The Top 5 Challenges in Hiring for Advanced Therapeutics - How We Can Help You Solve Them

The Top 5 Challenges in Hiring for Advanced Therapeutics -  We Can Help You Solve Them 

The Talent Strain Behind the Science

Advanced therapeutics are changing the face of medicine. From gene and cell therapies to mRNA platforms and CRISPR-based interventions, advanced therapeutics are changing how we treat disease at a molecular level. A new era of personalised, precision medicine is being ushered in. However, we must recognise that behind every clinical breakthrough there comes a workforce challenge. As science accelerates, hiring must keep up.

If you're scaling a biotech startup or expanding a global R&D footprint, building the right team in this highly specialised space is critical to your mission.

Here are the top five hiring challenges that we’re seeing in advanced therapeutics - and how biotech and pharmaceutical organisations can solve them.

 

1. Talent Scarcity in Hyper-Niche Skill Sets

The challenge: CAR-T, AAV vector design, GMP cell manufacturing, regulatory CMC for gene therapies - these roles demand ultra-specialised expertise. The global talent pool is small - and fiercely competitive.

The solution:

• Proactive pipelining: Don’t wait for roles to open. At HRS we build relationships with niche candidates’ months in advance. Our experts continuously nurture these relationships – we bridge the gap between you and your hire.  
• Global search mindset: Look beyond your local market. Many experts are open to relocation or hybrid roles if the project is compelling enough. Our expertise at HRS reaches beyond the UK borders, we place candidates in roles in Europe and Northern America too. 
• Employer branding: Sell the mission, not just the job. Top talent chooses purpose-driven work, passion is often more compelling than a job title.

2. Compensation Misalignment in Emerging Fields

The challenge: Companies sometimes underestimate the salary expectations for professionals in novel modalities, particularly when moving from big pharma to biotech or between regions.

The solution:

• Data-driven benchmarking: Use real-time compensation analytics tailored to therapeutic verticals.
• Flexible structuring: Consider sign-ons, equity, retention bonuses, or non-monetary incentives like flexible research environments.
• Transparent communication: Be clear about long-term value - especially for roles tied to drug commercialization timelines. Our experts will help you to communicate this.

3. Limited Leadership Experience in Rapidly Evolving Modalities

The challenge: There’s a lack of seasoned executives who have taken advanced therapies from bench to market. Many platforms are first-in-class, and few leaders have done this before.

The solution:

• Creative credentialing: Look for adjacent experience - leaders in mAbs or RNA biology may adapt quickly with the right support.
• Advisory boards: Build scientific or operational advisory teams to augment gaps at the C-level.
• Invest in coaching: Even high-potential hires benefit from structured leadership development in frontier science.

4. Regulatory & Manufacturing Complexity

The challenge: Cell and gene therapies often require bespoke regulatory strategies and manufacturing scale-ups that challenge traditional SOPs. Hiring for these phases is exceptionally nuanced.

The solution:

• Specialist recruiters: Partner with firms who understand GxP, CMC, IND/CTA filings, and late-stage scale. That's us.
• Phase-appropriate hiring: Align talent with development stage - avoid over-hiring too early or under-hiring too late.
• Cross-functional alignment: Recruit professionals who can bridge regulatory, clinical, and ops teams in high-complexity settings.

5. Geographic & Operational Constraints

The challenge: Manufacturing facilities and R&D hubs for advanced therapies are often in specific geographies with limited local talent. Hybrid isn’t always an option.

The solution:

• Talent mobility strategies: Support relocation, visas, and site-based rotations.
• Decentralized team models: Where possible, split functions e.g., bioinformatics remote, bench work in-house.
• Workforce planning: Invest in strategic location mapping to understand where future hubs should be built for sustainable access to expertise.

The Bottom Line: Science Moves Fast - So Must Your Talent Strategy

Advanced therapeutics are rewriting what's possible in medicine. But they’re also rewriting the rules of workforce planning. In this space, hiring isn’t transactional. It has to be strategic.

At HRS, we specialise in connecting breakthrough science with the people who bring it to life. If you're scaling in cell, gene, RNA, or other frontier platforms - we're already recruiting ahead of you. Use our expertise to get you where you need to be.

Let’s build the team that brings your therapy to patients, together.