Senior Recruitment Consultant - Life Sciences (Manufacturing & Engineering)

Location: Cork, Galway or Dublin, Ireland
Specialism: Life Sciences Manufacturing & Engineering - Contract Recruitment

About Hays Life Sciences

Hays Life Sciences specialises in recruiting professionals across the full lifecycle of Medicines and Healthcare products-from discovery through development, scale-up, and commercial manufacturing. In Ireland, we partner with leading Pharmaceutical, Biopharma, MedTech, and CRO organisations, including start-ups, scaling local companies, and global multinationals.

Ireland continues to be recognised as a global hub for Life Sciences, with sustained investment in manufacturing, biologics, engineering, and advanced production technologies. Recent expansion projects across Cork, Dublin, Limerick and Galway underscore the continued strength and resilience of the sector.

• Ireland's Life Sciences sector saw steady growth through 2025, driven by manufacturing expansions and new facility builds across Pharma, MedTech and Biotech.
• Demand for Fill-Finish, Aseptic Manufacturing, Process Engineering, Project Engineering, Automation & MES continues to grow, fuelled by capacity expansion, regulatory pressures and digital transformation (Pharma 4.0) across Irish sites.
• The Irish MedTech sector alone is projected to reach $1.50 billion in 2025, with an annual growth rate of 4.08% through 2029. Major investments, such as GE Healthcare's 132m expansion in Cork, highlight continued manufacturing growth and job creation.
• Major Pharma/MedTech investments in 2024-2025 include 100m expansions by APC/VLE in Dublin, $400m by BMS in Dublin, and multiple engineering-led scale-ups in biologics manufacturing nationwide.

Against this backdrop of growth, Ireland faces a persistent talent shortage, particularly in manufacturing engineering, CQV, validation, bioprocessing, and automation-driving high contractor demand nationally.

The Role

We are seeking a driven Senior Recruitment Consultant (or future leader) to strengthen our high-performing Ireland Life Sciences team. This role specifically focuses on contract recruitment of Manufacturing & Engineering professionals supporting Pharma, Biopharma and MedTech projects.

With established strategic relationships, strong job flow, and robust market demand, this is an ideal opportunity to build and scale a high-impact desk in one of Ireland's fastest-growing specialisms.

As an experienced consultant, you will:

• Build and expand relationships across Ireland's Life Sciences Manufacturing ecosystem-including Engineering, Operations, Process Development, CQV, and Bioprocess verticals.
• Develop and maintain a high-quality contractor talent community in response to critical skills shortages (e.g., QA, Validation, Automation, Bioprocess Engineering).
• Promote your personal brand as a market expert in Life Sciences Manufacturing recruitment.
• Identify, generate, and convert new business opportunities within established and emerging client accounts.
• Source, interview, and present skilled engineering and manufacturing contractors aligned to client needs.
• Manage the full recruitment lifecycle: business development, negotiation, talent delivery, contractor onboarding, retention, and client aftercare.
• Consistently deliver excellent service while achieving and exceeding KPIs and revenue targets.

To Be Successful, You Will Need:

• A strong track record of successful recruitment billings, ideally within Life Sciences, Engineering, Technical, or Contract recruitment.
• A driven, self-motivated mindset with a passion for building relationships in a high-growth technical market.
• An inquisitive and consultative style to influence clients and advise on market conditions.
• Resilience, commercial confidence, and the ability to differentiate yourself in a competitive talent market.
• Outstanding communication skills and an ethical, organised approach to recruitment.

You Will Also Receive:

• Uncapped commission and competitive earning potential.
• A structured development pathway, including a 12-month promotion plan.
• Access to a deep international network, including colleagues in the US, Switzerland, and Germany.
• An established client base across Ireland's major Pharma, Biopharma, and MedTech manufacturers.
• Strategic leadership support and career-accelerating opportunities.
• World-class training and best-in-market recruitment tools and technology.
• Referral bonuses up to £2,000.
• Incentives, rewards, and future international mobility opportunities.
• Access to a free mental health helpline.

Why Join Now?

Between active expansions, greenfield/brownfield projects, rising biologics production, and increasingly complex regulatory environments, the demand for Irish Life Sciences Manufacturing & Engineering talent is at an all-time high. Skills shortages-reported by 63% of MedTech organisations-mean contract recruitment is more essential than ever.

This role places you at the centre of a booming market with unparalleled opportunities for career progression, revenue growth, and strategic impact.

Ready to accelerate your recruitment career? Apply today and grow with Hays Life Sciences Ireland.

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.