Specialized Talent Acquisition for CRO Growth in Metabolic Patient Site Services

We supported 57 hires over five years, driving CRO expansion, market share growth, and reputation.

The Challenge

Based in San Diego, the client is a boutique Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in metabolic patient site services. Over five years, the company expanded from a 100-person operation to a 200-person organization, including a 30-bed clinic and a wider range of CRO services. Barrington James played a pivotal role in supporting more than half of this headcount growth.

Operating in a region dominated by biotechnology rather than CROs, the client’s internal Talent Acquisition (TA) team struggled to find talent with the niche expertise required for their operations. As the company expanded its service offerings, the need for a partner capable of filling specialized roles across clinical operations, project management, and business development became critical to their continued growth and market success.

Our Approach

Barrington James began by deeply understanding the client’s mission, values, and work environment. We maintained close relationships with placed candidates to gather firsthand insights into the culture and operating dynamics of the organization.

Over the course of the partnership, Barrington James managed a variety of placements across different levels and functions, including:

• Relocating an Executive Director of Project Management from Los Angeles to lead the PMO team.
• Building out site teams under an Executive Director of Studies.
• Establishing the clinical operations function with hires such as CRAs, SPMs, and Data Management professionals.
• Delivering a mix of permanent and contract hires, including QA Managers, VPs of Medical Affairs, BD Directors, Clinical Trial Managers, and a Study Start-Up Group.

Through a collaborative approach, we worked closely with the client to streamline their recruitment process, reducing the number of recruitment agencies from 4–5 to just two, with Barrington James consistently outperforming the competition.

Results and Outcomes

• Significant Growth: Over five years, Barrington James made 57 placements across a wide range of functions, directly contributing to the client’s ability to expand their service offerings and market presence.
• Market Share Expansion: Key hires, such as a VP of Medical Affairs during 2021 and 2022, helped the client increase their market share and secure new business opportunities.
• Improved Reputation: The talent placed by Barrington James enhanced the client’s reputation in the CRO industry, positioning them as a leading provider in the US market.
• Streamlined Recruitment: By delivering talent faster and more efficiently than competing agencies, we strengthened the client’s confidence in our ability to support their growth.

The client has consistently provided positive feedback, particularly regarding Barrington James’ responsiveness, speed, and ability to adapt to feedback. They have also valued our expertise in providing market knowledge, salary benchmarking, and insights into candidate expectations.

As the client continues to diversify their CRO offerings and expand their locations, Barrington James remains a trusted recruitment partner, instrumental in driving their strategic growth and market success.