Specialist Search
The Essentials
Rigorous candidate search, shaped around your specific hiring needs.
Why a Specialist Search?
Life Science Hires specializes in Specialist Search, the premier choice for filling expert and leadership positions that demand a high degree of discretion and urgency.
Whether for highly complex scientific roles or positions requiring a strong understanding of market dynamics, competitors, and customer environments, our approach adapts to the specific challenges of each hire.
Our custom search strategy is meticulously tailored to meet the unique challenges of each vacancy.
What we bring
Life Science Hires is your dedicated staffing partner across the life science sector in France.
We build tailored search strategies backed by market insight, using an extensive network and advanced sourcing tools to reach both active and passive candidates.
From screening and psychometric evaluation to transparent reporting, interview coordination, and reference checks, we manage every stage of the process to connect you with talent that drives your organisation’s success.
Amelie Michelin
Co-Founder & Director
Success stories
Restricted candidate pool
Deputy QP / QA Pharmacist placed in weeks
The Challenge
A small biotech required a highly specific ATMP qualification set — one of the most restricted candidate pools in the industry.
The Approach
Targeted search focused exclusively on qualified QPs with direct ATMP experience, bypassing generalist channels entirely.
The Outcome
Shortlist delivered within a week. Recruitment process completed within a month.
Confidential regional search
EHS Manager found through direct headhunting
The Challenge
A confidential mandate with a limited regional candidate pool, requiring detailed market mapping before any outreach could begin.
The Approach
Thorough geographic mapping followed by direct headhunting of a top-tier profile who had not responded to initial contact.
The Outcome
Persistent, targeted engagement resulted in the candidate accepting an offer — a placement traditional advertising could not have achieved.
Vacancy open over a year
Supply Chain Director — passive candidate placed
The Challenge
The role had been open for over a year, complicated by internal organisational changes that had historically made it difficult to close.
The Approach
Proactive headhunting beyond the active candidate market, targeting experienced profiles who were not considering a move.
The Outcome
Placed within a few months with a candidate who, after 30 years with the same employer, decided to make their first career change.
Affiliate launch, first submission
Regulatory Affairs Director, first submission success
The Challenge
A Japanese-owned pharmaceutical company needed to open its French affiliate and required a QP capable of achieving first-submission success with the French authority.
The Approach
Focused search targeting bilingual regulatory profiles with affiliate launch experience and a strong track record with French submissions.
The Outcome
Placed in under two months. The candidate successfully opened the affiliate on their first submission to the authority.
Building from scratch
General Manager built affiliate from scratch
The Challenge
A generics company entering France needed a General Manager capable of building the local organisation entirely from scratch — not just filling a seat, but founding an operation.
The Approach
Search focused on profiles with direct affiliate launch experience, combining commercial leadership with the operational capability to structure a new entity.
The Outcome
The placed candidate successfully established and grew the French affiliate, delivering on a mandate that required both vision and hands-on execution.
Niche physician profile
Pharmacovigilance Physician, closed after a year
The Challenge
A long-standing vacancy requiring a qualified physician with hands-on pharmacovigilance experience specifically within the generics sector — an exceptionally narrow profile.
The Approach
Deep market mapping to identify the full universe of eligible candidates, followed by direct outreach to profiles the company had not previously reached.
The Outcome
Successfully placed a candidate who met all criteria, closing a position that had defeated previous attempts for over a year.
Full team, tight timeline
Full MSL team placed ahead of launch
The Challenge
A biosimilars company needed to build an entire MSL team across France to support a new portfolio launch — a time-sensitive, multi-hire mandate requiring launch-experienced field medical talent.
The Approach
Simultaneous search across multiple profiles, prioritising candidates with biosimilar or launch experience and the geographic coverage to support national deployment.
The Outcome
Full team placed and deployed across France in time for launch. Similar multi-hire projects have since been delivered in oncology and neurology for other pharma clients.
Our process
Define
Conduct an in-depth needs analysis to fully understand the technical requirements, soft skills, and company culture, ensuring a precise alignment with your team’s unique needs.
Attract
Craft engaging, targeted job ads and post them on key platforms such as LinkedIn Premium. Proactively source and research candidates through databases, social media, and referrals to build a strong talent pool.
Assess
Conduct preliminary phone or video interviews to evaluate candidates’ skills, motivation, and cultural fit. Coordinate interviews between candidates and clients for a seamless recruitment experience.
Select
Present a shortlist of top candidates with in-depth analysis and cover letters tailored to your initial brief. Gather feedback post-interview and make any necessary adjustments to refine the selection.
Support
Provide regular recruitment progress updates and candidate status reports. Conduct reference checks as needed for final candidates and offer pre- and post-onboarding follow-up to ensure a smooth integration and continued satisfaction.
Pricing
Percentage-Based Fee
Our fee is typically calculated as a percentage of the candidate’s first-year earnings.
Reflecting Strategic Value
This structure reflects the seniority of roles we fill and the complexity involved in placing them.
Fixed Fee Option
In some cases, a fixed fee may be used in place of or alongside the percentage structure.
Get a Tailored Quote
Schedule a consultation with our team to find the right approach for your hiring needs.
