SHERIDAN, WYOMING – July 21, 2025 – Facing industry-wide uncertainty and hiring slowdowns, biopharma companies are increasingly turning to fractional roles to fill critical talent gaps—an emerging trend reshaping workforce strategies across the sector. Recent insights from recruiters and professionals reveal a growing openness to flexible, project-based roles that offer companies agility while providing experienced professionals with continued engagement in the field.
Fractional Work Gains Traction Amid Market Challenges
A July LinkedIn poll conducted by BioSpace indicated that 22% of respondents have experience with fractional roles, while an additional 54% are considering them. This shift is driven largely by a tightening job market and prolonged hiring timelines.
Jim Rudman, CEO and founder of interim talent and executive search firm Ashton Tweed, explained, “It can take at least six months to find a new position.” Julie Heneghan, president and founder of The Steely Group, a life sciences staffing firm that recently launched a fractional service, noted that many professionals juggle multiple fractional roles due to limited full-time opportunities.
According to both experts, while most professionals see fractional roles as temporary solutions, some seasoned individuals welcome the chance to scale back hours while staying active in the field. As Heneghan observed, “You have people that may be a little more seasoned, farther along in their career, and they don’t want to do 40 hours anymore, but they want to stay busy. They want to stay current. They’re happy to take something 10 to 20 hours a week.”
Companies Embrace Fractional Talent to Navigate Uncertainty
Both Heneghan and Rudman confirmed a rising demand for fractional workers, particularly for senior-level positions, as companies of all sizes adjust to financial pressures and industry headwinds. Layoffs, regulatory uncertainty, looming pharma tariffs, and decreased venture capital funding are pushing firms to seek cost-effective talent solutions.
“These companies (particularly the clinical stage companies) are stretched thin financially and are hard pressed to bring people on ‘permanently’ without a clear cash runway,” Rudman stated.
Key roles currently in demand include:
- Department heads such as medical directors and chief medical officers
- Medical writers and senior regulatory affairs professionals
- Fractional CFOs, chief commercial officers, and VPs in commercial functions for early-stage companies
Heneghan highlighted that fractional engagements offer companies access to high-level expertise without committing to full-time hires. “If a biotech needs a medical director but can’t get a full-time employee approved due to budget restraints, it could get someone to work 10 hours a week instead,” she said. Once companies experience the benefits, many realize they can meet talent needs without permanent hires.
Voices from the Field: Professionals Embrace Flexibility and Opportunity
Biopharma professionals like Alicia Volmar and Matt Feldman are navigating the evolving landscape by embracing fractional work.
After being laid off from Prime Medicine in May, Volmar launched LIT Discoveries, combining consulting with a pursuit of fractional roles. She sees this strategy as a way to remain active in science during challenging times. “Having a full-time position is ideal, but I’m just trying to adapt to how things are and may be for a while,” Volmar said.
Volmar is proactively seeking fractional opportunities, especially with Series B-funded biotechs expanding operations—leveraging her expertise in lab setups and cross-functional team development. For her, maintaining a foothold in science, regardless of role type, remains the ultimate goal.
Feldman, a scientific communications consultant and CEO of InTheDistance Media, began fractional work after Novavax's 2023 workforce reduction affected his role. He appreciates the variety and creative freedom fractional roles offer. “I’m not someone who wants to keep doing that same thing, turning the wheel of the widget machine every day. So, the variety—the challenge and change—that’s a feature, not a bug.”
Now serving a startup client, Feldman values the dynamic nature of fractional engagements and remains open to continuing this path or returning to full-time work, depending on economic viability. “I think this is an exciting way to do what I do. I don’t know if it’s the forever way, but I think it’s a fun time to be doing this. I look at it as a little bit of an adventure.”
A Lasting Shift in Biopharma Workforce Dynamics?
As industry pressures persist, fractional roles appear poised to become a permanent fixture in the biopharma employment landscape. Companies seeking flexibility and professionals seeking engagement amid shifting market conditions may find common ground in this evolving model.
Learn more about emerging biopharma workforce trends at BioSpace.