What Scientific Search does

Scientific Search is a privately held, US-based executive search and staffing firm founded in 1983 and headquartered in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The company provides specialized recruiting services across nine industry verticals: pharmaceutical, biotechnology, clinical research, cell & gene therapy, MedTech/medical device, engineering & manufacturing, information technology, pharmaceutical market research, non-profit research foundations, and CPG/food & beverage. Its client base consists primarily of enterprise buyers in the United States, with named engagements across global pharmaceutical manufacturers, biotech companies, API manufacturers, medical device firms, and equipment manufacturers.

The firm generates revenue through four engagement models: contingency/success-based direct hire (fees set as a percentage of placed candidate's annual salary, with a one-year clawback), retained search (for senior-level confidential roles with upfront commitment and agreed timelines), contract staffing (bill rates based on individual pay rates plus payroll taxes, workers' compensation, and limited benefits), and contract-to-direct conversion (with conversion fees decreasing as the contract period lengthens). Direct-hire placements carry a 90-day guarantee. Underlying technology is limited to internal candidate databases, applicant tracking systems, and standard recruitment workflow tools — no proprietary platforms, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Scientific Search employs approximately 17 team members organized by vertical specialty, including a CEO, President, VP/CFO, VP of Life Sciences Recruiting, Senior Director of Recruiting, Directors of Clinical/Pharmaceutical and Engineering recruiting, and dedicated managers per industry. The go-to-market motion is sales-led and relationship-based, combining direct engagement with hiring managers, inside sales via phone (856-395-0100) and website job order forms, and consultative recruiting processes. The company is founder/management-owned with no disclosed external funding, no subsidiaries, and no parent organization.

Name

Scientific Search

Legal name

Scientific Search

Website

https://scientificsearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Scientific Search is a Cherry Hill, NJ-based executive search and staffing firm founded in 1983, providing specialized recruiting across life sciences, MedTech, engineering, IT, and CPG verticals for enterprise clients throughout the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search & Staffing Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Life Sciences Leadership Search (BPACAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB), Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Pharmaceutical recruiting
• Life sciences staffing
• Technical contract staffing
• Retained search firm

Headquarters

HQ city

Cherry Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Direct Hire Placement Fees: Placement fees for Success Based Recruiting (aka Contingency Hire) are employer paid and set at a percentage of the candidate's annual salary. Fee is earned only when the candidate begins employment. If the candidate is hired directly or indirectly within one year of referral, the fee is owed.
2. Contract Staffing Bill Rates: Placement bill rates quoted based on individual pay rates, plus all applicable federal, state, and local payroll taxes, disability and unemployment taxes, worker compensation coverage and other charges including limited employee benefits.
3. Retained Search: Retained search provides exclusive access to top talent for critically important senior-level positions. Both parties have a vested financial interest with upfront agreed timelines.
4. Contract-to-Direct Staffing: Preview candidates on a trial basis while they remain on Scientific Search payroll. Conversion fees for contract-to-direct are lower than direct hire fees and decrease with length of contract employment period.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Scientific Search is a specialized executive search and staffing firm that recruits scientific, technical, and leadership professionals for employers across pharmaceutical, biotechnology, clinical research, MedTech, engineering, IT, and food & beverage industries. The firm delivers direct hire, contract staffing, temp-to-direct, and retained search engagements using an internal database of candidates and industry-specialized recruiters. Its offerings are organized by industry vertical and supported by a 90-day direct hire placement guarantee.

