Great hires don't happen by accident. Our proven seven-step process combines strategic sourcing, rigorous evaluation, and personalized support to ensure you hire talent that drives breakthrough results.
Since 1999, we've refined this approach through hundreds of successful placements. Every search receives personal oversight from our founder, ensuring consistency and excellence from start to finish.
What happens: We begin with an in-depth consultation to understand your company, culture, and hiring needs. This isn't a transactional intake call - we dig deep to understand what success looks like.
Your involvement: 1-2 hour consultation with hiring manager and key stakeholders
Timeline: Completed within 1-2 days of engagement
Outcome: Customized search strategy, ideal candidate profile, and clear success metrics
What happens: We proactively identify and engage passive top performers who are excelling in their current roles but may be open to the right opportunity.
Why this works: Our relationship-based approach connects with candidates who might not respond to a generic job posting, and may not be reading ads.
Your involvement: Minimal - we keep you updated on market insights
Timeline: 1-2 weeks of active sourcing
Outcome: Pipeline of 25 to 50 potential candidates identified and engaged
What happens: Every candidate undergoes rigorous evaluation before we present them to you. We don't send you dozens of resumes to sort through. We do the heavy lifting.
Quality over quantity: We present only pre-vetted candidates who meet your criteria. If someone doesn't fit, we don't waste your time.
Our commitment to candidates: We treat every candidate with respect, regardless of whether they're the right fit for this specific role. If you're not selected to move forward, we'll tell you promptly and professionally - no ghosting. We also keep exceptional candidates in our network for future opportunities that may be a better match.
Your involvement: None at this stage
Timeline: Ongoing throughout the search (typically 2-4 weeks)
Outcome: Exceptional candidates ready for your review
What happens: We present candidates through detailed profiles that go beyond the resume. You'll understand not just what they've done, but why they're a strong match for your specific need.
Your involvement: Review candidate profiles, select who to interview
Timeline: 2-4 weeks (depending on your and the candidate's availability)
Outcome: Structured interview process with strong candidates who are prepared and interested
What happens: We support both you and the candidate throughout the interview process to ensure productive conversations and informed decisions.
Why this matters: Many great hires are lost due to poor interview experiences or miscommunication. We ensure both sides feel heard and understood.
Your involvement: Conducting interviews, providing feedback
Timeline: 2-3 weeks (depending on your interview structure)
Outcome: Clear finalist(s) with mutual interest and understanding
What happens: We guide the offer process to ensure a smooth acceptance and enthusiastic start.
Why our involvement matters: Offers are often lost due to poor communication or unaddressed concerns. We've navigated hundreds of negotiations and know how to close successfully.
Your involvement: Approving offer details, being available for questions
Timeline: 1 week
Outcome: Accepted offer and enthusiastic new team member
What happens: Our commitment doesn't end at offer acceptance. We support both you and the new hire through the critical first 90 days.
Why this matters: The first 90 days determine long-term retention. Our follow-up ensures small issues don't become big problems.
Your involvement: Brief check-in conversations at each milestone
Timeline: First 90 days in role
Outcome: Confident, productive new team member who's positioned for long-term success
Every search receives direct involvement from Brenda Patterson, our founder and President. You're not working with junior recruiters - you're partnering with 26 years of specialized expertise from day one.
We don't just sell jobs - we help candidates understand how their work connects to patient outcomes and breakthrough therapies. This attracts talent who are committed to impact, not just a paycheck.
We communicate proactively throughout the process. You'll always know where we are, what we're seeing in the market, and what's happening with candidates.
We present only pre-vetted candidates who meet your criteria. If we don't find the right person, we don't send marginal candidates just to show activity.
We believe great recruiting is built on respect and transparency - for both our clients and the professionals we engage with.
Why this matters to you as a hiring company: When candidates have a positive experience - even when they're not selected - they speak highly of your company in the industry. This protects your employer brand and makes it easier to attract top talent in the future. In life sciences, where communities are tight-knit, reputation matters. We protect yours.
Note: Timeline varies based on role complexity, candidate availability, and your interview process. We'll provide a customized timeline during our discovery session.
"Brenda doesn't just find candidates - she finds people who truly understand our mission and are committed to making an impact. Her process is thorough, transparent, and has resulted in some of our best hires."
— VP of Regulatory Affairs, Mid-Size Biotech
"Working with JBK Search felt like having an extension of our internal team. The level of insight and candidate preparation was exceptional. We made our hire in 6 weeks and couldn't be happier."
— CEO, Series B Medical Device Company
Most director-level searches are completed in 6-8 weeks. VP and C-suite roles typically take 8-12 weeks. We'll provide a customized timeline based on your specific role and market conditions.
Yes. In addition to retained permanent searches, we place fractional and contract RA/QA/PV executives for project-based needs, interim coverage, or companies not yet ready for full-time leadership. Many fractional placements convert to permanent roles as companies grow.
We work on a retained basis. We'll discuss pricing during our initial consultation based on your specific needs.
We stand behind our work. We offer a guarantee period (terms discussed during engagement) and will work to find a replacement if needed at no additional fee.
Yes. Since 1999, we've worked exclusively in life sciences - specifically biopharma, biotech, and medical devices. This specialization means we deeply understand your regulatory environment, compliance requirements, and talent needs.
Your main involvement is the initial strategy session (1-2 hours), reviewing candidate profiles, conducting interviews, and providing feedback. We handle the sourcing, coordination, and administrative work. Most clients spend 6-10 hours total on a search over 6-8 weeks.
We work nationwide. While we're based in Indianapolis, we successfully place talent across the US.
Absolutely. We love working with emerging companies who are building their teams from the ground up. We understand the unique challenges startups face and how to attract senior talent to early-stage companies.
Let's start with a conversation. We'll discuss your needs, share market insights, and determine if we're the right fit for your search.
Right talent. Right company. Real breakthroughs.
No Rest - Because breakthrough therapies can't wait.