Our Life Science team has partnered with a global biotechnology leader based in the US for more than ten years. The company develops, manufactures, and commercialises assays and instruments that are widely used in pharmaceutical companies, universities, government institutions, and clinical laboratories worldwide.
Since 2014, we have supported our client’s growth across a range of functions; from engineering and sales to leadership roles. Now, 11 years later, we continue to work with them to grow not only their US division, but also help to expand their teams across Europe, APAC and Australasia. When we were introduced to the organisation in 2014, they were a team of around 500 employees. Since then, they’ve grown to over 900 individuals.
As part of their ongoing strategy, the team looked to build a global team of Field Application Specialists (FAS), based across Europe, the US, and APAC. Field Application Specialists are central to the company’s success – they provide product demonstrations, deliver training, and offer both pre- and post-sales support. Their role goes far beyond technical knowledge; they are trusted advisors to Principal Investigators, Lab Directors, and Technicians alike. A skilled FAS can build strong relationships that lead to repeat purchasing, while a poor experience risks losing business altogether.
Challenge
Our client sought to expand their global FAS team, with positions in the US (San Diego, Bay Area, Seattle, Texas, Michigan, Florida, North Carolina & Boston) as well as across Europe (UK & France) and the APAC region (Australia, South Korea & India).
Recruiting across such a wide range of locations is complex. Each market has different salary expectations, notice periods, motivations for career moves, and cultural nuances that influence the hiring process. Candidates also needed to meet a demanding profile: scientifically credible, commercially minded, confident communicators, and willing to travel extensively.
For a recruiter covering just one region, this search would have been a major challenge. However, our Life Science team is structured globally, with consultants dedicated to specific continents. This allowed us to draw on established networks in each region, while maintaining consistent standards and cultural alignment across all hires.
Solution
In competitive markets, securing top-tier talent for crucial roles can be challenging. What sets our life science team apart is our extensive network of engaged industry professionals that have been curated by our highly knowledgeable recruitment experts.
We have a team of consultants that specialise in specific US, APAC and European markets, and specific life science markets. With a huge network across the industry and a team of consultants that can speak a variety of European languages, we were confident in our abilities to hire candidates that met the expectations of the company.
Our long-term partnership with this client meant we had already built a strong understanding of their culture, leadership style, and the qualities that make hires successful within their teams. Over the years, regular communication and feedback from the client have helped us identify common traits among employees, refine our search criteria, and anticipate future needs aligned with their commercial strategy.
Tapping into our extensive network, our team were able to focus fully on the search without the client needing to engage multiple firms. Our consultants combined global reach with market expertise, providing not just a shortlist of candidates but also salary benchmarking and insight into regional market conditions. This ensured that offers were competitive and appropriate for each location.
Following a particular candidate selection, our team also prioritised careful screening, ensuring candidates had the technical expertise to engage with scientists at all levels, along with the communication skills to build trust and represent the company commercially.
Since partnering with the team, we have hired 12 individuals within the US, 6 individuals within Europe, 2 in the APAC and 1 in Australia. 6 of the 21 hires have been in the past 12 months.
Impact
For this client, we have a 91% retention rate – only 2 of the 21 candidates we hired left, several years after their initial hire – a reflection of both the quality of our selection process and our understanding of the client’s environment. Many of our earlier placements continue to progress internally, with one moving into a new function and others recognised through awards such as Field Application Specialist of the Year and Presidents Club membership.
Our team has supported the client in building a consistent, high-performing FAS team worldwide, helping secure the company’s reputation as a trusted partner to scientists across the life sciences.
“Andrew is an excellent recruiter with extensive knowledge of the market space and strong connections. He listens carefully to the job requirements and ensures candidates match the role’s needs, often submitting/finding top-level candidates who are, on many occasions, not actively looking. Andrew is always professional and constructive and is eager to understand when candidates do or do not make it through the hiring process and, most importantly, why.”
Client testimonial
“Katie recently helped me during my transition from a postdoctoral research position to an industry scientist role. Her knowledge of the life science community and genuine passion for her work made this experience a real joy! She helped prepare me for interviews, reviewed my resume, and checked in regularly during the hiring process. 11/10!”
Candidate testimonial
“Katie has great insights into the companies she represents, which helps her find excellent candidates quickly and helps those candidates best present their relevant experience. I am beyond grateful that I had the opportunity to work with Katie for my recent job application. Throughout the process, Katie kept things moving by following up on emails with the company and keeping me informed about the progress of my application. Before each step of the interview process, Katie scheduled phone calls with me to make sure that I was ready and even reviewed a presentation that I had prepared for my interview. Additionally, Katie is an outstanding communicator and is always friendly and a pleasure to speak to. I am very grateful for Katie’s support through the application process and highly recommend her for those looking for an industry position in science.”
Candidate testimonial
“I cannot recommend Revna enough to any candidates searching for a role in the Life Science field. She offers thorough communication, valuable insight, and enthusiasm throughout the entire recruiting process. She genuinely cares about her clients, going above and beyond to ensure that they always have the necessary resources to be successful. Thank you for your unwavering support, Revna!”
Candidate testimonial
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