The biotech job market is booming, with the number of jobs available in the sector…
[toc headings=h2,h3] Scientific talent is critically important for businesses in a variety of industries. Scientific recruiters specialize in finding qualified professionals in this field who have the knowledge companies need on their team. As experts in both the scientific industry and the broader job market, a recruiter can be an invaluable asset for growing life sciences companies. If that sounds like something you need in your organization, the ten recruiters below are among the best in the industry.
Surf Search specializes in recruiting top candidates for organizations in the life sciences, including healthcare, biotech, pharmaceutical, medical device, and scientific talent. While their candidate network spans from coast to coast, they work with just a few clients at a time, giving their searches the personal attention you'd expect from a small boutique recruiting firm. Their expertise and experience in the life sciences sector and advanced analytical sourcing methods put them among the best recruiters of executive scientific talent in the United States, and they can fill positions at all levels in their sectors of focus. Read more Surf Search
With offices in San Diego, Hollywood, Austin, and Dallas, Proven Recruiting is one of the top life sciences search firms for employers in the southwestern United States. They fill a range of positions in the scientific field, including chemists, molecular biologists, lab technicians, GMP manufacturing, and quality control professionals. Since they also work with talent in finance, accounting, and technology, they're an excellent recruitment partner for growth-stage scientific companies that have a variety of roles to fill in different areas. Read more Proven Recruiting
Flexible staffing solutions and a collaborative approach are at the heart of Beacon Hill Staffing's recruitment success. Along with retained and contingent executive search services, they offer contract-to-hire and staffing augmentation services that are ideal for short-term or time-sensitive projects. Based in Boston, their talent network extends far beyond their local market, delivering quality candidates in a timely fashion across all 50 states. This broad reach gives them the ability to fill scientific jobs in a range of industries, including bio-manufacturing, gene therapy, medical device and diagnostics, and research and development talent for companies in the food, beverage, chemical, and personal care sectors. Read more Beacon Hill Staffing
Based in Atlanta, Boaz Partners works with businesses in the fields of advanced materials, specialty chemicals, and animal health and nutrition. Their success rate in these areas is impressive, with 97% of the employees they place still with the company after a year. This is largely thanks to vast knowledge of their focus industries, and their recruiters have an in-depth understanding of what business leaders look for in these professionals. They're also an ideal choice for those who need to hire quickly, with a typical time to fill of under two months and candidates presented to clients in 12 days on average. Read more Boaz Partners
Insight Global has more than 68 offices across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, including locations in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, and just about every major city in between. This wide reach is an advantage for employers who need specialized and niche life sciences talent, particularly in the areas of biomedical technology, clinical research and manufacturing, medical device development, and pharmaceuticals. They can also fill positions at any level, from entry-level technicians to c-level executives, on a permanent, contract, or contract-to-hire basis. Read more Insight Global
Values like transparency and commitment are at the core of NuWest Group's recruiting process. Operating in the Seattle area for more than twenty years, they aim to build deep, long-term relationships with both clients and candidates, serving as workplace matchmakers to identify professionals who are an ideal fit for both the role and the culture. Their scientific recruiting team fills positions in research & development, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, laboratory operations, and animal husbandry, among others. Read more NuWest Group
ClinLab Staffing only recruits talent for the life sciences industry, and that tight focus translates to high-level industry expertise. Don't take that to mean they're limited in the services they provide, either. They make placements in both industrial and academic environments, including clinical research organizations, clinical manufacturing organizations, and businesses in industries like chemical engineering, biofuels, and biotech. Geographically, they're mostly focused on the eastern US, with their headquarters in Massachusetts and offices in Newark, Philadelphia, Raleigh, and Gaithersburg, Maryland. Read more ClinLab Staffing
For leadership and management professionals in scientific sectors, Pender & Howe is a diligent and experienced partner, and one of the leading executive search firms in North America. They provide a streamlined boutique recruiting service, drawing from their established network of trusted partners to source the best leaders across the United States and Canada. They're a particularly strong fit for companies focused on innovation, helping organizations of all sciences build impactful leadership teams in clinical and manufacturing environments. Read more Pender & Howe
As an industry-leading partner for scientific talent solutions, Acara has been providing personalized recruitment since they first opened their doors in 1957. They've had the same goal for more than 60 years: bringing people together with a purpose. They accomplish this mission through thoughtful recruitment strategies based on a clear vision of their client's goals, needs, and workforce expectations. Along with contingent staffing, contract-to-hire, and direct placement services, they have unique offerings like their Employer Branding services, helping companies better market themselves to candidates so they'll continue to attract top talent in the future. Read more Acara
SRG aims to build a reputation as the go-to STEM recruiter for the US, UK, and Europe. They accomplish this for their clients by putting talent first and developing personal relationships with both candidates and clients, helping companies cultivate the talent that will drive the innovations of the future. Many of SRG's recruiters are trained engineers, scientists, and clinical professionals themselves, so they know first-hand what skills candidates need to succeed in these spaces. Read more SRG
Scientific recruiters are experts in talent acquisition for organizations that need professionals trained in the life sciences. This covers a broad range of job titles and skills, from chemists and medical researchers to high-tech scientific fields like genetic or biomedical engineering. Given the broad scope of the life sciences, it's no surprise that organizations in just about every industry need people with these skills. Some recruiting firms take a similarly wide view, while others have a tighter focus on specific types of opportunities, for example only working with healthcare organizations or exclusively sourcing executive talent. This is one thing that can make it tricky to find the right scientific recruiter who has the network and expertise to meet your business needs. Regardless of their area of focus, scientific recruiters normally aim to make a long-term placement when they undertake a search. This is the main thing that differentiates a recruiter from an employment agency or staffing firm, which provides temporary staff. While many recruiters do have short-term contract or contract-to-hire options, their goal is to find the right person for a role, not just provide one-size-fits-all workers.
