Client Overview
Our client is an Oxford-based biotech specialising in oncology-focused immunotherapy. As an early-stage drug discovery organisation with ambitious imelines, they needed to strengthen their capability quickly. With a lean operations team and multiple programmes advancing in parallel, they required external expertise to keep projects on track.
The Challenges
The client had reached a point where internal capacity and experience were insufficient. They needed a contract Research Project Manager with proven ability to guide early-stage programmes from discovery into development - a rare skill set in a competitive market.
A small operations team with no experience hiring, onboarding, or managing contractors.
Difficulty sourcing candidates with true end-to-end early-stage drug development experience, particularly in immuno-oncology.
Limited time and resources to run a structured recruitment process.
A fragmented approach to interviews and decision-making, slowing progress.
Our Solutions
We partnered closely with senior leadership to deliver a fast, targeted process designed for contract hiring.
Our approach included:
Leveraging our pre-qualified life sciences network to identify eight high-quality candidates within one week.
Taking full ownership of scheduling, communication, and feedback loops to minimise client workload.
Implementing a clear, coordinated interview structure to speed up decisions.
Providing onboarding guidance to ensure the contractor could start quickly and effectively.
Acting as an extension of their team, ensuring transparency and alignment throughout.
Our Impact
Our partnership delivered a rapid, stress-free hiring process and secured a specialist contractor who exceeded expectations.
End-to-end hiring cycle completed in just 22 working days, including interviews and onboarding.
75% of presented candidates progressed to first interview; 50% to second stage.
The contractor proved so valuable that the 12-month contract was converted to a permanent role within months.
More than 40 days saved compared to their traditional timeline.
Renewed confidence in their ability to attract and manage specialist contractors.
Why it Worked
Deep expertise in early-stage drug discovery and immunotherapy roles.
A responsive, relationship-driven model giving direct access to decision-makers.
Technology-enabled organisation of interviews and feedback, removing delays.
Clear process design tailored for contract hiring.
Practical onboarding support for a smooth start.