In High Stakes Game of Life Sciences Recruiting, Executive Placement Firm Finds its Niche

Philadelphia Business Journal

By John George

With the window open for initial public stock offerings in the life sciences industry, and venture capital firms putting more money into the sector, biotech and pharmaceutical companies have stepped up their hiring.

So which jobs are most in demand? The people over at Klein Hersh International have a pretty good idea. Founded in 1998, Klein Hersh has focused on placing executives in the life sciences and health-care industries since 2001. The Willow Grove, Pa., firm, which is approaching $20 million in revenue this year, is preparing to move to a nearby 9,000-square-foot office in Horsham, Pa., in December so it can continue growing.

Klein Hersh places more than 350 executives annually at pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms around the country.

Managing partners Josh AlbertJesse Klein and Jason Hersh said three areas in the life sciences industry where they are seeing with a strong uptick in demand for talent are: data analytics and bioinformatics., health economics outcomes research, and regulatory affairs.

On the physician recruitment side, the biggest needs are in drug safety, clinical development and medical affairs.

Specific jobs that are most in demand by pharmaceutical and biotech companies, they said, are:

• Vice president of clinical development — “Companies are looking for top-level physicians, but also business leaders that have the business acumen to be able to grow clinical groups and motivate personnel,” Klein said;

• Medical director/senior medical director — “Companies are looking for physicians that bring industry experience with them, and have the hands on experience and work ethic to run and implement trials,” Klein said. “The director level physician with industry experience is probably one of the toughest roles to fill in today’s market;”

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