The first thing you want to verify, before you even reach out to schedule a conversation, is whether the recruiter works with the type of talent that you need. Many recruiting firms will list the typical job titles they recruit for on their website, and will often also have job listings that you can peruse. Pay attention to the industries they recruit for, the types of roles they fill within that industry, and the typical hierarchy level they focus on (for example, if they're an executive recruiter). The closer your role is to their wheelhouse, the more likely they'll be able to connect you with someone who's an ideal fit. Something else to consider is the recruiter's experience level. A firm that's been around for decades is going to have an established track record and reputation, and that can be beneficial for attracting candidates to your search. Established recruiting firms also have an established talent network to draw from, so they won't need to do as much work to identify potential candidates. That will typically mean a faster time to hire than you'll get from a less experienced search firm. If the recruiter seems like a good fit on those two points, the best next step is to have a conversation. This is the perfect time to ask about their search methods and recruiting strategies. Some great questions to ask include:
The bottom line is, there is no one firm that's going to be the perfect scientific recruiter for every company. Any of the ten listed above will be the right fit for a certain type of company and role. Doing your research before reaching out, then asking the right questions during your first conversation, is the best way to identify the right recruiter for your organization.
Scientific talent is critically important for businesses in a variety of industries. Scientific recruiters specialize in finding qualified professionals in this field who have the knowledge companies need on their team. As experts in both the scientific industry and the broader job market, a recruiter can be an invaluable asset for growing life sciences companies. If that sounds like something you need in your organization, the ten recruiters below are among the best in the industry.
Surf Search specializes in recruiting top candidates for organizations in the life sciences, including healthcare, biotech, pharmaceutical, medical device, and scientific talent. While their candidate network spans from coast to coast, they work with just a few clients at a time, giving their searches the personal attention you’d expect from a small boutique recruiting firm. Their expertise and experience in the life sciences sector and advanced analytical sourcing methods put them among the best recruiters of executive scientific talent in the United States, and they can fill positions at all levels in their sectors of focus.
With offices in San Diego, Hollywood, Austin, and Dallas, Proven Recruiting is one of the top life sciences search firms for employers in the southwestern United States. They fill a range of positions in the scientific field, including chemists, molecular biologists, lab technicians, GMP manufacturing, and quality control professionals. Since they also work with talent in finance, accounting, and technology, they’re an excellent recruitment partner for growth-stage scientific companies that have a variety of roles to fill in different areas.
Flexible staffing solutions and a collaborative approach are at the heart of Beacon Hill Staffing‘s recruitment success. Along with retained and contingent executive search services, they offer contract-to-hire and staffing augmentation services that are ideal for short-term or time-sensitive projects. Based in Boston, their talent network extends far beyond their local market, delivering quality candidates in a timely fashion across all 50 states. This broad reach gives them the ability to fill scientific jobs in a range of industries, including bio-manufacturing, gene therapy, medical device and diagnostics, and research and development talent for companies in the food, beverage, chemical, and personal care sectors.
Read more Beacon Hill Staffing
Based in Atlanta, Boaz Partners works with businesses in the fields of advanced materials, specialty chemicals, and animal health and nutrition. Their success rate in these areas is impressive, with 97% of the employees they place still with the company after a year. This is largely thanks to vast knowledge of their focus industries, and their recruiters have an in-depth understanding of what business leaders look for in these professionals. They’re also an ideal choice for those who need to hire quickly, with a typical time to fill of under two months and candidates presented to clients in 12 days on average.
