Lock Search Group can assist you in finding a CFO, a Head of Finance or a Controller on a fractional or interim basis

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Executive Recruiters for Life Sciences

practice-image Canadian life sciences industry insights

  • Health Canada opened a consultation on decentralized clinical trials on December 23, 2025 (source).
  • Health Canada opened a consultation to modernize Canada’s clinical trials framework on December 20, 2025 (source).
  • Health Canada and the FDA began a generic drug information sharing initiative on December 1, 2025 (source).
  • New Health Canada tools published November 18, 2025 clarify natural health product submissions and labelling terms (source).
  • FedDev Ontario invested over $1 million to expand Tailored Genes viral vector manufacturing in Concord (source).

Your life sciences recruitment agency

Lock Search Group is a premier life sciences recruiting firm and executive search partner, with over 40 years of experience in biotech recruitment and pharmaceutical talent acquisition across North America. Our specialized life sciences recruiters excel in placing highly skilled candidates in diverse roles within medical devices, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and clinical research organizations (CROs), including hard-to-hire niche positions and C-suite executives.

A career in Life Sciences offers opportunities to change lives through discoveries, inventions, or breakthroughs in technology. From genomics and bioinformatics to immunology and precision medicine, few professions have as much potential to make a direct difference in human health. These roles demand high levels of education and specialized experience, making it challenging for employers to find professionals with the right expertise.

Lock’s life sciences recruitment consultants have direct leadership experience in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, understanding the niche terminology and specialized skills required for success. We excel in placing talent for roles such as Clinical Research Associates, Regulatory Affairs Specialists, Biostatisticians, and professionals in emerging fields like digital health and cell and gene therapy.

Our actionable industry insights allow us to consistently identify and recruit top talent. Whether you’re seeking to fill positions in Boston, Toronto, or any other life sciences hub, Lock Search Group can help. Contact us today to discover how our life sciences executive search and talent acquisition expertise can solve your recruitment challenges in pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devices, or clinical research.

We work with a diverse set of life sciences companies

We fill a variety of life sciences roles

  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Chief Growth Officer
  • Director of Communications
  • General Manager
  • Head of Finance
  • Head of Human Resources
  • Head, Knowledge Translation
  • VP, Finance & Administration
  • Vice President, Business Development
  • Vice President, IT Operations

What our clients say about our recruiters

Lock Search Group is a mainstay in their industry and a trusted partner to companies with specific talent acquisition needs. I have recommended them many times over the +20 years I have been working with them in Canada.
John McKendry
President & CEO, Kye Pharmaceuticals
I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with the team at Lock Search Group for many years and have been extremely impressed with the quality of candidates they have placed within our organization. They understand our needs, and their professionalism with our team as well as the candidates makes the experience seamless for everyone involved.
Scott Lambert
Senior National Sales Director, Eisai Canada
Lock Executive Search Group has been an invaluable partner in several talent acquisition mandates for me in different companies. Ben, Michael, and the team's deep expertise in the life sciences industry and their ability to source top-tier talent was amazing. Their professionalism, dedication, and insightful approach significantly contributed to the success of my businesses.
Peter Brenders
General Manager, BeiGene (Canada) ULC
Through all of my interactions with Lock,the team has consistently been showing true grit. Goals are set and followed through to ensure that each mandate turns into a positive experience for the employers as well as for the candidates.
Sebastien Beauchamp
Vice President, Government Relations & Market Access, Dynacare
The team at Lock Search Group makes the process of hiring new candidates seamless from start to finish. They take the time to fully understand the needs of the their clients, position they are recruiting for and the individuals looking to be placed. Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with the team at Lock Search Group and have been extremely pleased with the quality of candidates they represented. They are true professionals!
Trevor Tarasoff
National Head of Sales, CoolSculpting, Allergan Aesthetics
They have the depth of national candidates, in many select industries with specific skillsets. Then back it all up with diligence and professionalism. They deliver results for both clients and candidates.
Grant Larsen
Chief Commercial Officer, Aequus Pharmaceuticals
The quality of the services offered by the Lock Search Group rank at the top in our industry. They complement our internal capabilities to select the very best candidate in a fast and effective way.
Jean-Francois Lemieux
Vice-president, General Manager, Pendopharm, a division of Pharmascience
It is always a pleasure to work with the Lock Search Group. The team is very responsive, pays attention to clearly understand our needs and always delivers! They are a great partner when it comes to finding talent.
Manon Lafontaine
General Manager, Indivior Canada Ltd.
The Lock Search Group have recruited several top candidates for over 25 years allowing key industry positions to be filled with high performers and quality individuals.
Walter Beljaars
Director Advanced Tech., Alcon
When I work with the Lock team, it is always a productive, professional and successful experience. Their ability to listen, understand and provide options and alternatives ensures a high quality conclusion to my mandate!
Dave Rylett
Sr Director, CV Marketing and Sales, HLS Therapeutics
Working and partnering with the Lock Search Group has always been a successful process for Valneva. The team at Lock are professional, knowledgeable about the market and provide exceptional candidates based on our requirements.
Greig Estabrooks
General Manager, Valneva Canada Inc.
We have worked with other executive search groups and found that LockSearch group was able to find the best professionals for the position. Attention to detail, professionalism, understanding our team were critical parts of the selection process. We would use their services for all of our medtech executive hires. Steve Bews has a real acumen for finding the right people and is a pleasure to work with.
Dr. Karen M. Cross MD PhD FRCSC
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, St. Michael’s Hospital, CEO, co-founder MIMOSA Diagnostics
The team was a pleasure to work with during the entire process. They were relentless in their pursuit of the very best candidates in the market. They were top ambassadors for our company. I would recommend them without hesitation.
Lee Ferreira
President, Ferring Pharmaceuticals
We have had the pleasure of working with the Lock Search Group team on several mandates across the country. In every situation they have delivered excellent results and have shown the highest level of professionalism and integrity possible.
Marc Leger
Sr. VP - Chief Commercial Officer, Valeo Pharma Inc.

