Scaling a biotech lab with global bioprocessing talent 

When a fast-growing biotech company secured funding to launch a new lab, they needed to build a team of upstream and downstream processing scientists fast. With demand for these skillsets outpacing supply, they turned to us for international reach and specialist expertise. 

Key stats 

• 1 Principal Scientist hired to lead the lab 
• 6 additional senior hires placed across new labs 
• Bespoke recruitment model aligned with long-term growth 

The situation 

The company was preparing to open a new lab and needed scientists with niche expertise in upstream and downstream processing. These roles were critical to their expansion, but the talent pool was limited, and competition for qualified candidates was high. 

Their investment partner recommended R&D Partners based on our proven track record in sourcing rare skillsets for senior scientific roles. The brief was clear: they needed someone with technical depth and leadership experience to help shape the future of the lab.

The solution 

We began with a detailed briefing to understand the company’s goals and the leadership qualities required for the role. Our technical operations team then launched an international headhunting campaign, using advanced recruitment technology and our global network to identify and engage top-tier candidates. 

We also activated our specialist community to gather referrals and insights, ensuring we reached the right people. Throughout the process, we managed all candidate communications and supported both sides through the international interview process. 

Recognising the company’s broader expansion plans, we proposed a bespoke recruitment solution. This included building pre-qualified candidate pools for future roles and introducing a volume-based pricing model to support their hiring strategy and budget. 

The result 

The company hired a senior scientist who has since been promoted to Principal Scientist and now leads a growing team. Since then, they’ve launched two additional labs and partnered with R&D Partners to fill six more senior, niche roles, accelerating their scientific delivery and long-term growth. 

From niche roles to national expansion 

When your growth depends on rare expertise, you need a partner who knows where to find it. If you’re building a specialist team or scaling operations, we’re here to help. Let’s talk about how we can support your next phase of growth.