. Ethical awareness reinforces trust in both the technology and the organisation behind it, so soft skills such as conscientiousness and ethical judgment are becoming as valuable as coding proficiency.
In interviews, employers can ask IT talent to explain their stance on data ethics, trust and integrity and how they’ve embedded their thinking into decision-making processes and policies.
Humanising technology
At nufuture, we’re well aware of the value of soft skills in IT roles within the life sciences sector. The professionals who make the biggest impact are those who combine technical expertise with human insight. Communication, curiosity, adaptability, problem-solving, empathy and ethics enable technology to be applied intelligently, responsibly and collaboratively.
For IT professionals, developing and cultivating these skills turns technical proficiency into meaningful long-term influence and lasting value. For employers, recruiting people with them means stronger, more resilient teams who are capable of communicating and innovating with confidence, and meeting the complex challenges of the future.
We understand that the IT professionals who make the biggest impact in life sciences are those who combine technical strength and knowledge with the soft skills that enable true collaboration and innovation. Whether you need adaptable problem-solvers, effective communicators, empathetic collaborators or people who can translate scientific needs into practical solutions, we’ll ensure that your IT function is built on individuals who can code, connect and contribute to meaningful innovation.
For more information about finding IT professionals with the soft skills you need, contact us.