Medical affairs recruiting at Biomind Talent connects biotech and pharmaceutical companies with specialized field medical, medical information and medical leadership talent. Specifically, we recruit across Immunology & Inflammation (including Fibrosis), Immuno-Oncology, Cell Therapy (CAR-T/TCR) and Rare Disease, for clients nationwide. Our medical affairs recruiters also work as specialist MSL recruiters for field medical teams.
Medical Affairs Recruiting Roles We Cover
Medical affairs teams connect the science behind a therapy with the people who use it. As a result, we recruit across the function, from individual contributors to leaders. The Medical Affairs Professional Society offers more background on the field.
Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs)
Field-based scientific experts who build relationships with the medical community. We also recruit MSLs for launch and pre-launch teams.
Medical Information
Specialists who answer scientific questions about a therapy. Likewise, we recruit medical information scientists and leaders.
Medical Publications
Professionals who plan and manage scientific publications and data communication.
Medical Directors
Physician and scientific leaders who guide medical strategy for a program or therapeutic area.
HEOR
Health economics and outcomes research talent who support evidence generation.
Field Medical and Medical Affairs Leadership
Heads of field medical, regional leaders and senior medical affairs executives, through executive and retained search.
MSL Recruiters for Medical Science Liaison Teams
As MSL recruiters, we search for Medical Science Liaisons, MSL managers, regional field medical leads and heads of field medical. A Medical Science Liaison recruiter needs to judge both the science and the way a candidate communicates it, so we screen through conversation as well as a review of experience.
When we recruit MSLs, we look at:
- Scientific depth in your therapeutic area
- How clearly a candidate explains complex data to physicians and experts
- Field medical experience that fits your team’s stage, from pre-launch to a growing portfolio
- Fit with the territory and the way your field team works
- For managers and leaders, experience building and coaching MSL teams
For senior field medical and medical affairs leadership, see our pharma and biotech executive search. Hiring in oncology or rare disease? See immuno-oncology recruiting and rare disease recruiting.
Why Medical Affairs Recruiting Is Different
Medical affairs candidates need scientific depth, strong communication and an understanding of how a therapy fits into its field. However, a resume does not always show those qualities. For that reason, screening takes conversation as well as a review of experience.
Therapeutic area knowledge also matters. A candidate who understands your science can speak credibly with the physicians and experts your team works with. We build each search around that fit, not just a job title.
Team stage matters too. For example, a pre-launch company often hires a small group of MSLs and a leader first. In contrast, a company with a growing portfolio may add regional teams and specialists over time. Because of that, we shape the search to where your team is today.
Medical Affairs Recruiting by Therapeutic Area
We focus on four therapeutic areas, and medical affairs hiring also runs through all of them. Our pharmaceutical recruiting focus includes:
- Immunology & Inflammation, including Fibrosis
- Immuno-Oncology
- Cell Therapy (CAR-T/TCR)
- Rare Disease
We also support teams working in various modalities across these areas. In each one, we look for candidates whose experience matches the science your team communicates.
How Our Medical Affairs Recruiting Process Works
Every search follows a custom, integrated plan. For leadership roles, we also conduct executive and retained search.
Pipelining
First, we map the medical affairs talent landscape for your therapeutic area.
Sourcing
Next, we reach specialized candidates, including people who are not actively looking.
Screening
Then we assess scientific fit, communication and career goals before introductions.
Interviewing
Finally, we coordinate interviews and gather feedback for your team.
Working Together on a Search
We start with a conversation about the role, the therapeutic area and your timeline. From there, we agree on a plan that fits your team, including who needs to be involved in interviews. Throughout the search, we keep you informed so you can adjust the profile as you learn.
You can reach us by email at connect@biomindtalent.com or by phone at (484) 883-6300. Our contact page also explains what to include in your first message.
Medical Affairs Recruiting for Startups and Big Pharma
A startup hiring its first MSL needs different support than a large company expanding a field team. Still, we adapt to both. For emerging biotech, we can also help build the talent acquisition function behind the hiring. See our talent acquisition consulting for details.
Big pharma teams can use us for flexible support that plugs into an existing process, so current workflows stay in place.
Medical Affairs Recruiting FAQ
What is medical affairs recruiting?
Medical affairs recruiting is the search for professionals who connect a company’s science with the medical community. Specifically, roles include MSLs, medical information, medical publications, medical directors and leadership.
Are you MSL recruiters?
Yes. Medical Science Liaisons are a core part of our work. We recruit MSLs, MSL managers and field medical leaders across our four therapeutic area focus areas.
What do medical affairs recruiters do?
Medical affairs recruiters find, engage and screen candidates for medical affairs teams, such as MSLs, medical information, medical publications and medical directors. Biomind Talent’s medical affairs recruiters focus on biotech and pharma, for clients nationwide.
How does a Medical Science Liaison recruiter assess candidates?
Through conversation as well as a review of experience. We look at scientific depth in your therapeutic area, how clearly a candidate communicates complex data, and field medical experience that fits your team’s stage.
Can you search for Head of Medical Affairs roles?
Yes. We conduct executive and retained searches for medical affairs leadership, for clients nationwide.
How do you hire an MSL?
Start by defining the therapeutic area, the territory and the stage of your field team, from pre-launch to a growing portfolio. Then assess scientific depth, how clearly each candidate explains complex data to physicians and experts, and field medical experience that fits your team. Strong MSL candidates are often not looking, so a specialist MSL recruiter maps and approaches them directly. Biomind Talent runs each MSL search on a custom plan covering pipelining, sourcing, screening and interviewing.
How do I choose a medical affairs recruiting firm?
Look for recruiters who know medical affairs roles and your therapeutic area, can explain how they assess candidates, and will build the search around your team. Our guide on how to choose pharma recruiters has a checklist, questions to ask and red flags.
Related guides: how to choose pharma recruiters and working with a pharma or biotech headhunter.
Tell Us About Your Medical Affairs Search
Share the role, the therapeutic area and your timeline. We will follow up by email or phone to talk through the search.
Hiring in Medical Affairs?
Share the role, the therapeutic area and your timeline.