Contractors vs Permanent Staff: What’s the Right Resourcing Model for Biotech CMC and Manufacturing Teams?

Contractors vs Permanent Staff: What’s the Right Resourcing Model for Biotech CMC and Manufacturing Teams?
By George Seward, Tech Ops SME at Walker Cole International

As biotech companies progress toward commercialisation, one of the most critical decisions they face is how to structure their technical teams, particularly in Manufacturing, CMC, and Supply Chain. The right talent at this stage can be the difference between a smooth path to market and costly delays. But should you prioritise permanent hires or bring in consultants to fill key gaps?

The answer is not straight forward, as both avenues come with pros and cons

The Value of Contractors 

In early-stage and pre-commercial settings, contractors offer ultimate flexibility. Biotech firms often need specialised expertise in areas like process development, tech transfer, GMP compliance, regulatory CMC, and clinical supply logistics, but may not require these capabilities in-house full-time.

Contractors, many of whom have 20+ years of experience, can step in to deliver specific milestones, from preparing for IND/IMPD submissions to overseeing manufacturing scale-up or leading CDMO selection. Their ability to work autonomously, manage external partners, and troubleshoot problems in real-time makes them ideal for fast-paced, resource-constrained environments.

In a market where funding is harder to come by, consultants allow businesses to scale resource with seasoned leaders who can offer immediate impact, whilst preserving cash runway by avoiding large long term payroll cost.

However, with increasing complexity in manufacturing and delivery methods of novel therapies, there is a high value in retaining technical expertise and knowledge internally. Especially if the goal is to be acquired whilst in the clinic.

It will be harder to sell a business if it doesn’t come with the people that know how to make the product!

Permanent Hires 

As a biotech business approaches late-stage clinical trials or market launch, the balance starts to shift. Commercialisation requires continuity, accountability, and deep internal alignment particularly across the CMC, supply chain, and manufacturing functions.

Permanent staff are better positioned to take long-term ownership of product lifecycle management, quality oversight, and supply chain strategy. Regulatory agencies also expect to see stability in leadership when evaluating commercial readiness, especially for market authorisation applications and GMP inspections.

Hiring permanent CMC and supply chain leaders also allows a business to embed institutional knowledge, build strong cross-functional relationships, and plan effectively for commercial demand forecasting, inventory management, and post-launch product support.

A Hybrid Approach 

In practice, the most successful biotech companies adopt a hybrid approach. Building a core internal team to define strategies, own the technical expertise in manufacturing, and create longer term stability.

Consultants can be utilised to plug gaps and do the heavy lifting at key milestones, writing regulatory dossiers, overseeing tech transfers, and establishing supply chains.

At Walker Cole, we support biotech companies at every stage of this journey. We specialise in supporting businesses driving for commercialisation with optimal talent strategy for their CMC, manufacturing, and supply chain functions. Whether that means sourcing short-term consultants or identifying the next permanent Head of CMC, the key is to align hiring decisions with product timelines and organisational maturity.

Case Study: Strategic Permanent Hire – CMC Leadership for CDMO Transition

A long-term cell therapy client engaged Walker Cole International to support a critical CMC leadership hire during a pivotal transition from in-house manufacturing to an outsourced model. With a CDMO partner selected, the client required a high-calibre permanent hire to oversee the partnership, lead tech transfers, and provide continuity across a newly externalised supply chain model.

In a role where technical credibility, stakeholder management, and strategic oversight were non-negotiable, Walker Cole quickly understood the unique demands of the position and delivered a targeted shortlist of industry specialists. This led to a successful appointment within just 8 weeks, ensuring minimal disruption to the transition and maintaining alignment between the internal team and the external manufacturing partner.

Case Study: Flexible Interim Resourcing – Clinical-Stage Biotech Support for Global Phase III Trial

A clinical-stage biotech preparing to initiate a global Phase III trial faced a familiar challenge: a lean internal team with fewer than 50 FTEs and urgent, specialised resourcing needs. With timelines too tight to allow for permanent recruitment, the company turned to Walker Cole for a rapid interim solution.

In response, Walker Cole deployed a tailored team of expert consultants to immediately strengthen the client’s operational capacity:

• Clinical Supply Chain Consultant
• CMC Consultant (Module 3 Authoring)
• CMC Consultant (Tech Transfer)
• Quality Consultant (QP Batch Release)

This agile solution enabled the biotech to scale expertise on demand, managing cost and capability in real time. By avoiding the overhead of full-time hires and focusing resources only where and when needed, the client likely saved a six-figure sum annually, all while ensuring critical milestones were met without delay.

At Walker Cole International, we don’t just fill roles, we enable progress. Whether you're building long-term capability or navigating short-term pressure points, we deliver precision recruitment solutions across CMC, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain.

Need Support Building Your CMC, Manufacturing or Supply Chain Team?

Whether you're preparing for BLA submission or planning your first commercial launch, Walker Cole can help you find the right people, interim or permanent, to match your strategic needs.

Get in touch today to discuss how we can support your team with experienced, industry-proven talent across the product lifecycle.