Top 18 BioTech Recruiters
Explore the most influential recruiters in the biotech field, ranked for their ability to connect elite talent with innovative companies pushing the boundaries of science and healthcare. ↓
The biotech industry is rapidly evolving, with startups and established companies alike striving to push the boundaries of innovation. Behind every successful biotech venture, there are recruiters who specialize in identifying the best talent to help drive research, development, and commercialization forward. These professionals are the unsung heroes, connecting life sciences companies with the executives, scientists, and specialists needed to build world-class teams.
Below is an updated and ranked list of 18 of the top biotech recruiters, recognized for their expertise in sourcing and placing talent in the competitive and ever-changing biotech space.
- Amber Penrose
- Adam Butler
- Andrew Davis
- Eylem Demir Senturk
- Brittany Cardinas
- Chris Gaetani
- Julian Turner
- Jackie Miller
- Molly Hills
- Karolina Jarosinska
- Monika Kozdron-Sikorska
- Oliver Drew
- Spencer Knight
- Tom Froggatt
- Mousumi Kalita
- Steve Spencer
- Jason Hersh
- Paul Pellegrino
Below we provide more detailed profiles of each recruiter.
Amber Penrose
Nationality: British
Amber Penrose leads Moxee, a recruitment firm she launched to support life science startups in fields like multi-omics, gene editing, bioinformatics and drug discovery.
With a background in executive search consulting and a degree in finance, Penrose built Moxee to offer flexible hiring solutions, from advising startups on DIY recruitment to conducting full executive searches for senior hires. She is recognized for championing early-stage biotech companies that often struggle to attract talent, and for her thought leadership on scaling startup teams.
- LinkedIn: Amber Penrose
Adam Butler
Nationality: British
Building relationships with clients and candidates is at the heart of what I do; it’s not just about filling positions—it’s about finding the right fit for long-term success.
A former clinical scientist turned recruiter, Adam Butler founded Mason Harding in 2022 after nine years at Charlton Morris.
He specializes in life sciences recruitment across genomics, diagnostics, drug discovery, and AI, helping companies from startups to multinationals fill roles from R&D to executive level. Butler has been lauded for his driven, relationship-focused approach – colleagues note he “smashed records” in previous roles and continues to excel as one of the biotech sector’s top headhunters.
- LinkedIn: Adam Butler
Andrew Davis
Nationality: British
A veteran recruiter with 16 years of experience across the UK, US, and Asia-Pacific, Andrew Davis specializes in life sciences executive search. He has a strong track record in placing leaders in pharmaceuticals, biologics, cell & gene therapy, and related sectors.
Under Davis’s leadership, Walker Cole has delivered high-profile projects (e.g. assembling an FDA steering committee for a pharma client) and even assisted in government-backed initiatives during COVID-19. He is respected for his global network and ability to fill critical executive roles, as well as providing interim solutions for rapidly scaling companies.
- LinkedIn: Andrew Davis
Eylem Demir Senturk
Nationality: Turkish
Eylem Demir Senturk is known for her mission to close the gender gap in biotech and STEM. She founded Women on Stage in 2020 in Basel to run recruitment programs that elevate women in biotech.
Senturk’s “Sponsoring Women” initiative provides coaching on resumes and LinkedIn optimization and pairs women candidates with sponsors to help them secure roles or promotions in the life sciences. Under her leadership, Women on Stage has gained attention for driving diversity in biotech hiring, challenging the “old boys’ club” culture by placing highly qualified women into influential roles.
- LinkedIn: Eylem Demir Senturk
Brittany Cardinas
Nationality: American
Brittany Cardinas is an up-and-coming biotech recruiter who has been recognized for her success in connecting talent with innovative pharma and biotech companies.
As a Senior Recruitment Consultant at Life Science People, she has placed scientists and professionals in roles spanning R&D, clinical operations, and commercial functions. Colleagues commend Cardinas’s energy and network; she was named among the top biotech recruiters to follow by industry peers. Her West Coast base and background in life sciences recruiting make her a go-to resource for biotech startups looking to scale their teams.
- LinkedIn: Brittany Cardinas
Chris Gaetani
Nationality: American
Chris Gaetani is the co-founder of BioMed Recruitment, a firm focused on staffing for biomedical and biotech companies.