Lock offers a range of services to meet your business needs

Executive search service icon for Toronto leadership recruitment

Executive Search

Lock Search Group’s distinctive “contained” executive search model combines the thoroughness of traditional retained search with performance-based accountability to deliver exceptional C-suite and senior leadership talent. Our proven three-phase methodology, led by experienced Senior Consultants and backed by dedicated industry-specific recruitment teams, ensures comprehensive coverage of the executive talent market. We leverage our national network and extensive research capabilities to track industry movements, mergers, acquisitions, and leadership changes, providing clients with real-time market intelligence. Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles ensures we source the absolute best available talent without bias, maintaining a fair and equitable search process. Our track record speaks for itself, with successful placements including Board Members, CEOs, CFOs, Presidents, and numerous Vice Presidents across multiple functions and industries.

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Retained Search

Our Retained Search service establishes an exclusive partnership with organizations seeking to fill critical senior and mid-level positions through a comprehensive, priority-based approach. By dedicating our full resources and attention to your search, we conduct extensive market mapping and develop robust talent pipelines that ensure access to the highest caliber candidates. Our team provides regular progress updates and detailed market intelligence reports, keeping you informed throughout the entire search process. We manage everything from initial candidate assessment through final offer negotiation, ensuring a smooth and professional experience for both clients and candidates. This service includes post-placement integration support to ensure successful onboarding and long-term success of placed candidates.

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Contingency Search

Our Contingency Search service offers a flexible, success-based recruiting solution designed to efficiently fill professional and technical positions with qualified talent. Organizations benefit from immediate access to our extensive candidate database and network, with payment required only upon successful placement. Our streamlined recruitment process focuses on quick response times and efficient candidate presentation, making it ideal for time-sensitive placements and organizations with variable hiring needs. We handle all aspects of the recruitment process, from initial screening through offer negotiation, while maintaining the flexibility to work alongside other agencies if desired. This results-driven approach ensures we remain highly motivated to identify and secure the right talent for your organization while minimizing your upfront investment.

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Career opportunities in Life Sciences

Careers in Life Sciences include the practice areas of Pharmaceutical, Medical Devices, Scientific and Clinical Research, and Biotechnology. Our recruiters have developed expertise in all four of these major practice areas.

We have built a comprehensive network of candidates with backgrounds in Artificial Intelligence, digital drug discovery, personalized medicine, antibody discovery, DNA sequencing, medical robotics, and data scientists.

Over several years, we have placed dozens of candidates in established firms as well as start-ups, particularly throughout the Montreal-Toronto-Boston triangle. Lock Search Group is perhaps the best-networked search firm in the Life Sciences field today.

Talk to a life sciences recruiting expert

team member Ben Lamarche Read More
Managing Director
team member Michelle Belzile Read More
Recruitment Consultant
team member Julie Bailly Read More
Recruitment Consultant
team member Jean-François Sauvé Read More
Recruitment Consultant
team member Patrick Leduc Read More
Recruitment Consultant
team member Michael Villeneuve Read More
Recruitment Consultant
team member Brent Dodge Read More
Recruitment Consultant, Partner
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Recruitment Consultant
team member Lina El Amrani Read More
Recruitment Associate
team member Martiquea McLean Read More
Recruitment Associate
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Recruitment Associate