Talent Attraction Specialist – R&D
Location: London (Hybrid working)
Duration: 6 months
Hours: 35 hours per week
The candidate is responsible for shaping and executing the talent attraction and sourcing strategy across Research & Development. This role plays a critical part in identifying, engaging, and building diverse talent pipelines for future scientific, clinical, digital, data, and innovation-focused hiring needs across the R&D organization.
You will partner closely with Recruitment Business Partners, hiring leaders, and workforce planning stakeholders to deliver proactive, market-informed sourcing strategies that enable us to attract world-class talent across Drug Discovery, Development, Biomedical Research, Clinical Development,
Key Responsibilities
- Build a high-quality, agile and business-aligned sourcing strategy
- Develop and execute targeted sourcing strategies aligned to the priorities and workforce plans of R&D business units
- Maintain close alignment with scientific and technical hiring needs across R&D functions
- Translate workforce planning priorities into proactive talent attraction campaigns, talent pools, and succession pipelines
- Anticipate evolving capability requirements and future talent demands across key R&D disciplines
Strategic Sourcing Excellence
- Align sourcing priorities and delivery approaches with R&D workforce plans and business objectives
- Use data, market intelligence, and talent insights to identify critical talent segments and sourcing priorities
- Build and maintain deep pipelines of external talent across scientific, clinical, digital, data, AI, and innovation-related disciplines
- Deliver high-quality longlists and shortlists through direct sourcing, market mapping, talent engagement, and networking activities.
- Drive a data-led approach to sourcing prioritisation, pipeline management, and talent attraction effectiveness
- Leverage talent intelligence platforms, AI-enabled sourcing tools, competitor analysis, and labor market insights to optimise hiring outcomes
- Monitor and report on sourcing performance, pipeline quality, diversity outcomes, and market trends
Experience Requirements
- 5+ years of experience in Talent Acquisition, Executive Search, Talent Attraction, or Strategic Sourcing, preferably within life sciences, biotechnology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, or other highly specialised industries
- Demonstrated success building proactive pipelines for scientific, clinical, technical, digital, or business-critical roles
- Experience conducting market mapping and talent landscape analysis
- Strong capability in using data and talent insights to influence sourcing strategies and hiring outcomes
- Experience partnering with senior stakeholders and navigating complex, matrixed organisations
- Familiarity with AI-enabled sourcing tools, CRM platforms, talent intelligence solutions, and advanced search methodologies