Functional Service Partner model for flexible clinical research staffing in a leading US university
A prestigious private research university, internationally recognised for its pioneering work in life sciences, needed access to specialised expertise and flexible support to manage variable project demands within its clinical research programmes.
Key statistics
- 115 candidates identified
- 70 candidates submitted for interviews
- 50% placement success rate, resulting in 35 confirmed hires
- 19 departments supported
- 33+ consultants currently engaged
The challenge
The institution faced difficulties in securing specialised talent, particularly for projects with variable timing and duration. Maintaining consistent project delivery while navigating employment and utilisation risks was essential for ensuring research continuity.
The organisation required skilled professionals across various critical roles, including grant coordinators and managers, finance experts, clinical research nurses in specialised areas such as oncology and cardiology, biostatisticians and data managers. Each of these positions played a vital role in supporting National Institutes of Health (NIH) and industry-funded clinical trials, reinforcing the need for a strategic approach to talent acquisition.
Why Acacium Group?
Acacium Group is uniquely positioned to support the entire life sciences ecosystem, providing expertise across healthcare, academia and industry. As a global healthcare delivery partner with 40 years’ experience, the Group delivers specialised talent, strengthening workforce capabilities in clinical research and patient care while supporting pharmaceutical companies in trials and commercialisation.
Covering the full lifecycle from disease identification to treatment, research and drug development, Acacium Group drives innovation and ensures workforce efficiency, making it the ideal partner for institutions seeking scalable, flexible solutions in life sciences.
The solution
A Functional Service Partner (FSP) model was implemented to meet the institution’s specialised staffing needs. By leveraging its extensive talent network, Acacium Group’s life sciences specialists sourced highly skilled professionals to fill a variety of critical roles within the institution’s medical school. The model facilitated placements across multiple departments, ensuring the university could secure the right expertise to support its research initiatives.
The FSP approach used a structured monthly fee model designed to align with available grant funding. This allowed the institution to reduce employment risks while maintaining a flexible staffing solution that could support both long-term research projects and short-term assignments with set weekly hours.
Impact
Reliable talent supply
The FSP enabled the institution to quickly access specialised, hard-to-find skill sets, ensuring that research projects were staffed with professionals possessing deep scientific expertise. This approach also facilitated intellectual property retention within the talent pool, maintaining continuity in research efforts.
Efficient placement
By streamlining recruitment and selection, the lead time to recruit new researchers was significantly reduced, accelerating project timelines. The 50% placement success rate demonstrated the effectiveness of the talent acquisition strategy, ensuring the institution could efficiently onboard professionals across various research functions, including grant management, clinical research and data management.
Research support
Acacium Group provided direct support for NIH and industry-funded trials, assisting with critical research programmes and managing complex research protocols. The collaboration played a key role in advancing pioneering work and strengthened the institution’s ability to conduct high-impact studies.
Operational flexibility
A tailored FSP model enabled a flexible staffing approach that adapted to the university’s fluctuating research demands. This ensured consistency in research knowledge, allowing the institution to maintain efficiency across multiple departments while supporting specialised roles across various domains.
Strategic advantage
By securing high-quality talent and operational stability, the institution reinforced its position as a top-tier research organisation. The partnership supported groundbreaking advancements while ensuring research continuity across different funding sources, including government and industry grants.
Future-ready workforce solutions
Through its strategic collaboration with Acacium Group, the institution established a scalable workforce model that ensures ongoing access to specialised expertise, strengthening its ability to drive scientific discovery and research excellence
Learn more about our scalable FSP solutions and contact our team to explore how we can support you.