Product overview

Scientific Search is a recruiting and staffing firm offering executive search and talent acquisition services across multiple industry verticals. The company operates primarily through two delivery models: Retained Search (for senior-level, confidential, or competitive leadership roles) and Success-Based/Contingency Recruiting (for standard placement needs). Their service portfolio is organized by industry vertical, including Life Sciences Recruiting (encompassing Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Clinical Research, and Cell & Gene Therapy), MedTech & Medical Device Staffing, Engineering & Manufacturing Recruiting, Information Technology Recruiting, Pharma Market Research Recruiting, Non-Profit Research Foundation Recruiting, and CPG/Food & Beverage Recruiting. Additional offerings include Contract Staffing and Temp-to-Direct placement options for flexible workforce needs, along with Contractor Management Services supporting payroll, benefits, and compliance for placed contract workers, and Job Seeker Services providing resume submission and interview preparation support. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, the company has over 40 years of experience matching technical and executive professionals with employers throughout the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search Services Full-service recruiting and staffing solutions including retained search, contingency (success-based) search, and priority search for executive, technical, and management-level positions across multiple industry verticals. For employers seeking senior or specialized talent.
• Pharmaceutical Recruiting & Staffing Placement services for pharmaceutical organizations covering technical, management, and executive positions from pre-clinical research through commercialization and manufacturing support. For pharma employers and candidates.
• Biotech Recruiting & Staffing Recruitment services for biotech organizations at every stage from early startups to global enterprises, supporting clinical research, regulatory affairs, drug safety, medical affairs, and commercial operations. For biotech employers.
• Clinical Research Recruiting & Staffing Staffing solutions for clinical trial professionals including clinical research associates, clinical project managers, biostatisticians, regulatory affairs specialists, data managers, medical directors, and executive leadership. For CROs and clinical research employers.
• Cell & Gene Therapy Recruiting Executive search services for cell and gene therapy positions, connecting organizations with process development scientists, manufacturing specialists, quality professionals, and regulatory experts. For cell & gene therapy employers.
• Pharma Market Research Recruiting Recruitment for market research professionals including Market Research Managers, Customer Insights Managers, Competitive Intelligence Analysts, Forecasting Managers, and Commercial Analytics professionals. For market research employers.
• Non-Profit Research Foundation Recruiting Executive search services for non-profit research foundations, placing leadership in development, philanthropy, research, operations, and program management roles. For non-profit research employers.
• MedTech & Medical Device Staffing Recruitment services for medical technology companies spanning product development, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, clinical operations, and commercialization across medical devices, IVD, diagnostics, and digital health. For MedTech employers.
• Medical Device Executive Search Specialized executive search for medical device and diagnostics companies, placing regulatory strategists, product development leaders, and market access experts. For medical device employers.
• Engineering & Manufacturing Recruiting Staffing for engineering roles across mechanical, electrical, process, and manufacturing disciplines serving manufacturing, automation, packaging, food processing, medical device, and industrial sectors. For engineering employers.
• Information Technology Recruiting IT staffing and executive search for software engineers, design engineers, ERP specialists, database administrators, systems architects, CIOs, and CTOs at management and executive levels. For IT employers.
• CPG, Food & Beverage Recruiting Recruitment for consumer packaged goods and food & beverage companies covering operations, engineering, marketing, quality, R&D, supply chain, and sales roles. For CPG and food & beverage employers.
• Contract & Direct Staffing Options Flexible staffing arrangements including contract staffing, direct hire placement, temp-to-direct conversion, and consulting services for specialized project needs. For employers needing flexible workforce solutions.
• Retained Search Priority/retained search process for senior-level and leadership roles requiring high confidentiality or competitive positioning, with upfront timelines and financial commitment from both parties. For employers seeking executive leadership.
• Contractor Management Services Employer services for contract workers including payroll processing, timesheet management, benefits administration, harassment policy, and safety compliance support. For employers and contract workers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Within 5 business days of starting a new search, Scientific Search has spoken with over 70% of client's targeted high performers and presented the 5 best transformational leaders.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Real Staffing (Real Life Sciences): Real Staffing is a global specialist recruiter focused on life sciences, pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device placements — directly comparable to Scientific Search's life sciences verticals, with a similar mix of contract and direct hire services.
• Medix: Medix is a national staffing firm with a strong life sciences, biotech, and pharmaceutical recruiting practice, serving enterprise clients with direct hire, contract, and temp-to-perm models — closely aligned with Scientific Search's engagement models.
• Clinical Professionals: Clinical Professionals is a specialist staffing firm focused exclusively on pharmaceutical, biotech, and clinical research placements — a direct peer to Scientific Search's Clinical Research and Pharmaceutical verticals.
• Sterling Pharma Solutions (Recruiting): Sterling Pharma Solutions is a CDMO that also operates talent solutions within pharmaceutical services; comparable in vertical expertise to Scientific Search's pharmaceutical and API manufacturer clients.
• Paramount Recruitment: Paramount Recruitment is a specialist recruiter for pharmaceutical, biotech, clinical research, and medical device professionals — a direct peer with overlapping vertical specialization and similar executive search and contract staffing offerings.

Broad incumbents

• HAYS Life Sciences: HAYS is a global staffing firm with a dedicated Life Sciences practice covering pharma, biotech, medical device, and clinical research — competing with Scientific Search in the same verticals but with broader geographic reach and larger scale.
• Kforce Scientific Staffing: Kforce operates a Scientific Staffing division placing professionals in pharma, biotech, clinical research, and engineering — overlapping with Scientific Search's life sciences and engineering verticals but at significantly larger scale.
• Insight Global: Insight Global is a large national staffing firm placing talent across IT, engineering, healthcare, and life sciences — a broader incumbent that competes with Scientific Search on contract and direct hire mandates in engineering and IT.
• Aerotek: Aerotek (an Allegis Group company) is a major staffing firm with a Life Sciences practice, placing professionals in pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotech roles — competing with Scientific Search across its primary verticals at a much larger scale.
• Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm with a Life Sciences executive search practice and RPO services — competing with Scientific Search's retained search offerings for senior life sciences leadership mandates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scientificsch
• Facebookfacebook.com/scientific-search-428429860501738
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scientific-search

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Scientific Search