RFT Group
RFT Group is a Dublin-based Irish recruitment agency founded in 1997 that exclusively places scientists, engineers, and executives into pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and medical device companies across Ireland, Europe, and Rest of World.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What RFT Group does
RFT Group is an Irish recruitment agency founded in 1997 by Gerry Kennedy, operating from a single headquarters at Maple House, Leopardstown, Dublin 18. The firm specializes exclusively in placing scientists, engineers, and executives into permanent, contract, and temporary roles within the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and medical device sectors, serving clients across Ireland, Europe, and the Rest of World. It functions as a Preferred Supplier to leading multinational pharmaceutical companies and operates across eleven functional disciplines including Clinical Research, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Innovation Research Commercialisation, Product Development/Clinical, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, HR, and Sales & Marketing.
The business operates a pure professional services model with no proprietary technology product, software platform, or SaaS offering. Revenue is generated through placement fees charged on successful candidate introductions, with pricing negotiated on a per-placement basis and not publicly disclosed. The firm's value proposition rests on deep vertical specialization, an "unrivalled track record" built over 27+ years, and Preferred Supplier relationships with leading life sciences employers in Ireland. Its competitive advantage is reinforced by founder Gerry Kennedy's prior industry tenure at DuPont Merck Pharma and ongoing lead sponsorship of BioConnect Ireland, which anchors the firm within the Irish life sciences ecosystem.
The team is small — approximately five members including the founder-director, an account manager, and three recruitment consultants, two of whom share the Kennedy surname indicating family involvement in ownership and operations. The company is privately held with no disclosed external investment, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. Distribution is direct-to-employer via the consultant team, supported by a Volcanic-hosted website job board, LinkedIn presence, email job alerts, and industry event participation.
RFT Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RFT Group
- Legal name
- The RFT Group
- Website
- https://rftgroup.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- RFT Group is a Dublin-based Irish recruitment agency founded in 1997 that exclusively places scientists, engineers, and executives into pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and medical device companies across Ireland, Europe, and Rest of World.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RFT Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pharmaceutical Recruitment Services
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Professional & Technical Direct Hire (IT, Engineering, Finance, Healthcare) (BPACAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Manufacturing, MSAT & Operations Staffing (API/Biologics/Cell & Gene) (HLAGAOAL)
Keywords
Where RFT Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
RFT Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Recruitment and Executive Search Services: The RFT Group generates revenue by placing scientists, engineers, and executives into permanent, contract, and temporary positions within pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, medical device, and related sectors. They act as a preferred supplier to leading companies and charge fees for successful candidate placements.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
RFT Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The RFT Group is an Irish recruitment agency that places scientists, engineers, and executives into permanent, contract, and temporary roles within pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and medical device companies across Ireland, Europe, and Rest of World. Operating as a Preferred Supplier to leading multinational employers, it recruits across disciplines including Clinical Research, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Innovation Research Commercial, Product Development/Clinical, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, HR, Finance, and Sales & Marketing.
Product overview
RFT Group is a recruitment services company, not a technology product company. It provides specialized recruitment services for the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and medical device sectors across Ireland. The company offers job placement services for candidates in various disciplines including Clinical Research, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, HR, and Finance. RFT Group does not offer a software product, platform, or SaaS solution - it is a traditional recruitment agency operating through its website as a job board and candidate management system.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Permanent, Contract and Temporary Recruitment Services
- Executive Search and Senior Management Appointments
- Preferred Supplier Recruitment Services for Life Sciences
Companies that use RFT Group
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
RFT Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
RFT Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- BioConnect IrelandminorThe RFT Group has been a lead sponsor of BioConnect Ireland in recent years. BioConnect Ireland is a networking organization focused on the life sciences sector in Ireland.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
RFT Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sigmar Recruitment: Irish recruitment firm with dedicated life sciences and engineering practices, serving pharma and med device employers in Ireland — directly competes for the same mandates.
- HERO Recruitment: Irish-headquartered specialist recruiter focused on pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology sectors — closely comparable niche, geography and client base to RFT Group.
- Cpl: One of Ireland's largest recruitment firms with a strong life sciences vertical serving multinational pharma and med device clients — overlapping target market and service lines with RFT.
- Morgan McKinley: Ireland- and UK-focused professional services recruiter with life sciences and engineering exposure — comparable geography and overlap in technical/professional permanent placements.
- Proclinical: Global life sciences recruitment specialist placing scientific, clinical and manufacturing professionals — directly comparable candidate pool and pharma/biopharma focus.
- Real Staffing (SThree): Global life sciences recruiter (part of SThree) placing professionals across pharma, biotech and medical device — comparable niche and customer base, with deeper geographic reach.
- Hobson Prior: Life sciences specialist recruiter placing candidates across drug development, clinical and manufacturing functions — directly comparable service offering to RFT's discipline coverage.
- Skills Alliance: Specialist life sciences and engineering recruitment firm serving pharma and biotech employers across Europe — comparable focus on technical and scientific placements.
Broad incumbents
- Michael Page Life Sciences: Global professional recruiter (PageGroup) with a dedicated Life Sciences vertical — overlaps with RFT on mid-to-senior scientific, engineering and manufacturing placements in pharma and med device.
- Hays Life Sciences: Global recruiter with a dedicated Life Sciences practice — broader portfolio but overlapping capability in placing pharma, biotech and med device professionals across permanent and contract roles.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RFT Group social profiles
Digital presenceRFT Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RFT Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
RFT Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RFT Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RFT Group
What does RFT Group do?
The RFT Group is an Irish recruitment agency that places scientists, engineers, and executives into permanent, contract, and temporary roles within pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and medical device companies across Ireland, Europe, and Rest of World. Operating as a Preferred Supplier to leading multinational employers, it recruits across disciplines including Clinical Research, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Innovation Research Commercial, Product Development/Clinical, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, HR, Finance, and Sales & Marketing.
Is RFT Group a public or private company?
RFT Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was RFT Group founded?
RFT Group was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is RFT Group based?
RFT Group is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does RFT Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: recruitment and Executive Search Services.
Who are RFT Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sigmar Recruitment, HERO Recruitment, Cpl, Morgan McKinley, Proclinical, Real Staffing (SThree), Hobson Prior and Skills Alliance. Broad incumbents are Michael Page Life Sciences and Hays Life Sciences.
Does RFT Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for RFT Group.
What industry is RFT Group in?
RFT Group's product category is Pharmaceutical Recruitment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAFAC, Professional & Technical Direct Hire (IT, Engineering, Finance, Healthcare), with a secondary code of HLAGAOAL, Manufacturing, MSAT & Operations Staffing (API/Biologics/Cell & Gene). Its SIC code is 7361.