Scientists recruiting Scientists
Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Manchester, VRS Recruitment specialises in scientific recruitment across the pharmaceutical, biotech, CRO, scientific instrumentation and wider science industries.
Our recruiters come from scientific backgrounds, so we understand the roles we recruit for and the skills behind the job titles. From laboratory techniques and instrumentation to industry experience and transferable skills, we know what to look for and, importantly, what questions to ask.
Built by Scientists, for Scientists
VRS wasn’t born out of a generalist recruitment office. From the beginning, we’ve been built around a simple idea: scientific recruitment should be done by people who understand science.
More than 25 years later, that principle hasn’t changed. We deliberately recruit our consultants from scientific and technical backgrounds, with experience spanning analytical chemistry, life sciences, scientific instrumentation and engineering.
For us, technical understanding isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s fundamental to good scientific recruitment. It means we understand the roles we’re discussing, can properly assess the people we represent and speak the same language as the scientific communities we work within.
What makes a scientific recruiter different from a generalist?
Technical understanding makes a real difference at the screening stage. We don’t simply match job titles and keywords; we take the time to understand what someone has actually done.
That might mean discussing the instruments and techniques they’ve used, the methods or assays they’ve developed and validated, and digging deeper into the transferable skills behind their experience. It means we can ask the right questions, properly assess suitability and provide hiring managers with better-informed shortlists, with far fewer mismatches along the way.
How long has VRS been operating?
Founded in Manchester in 2000 and, more than 25 years later, we’re still doing what we do best; specialist scientific recruitment.
Today, our Manchester head office is joined by VRS Scotland, supporting the life science communities around Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow; VRS US, recruiting across the United States; and VRS EU, supporting scientific recruitment across Europe.
We’ve seen plenty of change in that time - in science, recruitment and the wider world - but we’re still here and still proudly specialist. We may be small, but we are mighty!
Sectors, services and the way we work
VRS recruits across six specialist sectors: analytical chemistry, life sciences, scientific sales and commercial, field service engineering, scientific software, and quality and compliance. Each sector is led by a consultant whose technical background matches the discipline. Across these markets, we support clients through four flexible service models: contingent recruitment, exclusive recruitment, retained search and recruitment projects, covering both permanent and contract hiring. Whichever way we work together, the principle is the same: understand the science, understand the requirement and find the right people.
What size of business does VRS work with?
All shapes and sizes. From early-stage businesses making their first scientific hires to global companies recruiting across multiple disciplines and locations.
Over the years, we’ve partnered with some of the best-known names in science, alongside hundreds of smaller and growing businesses. Our clients include Eurofins, Shimadzu, UCB, Thermo Fisher, PerkinElmer, Waters, Resolian and Veolia to name just a few!
Where can I find current vacancies?
You can browse all our current scientific vacancies on our Job Search page, with opportunities across each of our specialist sectors. Can’t see the right role? It’s still worth talking to us. Not every position we recruit is advertised, and we regularly approach people within our network about opportunities that match their experience, skills and career plans. Send us your CV and tell us what you’re looking for, and our team can keep you up to date with relevant opportunities.
VRS Recruitment was founded in 2000 in Manchester. Shortly after, David Jones swapped a career in mass spectrometry sales for scientific recruitment. The idea was simple: scientists should be recruited by people who understand science. More than 25 years later, that principle still sits at the heart of how we build our team and how we recruit.
Meet The Team
We’re a friendly bunch of scientists and technical recruiters, with backgrounds spanning chemistry, biology and biochemistry through to scientific instrumentation, technical sales and engineering.
That mix of scientific knowledge, industry experience and recruitment expertise is what makes VRS, VRS.