With a focus on roles in biomedical research and engineering, Gaetani has built a reputation for delivering hard-to-find talent. He was listed among notable biotech recruiters by a biotech industry commentator, reflecting his growing standing in the field. Gaetani’s hands-on approach and understanding of both the technical and cultural needs in biotech hires have led to successful placements in emerging biotechs and research organizations.
- LinkedIn: Chris Gaetani
Julian Turner
Nationality: British
Julian Turner is a regulatory affairs recruitment specialist who began his headhunting career in 2005. As head of Turner Regulatory Recruitment, he has placed over 600 candidates in pharma and biotech companies worldwide.
Turner’s firm is trusted by industry leaders like BioMarin, Amgen, Roche, and CSL to fill critical regulatory affairs positions. Known for his decades of experience, Turner works closely with client leadership teams to define the ideal candidate profile and then delivers a curated slate of qualified professionals for each search.
- LinkedIn: Julian Turner
Jackie Miller
Nationality: American
Jackie Miller is a talent acquisition specialist at BroadReach Search Partners, where she manages client relationships and recruitment projects for life science companies.
Miller has been recognized for her ability to match candidates to company culture and growth stage needs. She was personally recommended as a top biotech recruiter by industry insiders. At BroadReach, she focuses on roles in biotech and pharma sales, marketing, and operations, leveraging her network to help high-growth companies build out their teams.
- LinkedIn: Jackie Miller
Molly Hills
Nationality: American
Molly Hills is a senior executive recruiter with Key Corporate Services, where she specializes in placements for pharma, biotech, and CDMO companies. With a passion for life sciences and “impact-driven work,” Hills has connected top talent with innovative organizations in the industry.
She has been acknowledged as one of the biotech recruiters to watch, thanks to her dedication to finding the right fit for both candidates and clients. Hills’s deep knowledge of the biotech talent market and personable approach make her a trusted advisor to companies seeking to scale with the right people.
- LinkedIn: Molly Hills
Karolina Jarosinska
Nationality: Polish
Karolina Jarosinska is the founder and MD of ExecMind, a boutique executive search firm specializing in biotech and medtech talent in Europe and the US. With 18+ years in recruitment, she is deeply versed in the “nitty-gritties” of the life science industry.
Jarosinska actively promotes Poland’s biopharma and medtech community on the international stage as a Life Science Cluster member in Kraków. Her reputation for understanding both scientific and executive hiring needs has made ExecMind a go-to partner for companies seeking R&D leaders and scientific experts in emerging biotech fields.
- LinkedIn: Karolina Jarosinska
- X (Twitter): @ExecMind_
Monika Kozdron-Sikorska
Nationality: Polish
Monika Kozdron-Sikorska co-leads ExecMind alongside Jarosinska, bringing over two decades of experience in specialty chemicals and life sciences recruitment.
Her expertise lies in business development and corporate management, which she leverages to bridge researchers and companies in need of niche scientific talent. Kozdron-Sikorska has been instrumental in ExecMind’s international projects, connecting high-level experts with biotech and AI-in-medtech ventures across Europe and the US. She’s respected for her strategic approach to matching candidates’ technical strengths with companies’ growth needs.
- LinkedIn: Monika Kozdron-Sikorska
Oliver Drew
Nationality: British / American
Oliver Drew co-heads the Global Executive Search division at Skills Alliance, operating from London and San Francisco. With 6+ years at Skills Alliance (and prior experience at Esaote International), Drew leads C-suite searches and refines the firm’s hiring strategy, including market mapping and candidate assessment.
He focuses on biopharma, animal health, medtech, and agtech sectors, filling roles from drug discovery and clinical research to QA, technical operations, and beyond. Colleagues credit Drew’s analytical approach and transatlantic reach for successfully placing top executives in both European and US biotech companies.
- LinkedIn: Oliver Drew
Spencer Knight
Nationality: British
Spencer Knight is a specialist recruiter in cell and gene therapy, known for his success helping early-stage biotechs (from pre-seed to Series C) build their teams. Formerly at Charlton Morris and now with CSG Talent, Knight has earned recommendations from multiple biotech companies for his deep knowledge in the cell/gene therapy field.
