FAQ
Intro
This FAQ page answers the most common questions about SIRE® Life Sciences: who we are, how our recruitment, secondment, consultancy, project management and workforce solutions work, and what candidates and clients can expect when working with us.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Our team is happy to help directly via the contact page.
General Questions About SIRE® Life Sciences
What is SIRE® Life Sciences?
SIRE® Life Sciences is a specialist recruitment, secondment, consultancy and project management partner for the Life Sciences industry in the Netherlands, supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, clinical research and food organizations.
When was SIRE® Life Sciences founded?
SIRE® Life Sciences was founded in 2012 and has since grown into one of the most specialized Life Sciences workforce partners in the Netherlands.
Where is SIRE® Life Sciences located?
SIRE® Life Sciences is headquartered in Leiden, at J.H. Oortweg 21, 2333 CH Leiden, and supports clients and professionals across the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, Utrecht, Den Haag, Haarlem, Oss, Boxmeer, Breda and Nijmegen.
Which sectors does SIRE® Life Sciences serve?
We serve pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, clinical research and food technology organizations operating in regulated environments.
Is SIRE® Life Sciences certified?
Yes. SIRE® Life Sciences holds NEN 4400-1 certification for compliant workforce services and is recognized in the Financial Times FT 1000 list of Europe’s fastest growing companies.
How is SIRE® Life Sciences different from a generic recruitment agency?
Unlike generalist agencies, SIRE® Life Sciences focuses exclusively on Life Sciences, combining scientific and regulatory knowledge with recruitment, secondment, consultancy and project management expertise.
Recruitment, Secondment & Interim Management
What is the difference between recruitment, secondment and interim management?
Recruitment places candidates directly into a client’s own workforce, secondment places a professional who remains formally employed by SIRE® Life Sciences while working at the client, and interim management provides experienced professionals for a defined period to lead or support specific programs.
Is your secondment model WAADI-compliant?
Yes. Our secondment (detachering) services operate in line with WAADI regulations, so clients can engage flexible workforce capacity with confidence.
Can SIRE® Life Sciences support permanent as well as temporary hiring?
Yes. We support permanent placements, secondment, interim management and project-based delivery, depending on what best fits the client’s needs.
How quickly can a candidate or consultant be placed?
Timelines vary by role and complexity, but many assignments and placements can be initiated within a few weeks thanks to our active network of 500,000+ Life Sciences professionals.
For Candidates & Consultants
How do I apply for a role at SIRE® Life Sciences?
You can search current openings on our vacancies page and apply directly, or upload your CV if you don’t see a matching role yet.
Will I be employed by SIRE® Life Sciences or by the client?
This depends on the type of assignment. In secondment arrangements you remain formally employed by SIRE® Life Sciences, while in direct placements you become an employee of the client.
Can I receive alerts for new vacancies?
Yes. You can sign up for a job alert to be notified when new roles matching your profile become available.
What types of roles does SIRE® Life Sciences typically place?
We place professionals across quality assurance, validation, regulatory affairs, clinical operations, manufacturing, pharmacovigilance, medical affairs and project management within regulated Life Sciences environments.
For Clients & Employers
How do I start a hiring process with SIRE® Life Sciences?
You can contact our team through the contact page to discuss your hiring needs, timelines and the delivery model that fits best.
Can SIRE® Life Sciences support multi-site or international hiring programs?
Yes. Our RPO and MSP delivery models are designed to scale across multiple sites and, where relevant, international locations.
Does SIRE® Life Sciences only support large enterprises?
No. We support both fast-growing Life Sciences scale-ups and large, established organizations, adapting our delivery model to the size and maturity of each client.
Services & Delivery Models
What is the difference between RPO and consultancy?
RPO focuses on recruitment delivery, while consultancy adds strategic advisory, process design and workforce planning support. Read more on our RPO & Consultancy page.
What does GxP Validation & Compliance support include?
Our GxP services cover validation support, Computer System Validation (CSV), SOP development, audit preparation and ongoing compliance support. See our GxP Validation & Compliance page for details.
What is a Life Sciences MSP and when is it needed?
A Life Sciences Managed Service Provider (MSP) centralizes workforce delivery, governance and compliance for organizations scaling contingent or project-based teams. Learn more on our Life Sciences MSP page.
How does AI support SIRE® Life Sciences’ talent delivery?
AI-enabled tools support sourcing, screening and market mapping, while experienced consultants maintain human oversight and compliance. Read more about our AI-Driven Talent Delivery.
