Talent Solutions

High Performance Team Build Outs

Our Talent service delivers success‑only permanent hiring for organisations building high‑performing life sciences teams. We work closely with leaders to understand not just the role, but the structure, capability and behaviours required for teams to perform and scale effectively.

Rather than transactional recruitment, this is a partnership‑led model focused on long‑term team performance. By combining market insight, functional expertise and disciplined search execution, we help leaders make confident hiring decisions that strengthen their organisations over time.

How we support leaders

  • Partnering with hiring managers to define effective team design
  • Targeted permanent search across specialist and leadership roles
  • Deep functional understanding across regulated life sciences
  • Rigorous candidate assessment and informed decision support
  • Focus on cultural alignment, performance and retention
Talk to our team
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Gene Therapy Start-Up

Partnered with a London based gene therapy organisation to design and build a global leadership function to support the commercialisation of a new asset. Delivered multiple mandates such as Senior Director of CMC, Associate Procurement Director, Senior Director of Process Development, Senior GMP Manufacturing Director, Interim Quality Director, and CMC Consultant.

Project Hiring

Delivered an outsourced hiring project for a European pharmaceutical company which resulted in filling 32 positions on a permanent basis. The roles were based across the European region and included 15 hires to establish a regional supply chain and manufacturing function.

On-demand RPO

Supported the UK growth of a European pharmaceutical organisation through the acquisition of a commercial phase combination device. The project included recruiting roles in QA, drug safety, regulatory affairs, CMC project management, medical information, and compliance.

Function-based RPO

Delivered 9 senior management hires across a European Regulatory Affairs function for a global pharmaceutical company. The hires included Senior Regulatory Affairs Director, UK Regulatory Director, Associate Regulatory Director, Eastern Europe Cluster, Principal CMC Regulatory Affairs Officer.

Speak to a specialist

Christopher Sowden

Founding Director | Talent Solutions


Christopher Sowden leads Talent Solutions at Walker Cole International.

He works directly with organisations that need to hire at pace — building critical teams across pharmaceutical manufacturing, life sciences, and consumer healthcare. Engagements typically support periods of growth, transformation, or operational change, where speed, structure, and delivery discipline matter.

Walker Cole’s Talent Solutions operate as an extension of the client business. We combine senior oversight, a collaborative delivery model, and deep sector coverage to ensure consistency, quality, and accountability throughout the hiring process — even under pressure.

If your organisation needs a practical, scalable approach to hiring in a regulated environment, start here.


Contact Details

Email: cs@walkercole.com

UK: +44 208 103 4402

US: +1 857 370 5102

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Walker Cole International 2026
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