Recruitment Consultant
| Posting date: | 20 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £30,950 to £31,950 per year |
| Additional salary information: | 5000 |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 19 February 2026 |
| Location: | London, London, EC2V 6DN |
| Company: | Hays Specialist Recruitment |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 37362_1768928194 |
Summary
Senior Recruitment Consultant - Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs (Permanent)
Location: Flagship London Cheapside Office
Specialism: Permanent recruitment within Quality Assurance (QA) and Regulatory Affairs (RA) across the UK Life Sciences sector.
About Hays Life Sciences
Hays Life Sciences specialises in placing highly skilled professionals involved in the discovery, development and commercialisation of medicines and healthcare products. We partner with Pharmaceutical, Biotech, CRO, MedTech and CDMO organisations, ranging from innovative start-ups to global enterprises.
The UK Life Sciences ecosystem continues to expand, with Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs professionals playing increasingly critical roles amid rising regulatory complexity, AI adoption, and heightened compliance expectations:
- QA vacancies in the UK are forecast to grow 11.1% in 2025, driven by increased regulatory scrutiny, digital validation, and manufacturing complexity.
- QA demand has risen 25% over the past three years, and 68% of companies report difficulty securing QA talent with expertise in digital tools, automation, and AI.
- Pharmaceuticals remain the dominant driver of QA/RA hiring, accounting for 57.6% of QA roles in 2024, with projected growth of 25.7% this year as regulatory oversight tightens across manufacturing and submissions.
- London continues to be the UK's fastest‑growing Life Sciences hiring hub, with a 29% increase in scientific vacancies and nearly 28% of all UK scientific roles.
This creates prime conditions for an experienced recruiter to build and scale a high‑performing QA/RA desk.
The Role
We're seeking a driven Senior Recruitment Consultant to join our flagship London operation and lead on permanent recruitment across Quality Assurance (GMP, GDP, GCP, Quality Systems, QP support, Validation, Supplier Quality) and Regulatory Affairs (Reg Ops, CMC, Submissions, Post‑Market/Compliance, RA Strategy).
You will play a key role in shaping and delivering our QA/RA talent offering across the UK, supporting clients navigating evolving MHRA standards, EU/UK divergence, AI & SaMD regulations, and tightening global compliance frameworks.
Key Responsibilities
As an experienced consultant, you will be expected to:
- Network extensively across QA, RA, and compliance communities to build long‑standing relationships with Life Sciences clients and candidates.
- Build and maintain a specialist QA/RA permanent talent pipeline, critical in a market experiencing significant skills shortages.
- Promote yourself as a leading recruiter in the QA/RA space and contribute to thought leadership in this technically evolving market.
- Generate and execute proactive business development strategies across Pharmaceutical, Biotech, CRO and MedTech clients.
- Source, interview, and shortlist high‑calibre QA/RA candidates across all levels.
- Manage the full end‑to‑end recruitment cycle: winning new business, negotiating terms, delivering talent solutions, closing placements, and providing exemplary aftercare.
- Achieve and exceed sales targets and KPIs through consistent, high‑quality delivery.
What You Need to Succeed
- Demonstrable success in permanent recruitment, ideally within Life Sciences, Technical, QA/RA, or highly regulated sectors.
- Strong commercial drive and resilience, thriving in a competitive, fast‑moving market.
- Consultative communication style with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
- High levels of organisation, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
- Curiosity and the ability to stay informed on evolving regulatory, compliance, and quality trends impacting talent needs.
What You'll Receive
- Uncapped commission and industry‑leading earning potential.
- A structured career progression path with a 12‑month promotion plan and salary increase.
- Support from an experienced team with 15+ years' average tenure, offering deep QA/RA market knowledge.
- Access to a global Hays network including partners in the US, Switzerland and Germany.
- World‑class training, cutting‑edge recruitment technology, and enhanced search tools.
- Referral bonuses of up to £2,000 per placement.
- Exciting incentives, rewards, and international mobility opportunities.
- Free and confidential employee mental health helpline. Us
This is an exceptional opportunity to build a market‑leading QA/RA desk at the centre of the UK's most dynamic Life Sciences hub. With demand for Quality and Regulatory professionals accelerating across the sector, your impact will be immediate and significant.
Ready to elevate your recruitment career?
Apply today and grow with Hays Life Sciences London.
At Hays, we share a passion for creating a culture where there are opportunities for our people to flourish and succeed, whatever your background. We know that diversity of perspective and an inclusive approach, which encourages those experiences and views to be heard, is great for business and therefore your career with us.