RPO Delivery

Compass Carter Osborne were engaged by CellCentric to initiate a recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) model to support accelerated international growth following recent fundraising owing to clinical trial success.

The Challenge

In May 2025, CellCentric, a pioneering clinical-stage biotechnology company, secured $120 million in funding co-led by RA Capital Management and Forbion, with participation from Avego Bioscience Capital and BrightEdge, the American Cancer Society’s impact investment arm.

This capital injection was to accelerate the development of inobrodib, the company’s novel oral p300/CBP inhibitor for treating multiple myeloma, now in pivotal Phase II and accelerated approval trials, with Phase III planned for 2026.

To meet ambitious growth targets and investor expectations, CellCentric needed to triple its headcount in less than six months – particularly across its newly established US base in Boston, MA – and required an experienced partner in life sciences executive search with both the reach and expertise to deliver at pace.

The Solution

Compass Carter Osborne (CCO) was engaged to provide a Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) solution, led by Tarquin Bennett-Coles (Director) with research support from Aidan Cessar, and appropriate contingent level life sciences recruitment delivery through sister brand in the Compass Recruitment Solutions house of brands, Carrot Recruitment.

 Key elements of our approach included:

• Embedded Partnership
  Acting as first point of contact for all recruitment across UK and US operations, integrating fully into CellCentric’s leadership structure.
  Managed all existing recruitment vendors and agreements, reducing costs and ensuring a consistent methodology.
• US Expansion Focus
  Designed and delivered a targeted US hiring programme across Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, and California.
  Secured senior US leadership in clinical operations, medical affairs, and enabling functions.
  Ensured cultural alignment and collaboration between UK headquarters and new US teams.
• End-to-End Process Management
  From scoping critical roles and creating competency-based interview frameworks to candidate engagement, EDI considerations, and offer management.
  Oversaw onboarding, induction design, and resignation/exit processes.
• Strategic Recruitment Infrastructure
  Delivered an Aon talent survey, salary benchmarking guidance, hiring matrix, and organisational charts to future-proof growth.
  Provided weekly recruitment updates to the Board and represented CellCentric at industry events to boost employer brand visibility.

The Results

• Increased FTE from under 17 to 46 employees in six months.
• Made C-suite hires including CBO/CFO, VP Global Head of Regulatory Affairs, and VP Global Head of Medical Affairs.
• Successfully recruited across five US states to accelerate global clinical trial delivery.
• Embedded a robust recruitment framework to sustain growth and maintain alignment with investor milestones.

Key Benefits