Strategic Life Science Recruitment

Delivering Permanent & Contract Talent Across Quality, Regulatory, Engineering, and HR to Support Growth, Compliance, and M&A Integration for a global diagnostic manufacturer.

A leading global diagnostics manufacturer – renowned for providing accurate testing solutions and high-quality life science tools to clinical laboratories, research institutions, and biotech companies worldwide – was entering a period of accelerated growth.

To successfully navigate both internal expansion and the integration of strategic acquisitions, the organisation needed a specialist recruitment partner capable of rapidly delivering high-calibre talent across its most business-critical functions: Quality, Regulatory, Engineering, and HR.

The Challenge

1. Urgent Hiring Across Multiple Functions

The diagnostic manufacturer required immediate support in filling both permanent and contract positions across several high-impact functions. These roles were mission-critical:

• The HR hire was urgently needed to support a departmental reorganisation. Without this role, the region would have been left without adequate support during a sensitive business transition.
• In Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs (QARA), contract hires were vital to ensure systems and documentation were FDA-ready ahead of a scheduled return inspection – playing a key role in ensuring no adverse findings.

Generic recruiters had proven ineffective at sourcing specialist life sciences talent at the required speed and depth.

2. FDA Remediation Needs Post-Acquisition

Following a key acquisition, the diagnostic manufacturer was dealing with regulatory issues that led to an FDA warning letter. The business had previously struggled to resolve these gaps. A highly experienced remediation professional was urgently needed to drive quality and regulatory corrective actions and restore compliance.

3. Uncertainty Around Market Benchmarks

There was a lack of internal clarity on current salary banding, talent availability, and competitive positioning, making it difficult to attract the right candidates.

The organisation needed more than just candidate sourcing – they required a strategic recruitment partner with consultative expertise and deep market knowledge.

The Solution

The diagnostic manufacturer partnered with Skills Alliance to deliver a tailored, high-impact solution focused on compliance, speed, and strategic hiring:

Specialist Talent Mapping & Job Specification Development

Conducted deep market mapping to benchmark salary expectations and identify relevant talent pools.

Collaborated closely with hiring managers to refine and co-author job specifications, improving role clarity and appeal.

Accelerated Delivery of Business-Critical Talent

Delivered high-quality, pre-vetted permanent and contract hires across Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Engineering, and HR.

Placed a specialist remediation contractor quickly to address FDA compliance actions – ensuring continuity in quality systems remediation.

Consultative Support & Strategic Insight

Provided ongoing labour market intelligence, salary benchmarks, and competitor insight to inform internal decisions.

Acted as an extension of the organisation’s HR and TA teams, offering scalable and flexible support across the business.

The Results

Faster Time-to-Fill Than Industry Benchmarks

Skills Alliance consistently delivered candidates quicker than internal teams or non-specialist agencies, helping maintain business continuity across critical departments.

FDA Compliance & Risk Mitigation

The rapid placement of a remediation contractor played a key role in helping Meridian address issues outlined in the FDA warning letter, reducing operational and regulatory risk.

Support During M&A Integration

Strategic hiring of specialist contract and permanent staff during a sensitive post-acquisition phase helped drive alignment, remediate gaps, and protect business continuity.

Improved Hiring Accuracy & Employer Positioning

With access to market data, benchmarked salary bands, and stronger job specs, the diagnostic manufacuturer could competitively position roles—resulting in higher-quality hires and improved employer brand perception.

Client Testimonial

“Working with Skills Alliance has been a breath of fresh air. Their ability to grasp our hiring challenges—particularly across Quality and Regulatory during a critical remediation period—was unmatched. Not only did they deliver top-tier candidates faster than our internal teams or previous agencies, but their input on market benchmarking and salary bands helped us make more informed hiring decisions. They’ve become a true extension of our HR function—and a partner we’ll continue to rely on as we scale.”

— SVP, HR, Diagnostic Manufacturer

Partnering with a specialist life sciences recruitment agency like Skills Alliance enabled the organisation to:

• Navigate compliance challenges
• Support post-acquisition integration
• Secure top-tier talent quickly
• Salary benchmarking real cost savings of 21%
• Strengthen regulatory and operational resilience

If your organisation is facing similar challenges, from remediation hiring to rapid growth across highly regulated functions, our team at Skills Alliance can help you build a workforce that delivers measurable impact.