Case Study: Delivering Against The Odds

Fraser Dove International partnered with an innovative pharmaceutical organisation specialising in ophthalmic therapies. Operating worldwide, they are committed to becoming the world’s leading pharmaceutical organisation.

Our client was developing a brand new medical device function. They had never attempted anything like this before, and so were urgently seeking a Quality Assurance Manager of Medical Devices to oversee a high standard of production. This independent leader would be responsible for improving the Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring its compliance with industry regulations and seeing all products through to commercialisation.

Despite our client’s efforts, this business-critical position had stood vacant for months, which was impacting business. Due to the stand-alone nature of the role, along with the vision and strategic mind required to conduct the role, our client was having difficulty identifying a suitable candidate.

Solution: Primary Search

Our Primary Search solution is an exclusive retained search for specialist and niche senior hires. It combines traditional executive search techniques – headhunting, networking and talent mapping – with next-generation search tools, targeted advertising campaigns and expertise in social media networking to supplement our extensive network of Quality & Regulatory Affairs talent.

Our executive search and recruitment workflow consist of three distinct phases:

Discovery Briefing:

Before we undertake a search, we need a comprehensive understanding of our client’s needs. Why are they hiring? What does success look like on search completion, and three, six and twelve months after their new hire is in post? What is their vision, mission, values? The discovery briefing ensures we have established the candidate persona(s) and fully understand our client’s employee value proposition (EVP), allowing us to take their employer brand to market.

The Search Matrix – a document outlining the skills, experience and competencies desired – is used in conjunction with the job description to qualify candidates for technical and cultural fit. 

The requirements for the Quality Assurance Manager of Medical Devices:

• Previous experience within Medical Devices and Quality Assurance.
• Ability to balance speed of execution whilst maintaining high standards.
• Hands-on individual who enjoys challenges and has the ability to work independently.

Talent Mapping:

Fraser Dove’s in-house research function engaged in a talent mapping exercise to develop a robust talent pool of life science professionals with experience building out a Medical Device function from a Quality Assurance standpoint. Talent mapping reduces lead times, providing an initial ‘focus’ for the search while ensuring its geographic scope is sufficient to headhunt high-impact talent. During this process, we engage prospective talent, gauging their appetite for the opportunity without the risk of revealing our client’s identity.

Qualify & Influence:

The Assignment Lead – Jason Cachia – conducted competency and technical based qualification assessments to match candidates against the criteria outlined in the Search Matrix. In total, Jason delivered twelve talented candidates out of a target of seven.

During the search, Jason encountered complications; namely, the original hiring manager left her position. Her replacement, based in a different country, felt obligated to re-interview all candidates from the shortlist. The candidate who was offered the role came from a consulting background, meaning she was able to work independently and also had previous experience executing strategies in Medical Device functions.

Jason managed the entire candidate’s journey on behalf of the client, from scheduling interviews to offer negotiation. 

Outcome:

Each candidate considered was either on the cusp of being over budget, or just within budget, but Jason managed to negotiate a fair offer so that both client and candidate were delighted. The successful candidate was persuaded to hand in her notice early, making up for the time lost when the original hiring manager vacated her position.