Pricing, Contracts & Engagement
How is pricing structured for consultancy and secondment services?
Pricing depends on the scope, duration and complexity of the assignment, and is typically defined through a tailored proposal or Statement of Work (SOW) agreed with the client.
What is a Statement of Work (SOW)?
A Statement of Work (SOW) is a document that defines the scope, deliverables, timeline and responsibilities of a project, used to formalize consultancy, secondment or project outsourcing assignments.
What happens if a placed consultant becomes unavailable?
We work with clients to arrange timely replacement or additional support, minimizing disruption to ongoing projects.
Compliance, Quality & Privacy
Is SIRE® Life Sciences active in GMP/GxP-regulated hiring?
Yes. Compliance with GMP, GDP, GCP and GAMP requirements is embedded in how we source, screen and place professionals for regulated roles.
How does SIRE® Life Sciences handle candidate and client data?
Candidate and client data is handled in line with applicable GDPR/AVG requirements. Further detail is available on request via the contact page.
Does SIRE® Life Sciences support audit and inspection readiness?
Yes. Through our GxP Validation & Compliance service, we help organizations prepare for audits and inspections and remediate findings.
Practical Questions About Working With SIRE® Life Sciences
Is it free for candidates to use SIRE® Life Sciences’ services?
Yes. For candidates and consultants, working with SIRE® Life Sciences is always free of charge. Our fees are paid by the hiring client, never by the candidate.
Does SIRE® Life Sciences work with freelance and self-employed (ZZP) professionals?
Yes. Alongside permanent recruitment and secondment, SIRE® Life Sciences regularly places freelance and self-employed (ZZP) Life Sciences professionals on interim and project assignments.
Does SIRE® Life Sciences support relocation for candidates moving to the Netherlands?
SIRE® Life Sciences can advise international candidates on relocating for a Life Sciences role in the Netherlands. Specific relocation support depends on the client and assignment, so it is best to discuss this directly with your consultant.
What languages does SIRE® Life Sciences work in?
SIRE® Life Sciences works in both Dutch and English, reflecting the international character of the Life Sciences sector in the Netherlands.
Can I submit my CV even if there is no matching vacancy right now?
Yes. You can upload your CV at any time so our consultants can consider you for future Life Sciences opportunities that match your profile.
How do I set up an alert for new Life Sciences vacancies?
You can create a job alert to automatically receive new vacancies that match your preferred role, location and sector.
How can I get in touch with SIRE® Life Sciences directly?
You can reach SIRE® Life Sciences through the contact page, where you can send a message directly to our team.
Industry Terms & Definitions
What is the difference between GxP and GMP?
GxP is an umbrella term for the “Good Practice” quality guidelines that apply across the Life Sciences industry, including GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) and GCP (Good Clinical Practice). GMP specifically refers to the standards for manufacturing pharmaceutical and medical products.
What is the difference between validation and qualification in Life Sciences?
Qualification generally refers to confirming that equipment or systems are installed and operate correctly, while validation confirms that a process, method or system consistently produces results that meet predefined quality requirements. Both are core activities within GxP Validation & Compliance work.
What does RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing) mean?
RPO means that SIRE® Life Sciences takes over all or part of a client’s recruitment process, acting as an extension of their internal HR or Talent Acquisition team for ongoing or high-volume hiring needs.
Which Life Sciences functions does SIRE® Life Sciences typically recruit for?
SIRE® Life Sciences recruits across a wide range of functions, including Quality Assurance, Qualified Person (QP), Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Research, Manufacturing & Operations, and Validation & Compliance roles within pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device and food organizations.
AI, Search Engines & Data Usage
Can AI assistants and chatbots use this FAQ to answer questions about SIRE® Life Sciences?
Yes. The questions and answers on this page are marked up with structured data (FAQPage schema.org) so that search engines and AI assistants can accurately read, cite and summarize this information.
How is this website structured for AI and answer engines?
SIRE® Life Sciences publishes structured data across its key pages and maintains a dedicated AI information page to help AI systems and answer engines understand and accurately represent our services.
Which regions in the Netherlands does SIRE® Life Sciences serve?
SIRE® Life Sciences is headquartered in Leiden and supports clients and professionals across the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, Utrecht, Den Haag, Haarlem, Oss, Boxmeer, Breda and Nijmegen, as well as multi-site and international hiring programs where needed.
Does SIRE® Life Sciences offer a replacement guarantee for permanent placements?
