Mission-Critical Senior Scientist Hire

Case Study: Delivering a Mission-Critical Senior Scientist Hire in Early-Stage Drug Development

An early-stage drug development start-up, founded by alums of David Baker’s lab, is pioneering a new way of developing multifunctional biologics using advanced computational methods. With four programmes already in progress and the company expecting to file its first IND in 2026, securing the right scientific talent was critical to maintaining momentum. 

The Challenge

The company needed to fill one final onsite Senior Scientist role whilst still in stealth mode. This position was mission-critical, requiring expertise in directed evolution experiments, yeast display sequence libraries, NGS analysis, and biophysical characterization methods to optimize their in silico discoveries. 

The challenge was threefold: 

• The hire required rare wet-lab expertise combined with computational understanding. 

• The search needed to be discreet, given the company’s stealth mode status. 

• Due to rarity of skills required, the start-up needed a partner with access to niche talent pipelines and the ability to identify candidates open to relocation. 

The Solution

The company engaged Skills Alliance on a retained search to identify and secure the right individual for this critical hire. Leveraging our specialist networks and deep life sciences expertise, we built a tailored talent pipeline and quickly pinpointed candidates with the rare combination of wet-lab and computational biology skills. 

Skills Alliance secured an offer with an ideal candidate, guiding them through the full interview process and supporting both sides throughout. The end result was a successful hire—filling the last critical scientific role within the stealth-mode organisation and ensuring the company had the capability to advance toward IND filing. 

The Results

Successful Hire Delivered: A mission-critical Senior Scientist role was filled with the right candidate, combining niche technical expertise with the adaptability needed for a high-growth biotech. 

Full-Cycle Support: Skills Alliance managed the process end-to-end, from talent identification through to offer acceptance. 

Trusted Partnership: The client valued the depth of sector knowledge and consultative approach, recognising Skills Alliance as a trusted partner for future expansion. 

This case demonstrates how Skills Alliance delivers beyond search—acting as a strategic partner to secure the rare scientific talent that fuels biotech innovation.