Client Overview
Our client is a rapidly scaling SME within the oncology-focused immunotherapy space, headquartered in Oxford and operating at the cutting edge of antigen-driven drug discovery.
With multiple programmes, the company was transitioning from a scientific start-up into a more structured, growthready organisation. Their research efforts had expanded significantly, yet the internal operations and recruitment support required to sustain this growth had not kept pace. To maintain momentum and prepare for upcoming development milestones, they needed to strengthen their capability to manage increasingly complex recruitment.
The Challenges
As their scientific and operational footprint expanded, the team found themselves encountering familiar growing-pains for specialist life sciences SMEs.
Limited internal capacity: A small operations team could not dedicate time to sourcing, screening, or coordinating niche scientific talent – limited professional networks and advertising simply wasn’t delivering the necessary quality.
Highly specialist profile requirements: They required a Research Project Manager with genuine end-to-end experience moving programs from discovery toward development - rare expertise in an already competitive immunooncology market.
Fragmented hiring process: Inconsistent interview practices and limited oversight caused misalignment between scientific leaders and slowed critical decision-making.
Reactive role scoping: Rapidly evolving project needs meant specifications were not always well-defined, creating challenges in assessing the right candidate fit with multiple stakeholders.
Market-misaligned packages: Compensation and contract structures fell short of expectations for top-tier candidates, weakening their competitive position.
Our Solutions
To support their transition into a more structured, growth-capable organisation, we built a refined, fully supported recruitment process designed for speed, clarity, and specialist reach.
Rapid specialist talent mapping: Leveraging our established life sciences network, we identified eight high-quality, pre-qualified candidates within one week, all with relevant early-stage drug discovery background.
Structured, unified interview framework: We introduced a clear process that aligned all hiring managers, reduced delays, and enabled faster consensus for senior hires.
Technology-enabled workflow: We took full ownership of scheduling, communication, and feedback loops, removing administrative burden from the client’s lean team.
Role definition and benchmarking: Working directly with senior leadership, we refined the project remit and delivered comprehensive compensation insights to recalibrate their offer for the market.
Partner-level engagement: Acting as an extension of their internal team, we provided transparent, continuous iteration as their needs evolved.
Our Impact
By addressing both immediate hiring needs and underlying structural gaps, we helped the client strengthen their scientific capabilities while laying the groundwork for scalable growth.
22-day total hiring cycle, from sourcing through to offer acceptance.
More than 40 days saved versus their historical hiring timeline – resulting in significant cost saving.
Exceptional candidate quality, with 75% progressing to first interview and 50% reaching second stage.
A high-impact hire, with the contract role converted to permanent after demonstrating strong value.
Renewed internal alignment on how to approach senior technical recruitment as the business continued to grow.
Why it Worked
Deep expertise in immunotherapy, antigen science, and early-stage drug discovery talent markets.
A partnership model that offered genuine operational lift, functioning as an embedded extension of their hiring team.
Streamlined, technology-supported processes that removed friction and improved candidate experience.
Clear, consistent interview frameworks that brought alignment across teams.
Market-informed benchmarking that ensured competitive and realistic offers in a niche talent landscape.