He not only sources talent but also mentors young job seekers through initiatives like Charlton Morris’s apprenticeship scheme to expand the life sciences talent pool. Knight’s combination of industry expertise and talent development savvy makes him a valued partner for companies racing to hire in cutting-edge therapy areas.
- LinkedIn: Spencer Knight
Tom Froggatt
Nationality: British
With nearly two decades in pharma and biotech recruitment, Tom Froggatt founded Singular in Cardiff to innovate biotech hiring strategies.
He previously specialized in placing managing directors and C-suite executives in clinical development roles and advising on recruitment strategy since 2006. Froggatt is a thought leader on improving retention: his firm begins each search with a “growth strategy session” to align on long-term fit before either taking over the hiring process or training clients to recruit more effectively. He argues that in such a specialized sector, companies need more than job ads – they need a thorough business strategy for talent to beat competitors.
- LinkedIn: Tom Froggatt
- X (Twitter): @tom_froggatt
Mousumi Kalita
Nationality: American
Mousumi Kalita leads talent resourcing at Envisage and has carved out a niche in biotech and pharmaceutical staffing. With a strong background in sourcing and candidate management, she oversees placements in drug development and technology roles.
Kalita was highlighted among top biotech recruiters on a 2023 industry list. Known for her diligent and resourceful style, she has successfully filled technical and scientific positions for both large pharma companies and growing biotechs. Her network spans internationally, making her effective at finding specialized talent across regions.
- LinkedIn: Mousumi Kalita
Steve Spencer
Nationality: American
Steve Spencer is the founder and president of Strategic Search Inc., a recruitment firm focused on biotech and high-tech sales talent. With decades of experience, Spencer has built sales teams for numerous healthcare and software companies.
He was named in a biotech professional’s top recruiters list, underscoring his influence in the industry. Spencer is known for boosting companies’ revenue by placing top-performing sales and business development professionals. His strategic insight into what makes a successful sales hire in life sciences has made him a valued partner for companies looking to accelerate commercial growth.
- LinkedIn: Steve Spencer
Jason Hersh
Nationality: American
Jason Hersh co-founded Klein Hersh in 1998 and has grown it into one of the world’s largest dedicated life sciences executive search firms. As CEO and Managing Partner, he oversees a team segmented into 15+ practice areas that cover the full drug development continuum.
Hersh has a track record of delivering visionary leaders for biotech, pharma, and healthcare clients, and under his leadership Klein Hersh has achieved record growth and even transitioned to a 100% employee-owned model. Known for a relationship-driven approach, he emphasizes deep specialization and long-term partnerships in executive recruitment. Hersh is frequently consulted for his insight into talent trends; PharmaVoice noted his role in the biotech hiring comeback post-2022.
- LinkedIn: Jason Hersh
Paul Pellegrino
Nationality: American
Paul Pellegrino is a seasoned executive recruiter who founded 3D CRO Search Group in 2008 to focus exclusively on the life science and drug development arena. A former medical sales top performer turned recruiter, he has conducted over 500 successful executive searches across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Pellegrino’s firm is a trusted partner to VC-funded biotech and CRO companies, known for delivering high-value candidates while minimizing hiring risk. Over 18+ years, he has placed dozens of senior commercial and scientific leaders, contributing to the growth of many biotech startups. His pragmatic, detail-driven approach to talent acquisition has earned him a stellar reputation in the biopharma community.
- LinkedIn: Paul Pellegrino
- X (Twitter): @3DPellegrino
Sum Up
These highly regarded recruiters have played a key role in shaping the BioTech industry by identifying top executives, driving innovation, and facilitating expansion into emerging biotech markets. However, working directly with these leaders can often be difficult, as they are in high demand and can be costly.
An effective alternative is collaborating with EchoGlobal, where our extensive industry knowledge and global network ensure we connect you with the best BioTech talent to fuel your growth.
Note: We’ve dedicated significant time and effort to creating and verifying this curated list of top professionals. However, if you believe a correction or addition is needed, feel free to reach out. We’ll gladly review and update the page.
Lou Reverchuk