Your biotech recruitment team

Biotech.  bīōˌtek/ What does that mean, exactly?  As life science recruiters, we understand the different scientific applications – all unique.  Gene Modification?  Stem Cells?  CRISPR? Crop Science?  Biofuels?  Biodegradable Plastics? Vegetable Oil?  It’s our job to pick up this big “bio-bucket” and sort out what’s best for you and your company.  With a strong background in life science recruiting including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, Surf Search understands the nuances of biotech recruiting.  We approach each search based on its unique requirements.

Your biotech executive search specialists

Biotech headhunting is arguably the most challenging sector in executive recruiting, given today’s race for new vaccines and therapeutics. Surf Search has been in life science recruiting for many years. We’ve grown with the industry, witnessed and embraced exciting innovation and discovery. As life science headhunters, we’ve amassed a deep pipeline of the best biotech talent and have the experience to bring them to your company. Look to Surf Search for your next hire.

Biotech startups

The start-up environment can be tricky. It’s critically important your early employees are strong collaborators, and enthusiastic about working cross functionally at all levels. Your first employees will define your company culture and you want to make absolutely sure they are a fit when you are making those initial hires.

Surf Search understands the biotech start-up environment. We know how to grow teams, while considering all your “must-haves” and tailoring our search criteria accordingly. We look for enthusiastic brilliancy – candidates who embrace your goals and consider themselves key players, not simply employees.

A case study in biotech recruitment

Challenge: To find candidates for a Director of Immunology for an industry-leading drug development company and move them to high cost of living, San Diego. Candidates must have PhD, experience with autoimmunity, vaccines, and infectious disease in pre-clinical development.

Solution: Exhaustive search, utilizing patent and published research, and conference research turned up the perfect candidate, in Seattle. Extensive negotiations over relocation and cost of living considerations resulted in a great hire. Candidate has since been promoted with new company and family loves life in San Diego.

How We Can Help

We can you help find top biotechnology talent across the nation. We have a presence in the following cities: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Cambridge, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Fargo, Fort Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Irvine, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New Haven, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Rochester, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle and Syracuse.

Our Clients

We work with clients and candidates at companies like these

Typical roles we fill

A Great Recruiting Combination in Surf Search

With Debbie's background in medical genetics, and Jan's in medical and scientific journalism, Surf Search is a stand-out in biotech recruiting.  Our scientific searches are highly complex in nature, and having that technical knowledge has been invaluable in sourcing top biotech talent.

- Jack S. Director of HR, growing life sciences CRO

Partner with Surf Search

FAQ

Frequently asked questions
about biotech recruiting

Why should I use a biotech recruiting specialist?

Recruiter specialization in biotech exponentially increases your ability to target the best talent for your organization. Surf Search has a deep database of candidates working at biotech companies around the country. We develop strong career relationships with candidates in the industry and know what they are looking for in a new job.

Explain your recruiting process, from receiving the initial job order to onboarding a new hire? What can we expect?

Surf Search will meet with your hiring team to ensure you have a strong message on selling both the job and your company. We will help you fine tune your job descriptions. Benefits, company culture and career pathways need to be clearly defined. The interviewing process needs to streamlined and efficient. Next, Surf Search will present 3-8 qualified candidates for each position within 1-2 weeks’ time. We will help you set up interviews, follow up with the candidates and hiring teams, check references when necessary and negotiate the offer when the time comes. We keep in touch with the hiring manager and the candidate to make sure the onboarding is completed, and that the candidate is thriving in their new position.

Which biotech roles does Surf Search fill?

We have filled hundreds of positions for R&D, manufacturing, operations, HR, financial and top leadership. With over 20 years recruiting in biotech recruiting, we have an extensive database of candidates, and a deep pipeline of candidates we are regularly in contact with. We also reach out to new grads and postdocs looking for industry positions.

What does your candidate sourcing strategy look like for recruiting biotech candidates?

With offices in strategic life science hubs, Surf Search recruiting teams have developed a deep pipeline of active candidates numbering in the tens of thousands. We work on biotech positions with companies across the country and partner with other top recruiting firms who also specialize in biotech recruiting. This dramatically increases our reach.

What differentiates Surf Search as biotech recruiters from all the others? What makes you better?

We are a niche recruiting firm, focused on recruiting for the industry. We have been in the headhunting business for a long time and enjoy a terrific reputation with our clients and candidates. Most of our clients have been with us through many company changes and take us with them as they move up their own career ladders. In recruiting for the biotech industry, you are only as good as who you know, and our recruiting pipeline is deep. Take a dozen headhunters, give them the same biotech search assignment and Surf Search always come out on top. Our knowledge and depth of experience in biotech recruiting stands out in headhunting circles across the U.S.

Our most recent biotech blog posts

Ten In Demand and Growing Medical Biotechnology Careers

One of the hottest job markets these days is biotech. Healthcare and biotechnology go hand in hand as new discoveries…