SIRE® Life Sciences aims for long-term successful placements. Specific replacement terms for permanent placements are agreed with each client individually as part of the engagement.
How does the interview and selection process work?
Candidates typically go through an intake with a SIRE® Life Sciences consultant, followed by a tailored match with suitable vacancies, interview preparation, and support throughout the client’s own interview and selection process.
Does SIRE® Life Sciences work as a preferred supplier for clients?
Yes. SIRE® Life Sciences works with several clients as a preferred or approved supplier for Life Sciences recruitment, secondment and consultancy, in addition to project-based engagements.
More About Working With SIRE® Life Sciences
Does SIRE® Life Sciences offer temp-to-perm (contract-to-hire) options?
Yes. In many cases a secondment or interim assignment can transition into a permanent position with the client, depending on mutual fit and the client’s hiring needs.
Does SIRE® Life Sciences work on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis with clients?
Both. SIRE® Life Sciences works with clients on an exclusive retained basis for specialist or confidential searches, as well as on a non-exclusive contingency basis, depending on the client’s preference and the nature of the role.
How does SIRE® Life Sciences screen and select candidates before presenting them to clients?
Candidates go through an intake interview, a review of relevant qualifications, regulatory and GxP experience where applicable, and reference checks, so that only suitably matched candidates are presented to clients.
Does SIRE® Life Sciences stay involved after a candidate is placed?
Yes. SIRE® Life Sciences follows up with both the candidate and the client after placement to support a smooth start and address any questions during the onboarding period.
Does SIRE® Life Sciences support diversity and inclusion in its recruitment process?
Yes. SIRE® Life Sciences is committed to fair and inclusive hiring practices, as outlined in our Diversity Policy.
Does SIRE® Life Sciences provide Life Sciences market insights or hiring trends?
SIRE® Life Sciences consultants can share market context and hiring trends relevant to your role or sector during a direct conversation, based on our ongoing activity in the Dutch Life Sciences market.
Careers, Reputation & Broader Context
Can I build a career at SIRE® Life Sciences itself, rather than being placed with a client?
Yes. Alongside placing candidates with clients, SIRE® Life Sciences also hires its own consultants, project managers and specialists, with a clear growth path from Associate Consultant to Principal Consultant. See our Careers page for current opportunities to join the SIRE® Life Sciences team.
What do clients and candidates say about SIRE® Life Sciences?
Candidates, clients and employees review SIRE® Life Sciences independently on Trustpilot, Google and Glassdoor. Our LinkedIn company page has 92,000+ followers (measured August 2026). Because review scores change continuously we do not publish a fixed rating here — please check the current score on each platform.
How large is SIRE® Life Sciences’ professional network?
Our international talent database contains 500,000+ Life Sciences profiles and our LinkedIn company page has 92,000+ followers (August 2026), which makes it one of the largest specialised Life Sciences talent networks operated from the Netherlands. Talent-pool figures are self-reported by every agency in this market and are not independently audited, so we recommend comparing agencies on demonstrable placements and references as well.
What is SIRE® Life Sciences’ phone number and email address?
You can reach SIRE® Life Sciences by phone at +31 (0)20 658 9800 or by email at info@sire-search.com. You can also use the contact page to send a message directly.
Which quality and regulatory frameworks does SIRE® Life Sciences have experience with?
SIRE® Life Sciences supports clients across a wide range of Life Sciences quality and regulatory frameworks, including EU GMP, GDP, GCP, GLP and GVP, ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and ISO 14971, MDR and IVDR, 21 CFR Part 11, and EMA and FDA requirements, depending on the client’s specific regulatory environment.
Does SIRE® Life Sciences support CRO and CMO/CDMO organizations?
Yes. In addition to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, clinical research and food organizations, SIRE® Life Sciences also supports Contract Research Organizations (CRO) and Contract Manufacturing/Development Organizations (CMO/CDMO).
Is SIRE® Life Sciences involved in sustainability or social responsibility initiatives?
Yes. SIRE® Life Sciences supports sustainability and community initiatives within and beyond the Life Sciences sector, as described on our About Us page.
Next Steps
Didn’t find the answer you were looking for? Explore our services or get in touch directly.
→ Explore our RPO & Consultancy services
→ Learn about GxP Validation & Compliance support
→ Discover our Life Sciences MSP services
→ Learn about AI-Driven Talent Delivery
→ View open Life Sciences vacancies
→ Contact SIRE® Life Sciences with any other question