Case Study: RVAC Medicines | SEC Life Sciences

Launching a Boston-based R&D facility for a cutting-edge mRNA biotech.

Here’s how we strategically propelled RVAC Medicines' expansion into the US, enabling them to launch a state-of-the-art facility in Boston and set the foundations for their US operations.

Critical senior appointments

% Of vacancies filled

Days average time to hire

RVAC Medicines, an APAC-based biotech firm specializing in mRNA technology, was embarking on an exciting journey to launch a new R&D facility in Boston—a previously unknown territory to them. Facing logistical hurdles in sourcing talent from their APAC HQ and having minimal brand presence in the US, RVAC Medicines turned to us for a solution.

Problems identified

RVAC Medicines grappled with multiple challenges: they were unable to attract local candidates with the required skillset and mRNA experience; they had minimal presence in the US; and as a new firm, they were relatively unknown to the candidate market. Coupled with the logistical issues of recruiting and onboarding from their headquarters in Asia, they required support from specialists closer to their new site location.

What was at stake

The launch of their new facility was at risk—they were planning a site launch just 8 months after engaging us. Failure to deliver could impact essential research and development projects, and delay achieving the upcoming Series B funding round they had in their sights.

Strategy and approach

Understanding the project

We commenced with comprehensive discussions with RVAC, understanding their objectives, culture, and requirements for the new R&D facility, thereby tailoring our talent search and recruitment marketing strategy precisely.

Engagement strategy planning

By identifying potential talent pools and relevant industry competitors, we constructed an effective talent acquisition plan, featuring targeted headhunting and recruitment marketing campaigns, for a two-pronged approach to engaging talent.

Performing outreach

We employed innovative outreach and marketing strategies to enhance RVAC's visibility and appeal. This included engaging blog content, targeted email campaigns, and actively headhunting from our extensive network, maintaining a warm pool of prospective candidates.

Managing the process

We effectively managed the recruitment process by conducting pre-interview competency assessments, reducing the logistical burden on RVAC. This ensured that only top-quality candidates were forwarded for further consideration, providing a streamlined recruitment process.

Onboarding and implementation

Post-selection, we collaborated closely with RVAC to ensure the smooth onboarding of new hires. Providing robust support and guidance during the transition, we made sure the new recruits were well-prepared and ready to support the new facility launch.

Results

Our efficient talent acquisition strategy led to a successful launch of the new R&D facility, filling 11 out of 13 roles with an average time to hire of just 32 days. The effectiveness of our solutions and the impact they had on RVAC's business led us to be retained as their preferred staffing partner, highlighting their trust in our methods and the value we provide.

Impact

The success of the recruitment strategy didn't just stop at the statistics. This successful launch was a key element that led RVAC Medicines to secure a major Series B funding round, demonstrating investor confidence in their growth strategy and new R&D facility.

Placement details.

During the initial project we appointed 11 strategic placements ahead of the site launch. These included:

Vice President, Protein Therapeutics
Associate Director, Data Science
Associate Director, Quality and Compliance
Senior Scientist, Chemistry
Senior Scientist, Analytical Development
Senior Data Scientist, Computational Biology
Senior Research Associate, Formulation
Platform Leader, Nanoparticle Technology

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Allow us to support with your hiring requirements and grow as RVAC Medicines did. Get in touch with details about your current talent needs and let's build a winning strategy together.

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