Insight Global has more than 68 offices across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, including locations in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, and just about every major city in between. This wide reach is an advantage for employers who need specialized and niche life sciences talent, particularly in the areas of biomedical technology, clinical research and manufacturing, medical device development, and pharmaceuticals. They can also fill positions at any level, from entry-level technicians to c-level executives, on a permanent, contract, or contract-to-hire basis.
Values like transparency and commitment are at the core of NuWest Group‘s recruiting process. Operating in the Seattle area for more than twenty years, they aim to build deep, long-term relationships with both clients and candidates, serving as workplace matchmakers to identify professionals who are an ideal fit for both the role and the culture. Their scientific recruiting team fills positions in research & development, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, laboratory operations, and animal husbandry, among others.
ClinLab Staffing only recruits talent for the life sciences industry, and that tight focus translates to high-level industry expertise. Don’t take that to mean they’re limited in the services they provide, either. They make placements in both industrial and academic environments, including clinical research organizations, clinical manufacturing organizations, and businesses in industries like chemical engineering, biofuels, and biotech. Geographically, they’re mostly focused on the eastern US, with their headquarters in Massachusetts and offices in Newark, Philadelphia, Raleigh, and Gaithersburg, Maryland.
For leadership and management professionals in scientific sectors, Pender & Howe is a diligent and experienced partner, and one of the leading executive search firms in North America. They provide a streamlined boutique recruiting service, drawing from their established network of trusted partners to source the best leaders across the United States and Canada. They’re a particularly strong fit for companies focused on innovation, helping organizations of all sciences build impactful leadership teams in clinical and manufacturing environments.
As an industry-leading partner for scientific talent solutions, Acara has been providing personalized recruitment since they first opened their doors in 1957. They’ve had the same goal for more than 60 years: bringing people together with a purpose. They accomplish this mission through thoughtful recruitment strategies based on a clear vision of their client’s goals, needs, and workforce expectations. Along with contingent staffing, contract-to-hire, and direct placement services, they have unique offerings like their Employer Branding services, helping companies better market themselves to candidates so they’ll continue to attract top talent in the future.
SRG aims to build a reputation as the go-to STEM recruiter for the US, UK, and Europe. They accomplish this for their clients by putting talent first and developing personal relationships with both candidates and clients, helping companies cultivate the talent that will drive the innovations of the future. Many of SRG’s recruiters are trained engineers, scientists, and clinical professionals themselves, so they know first-hand what skills candidates need to succeed in these spaces.
Scientific recruiters are experts in talent acquisition for organizations that need professionals trained in the life sciences. This covers a broad range of job titles and skills, from chemists and medical researchers to high-tech scientific fields like genetic or biomedical engineering.
Given the broad scope of the life sciences, it’s no surprise that organizations in just about every industry need people with these skills. Some recruiting firms take a similarly wide view, while others have a tighter focus on specific types of opportunities, for example only working with healthcare organizations or exclusively sourcing executive talent. This is one thing that can make it tricky to find the right scientific recruiter who has the network and expertise to meet your business needs.
Regardless of their area of focus, scientific recruiters normally aim to make a long-term placement when they undertake a search. This is the main thing that differentiates a recruiter from an employment agency or staffing firm, which provides temporary staff. While many recruiters do have short-term contract or contract-to-hire options, their goal is to find the right person for a role, not just provide one-size-fits-all workers.
The first thing you want to verify, before you even reach out to schedule a conversation, is whether the recruiter works with the type of talent that you need. Many recruiting firms will list the typical job titles they recruit for on their website, and will often also have job listings that you can peruse. Pay attention to the industries they recruit for, the types of roles they fill within that industry, and the typical hierarchy level they focus on (for example, if they’re an executive recruiter). The closer your role is to their wheelhouse, the more likely they’ll be able to connect you with someone who’s an ideal fit.
Something else to consider is the recruiter’s experience level. A firm that’s been around for decades is going to have an established track record and reputation, and that can be beneficial for attracting candidates to your search. Established recruiting firms also have an established talent network to draw from, so they won’t need to do as much work to identify potential candidates. That will typically mean a faster time to hire than you’ll get from a less experienced search firm.
If the recruiter seems like a good fit on those two points, the best next step is to have a conversation. This is the perfect time to ask about their search methods and recruiting strategies. Some great questions to ask include:
As you’re having this conversation, also pay attention to how you and the recruiter communicate. Is the conversation easy and open, or does it feel awkward and uncomfortable? Do you feel you can trust this recruiter after your initial conversation? A good portion of a recruiter’s success comes from their ability to build relationships, and you want to hire someone you feel can be a true partner in your quest for better talent.
The bottom line is, there is no one firm that’s going to be the perfect scientific recruiter for every company. Any of the ten listed above will be the right fit for a certain type of company and role. Doing your research before reaching out, then asking the right questions during your first conversation, is the best way to identify the right recruiter for your organization.