Contract Client Associate - 360 Recruitment

Hlx Life Sciences; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Uncapped commission

Clear progression

Mentorship

International opportunities

Unlimited holiday

Global travel

Job summary

Hlx Life Sciences is recruiting for a Contract Client Associate in London. This role focuses on growing our contract recruitment business from the London HQ, winning new contract work and expanding existing accounts.

You’ll work with top performers and learn how to build a high-performing contract desk, with clear progression toward leadership. We’re seeking ambitious, commercially minded candidates early in their recruitment or sales careers who want genuine progression, real earning potential

Qualifications

• Experience in recruitment, sales, account management or another client-facing commercial role; contract recruitment experience is a strong advantage
• A genuine interest in business development and winning new clients
• Commercial awareness, with an understanding of contract rates, margins and extensions
• Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to engage hiring managers and senior stakeholders
• Organised and detail-focused, able to manage multiple clients and live requirements at once
• Financially motivated, with clear personal and professional goals
• Competitive, resilient and proactive, with a genuine desire to succeed in a high-performance environment
• Experience in Life Sciences, Technology, Engineering or other specialist markets is advantageous, but not essential

Responsibilities

• Generating new contract business through calls, meetings and market mapping across the UK and European life sciences market
• Building and developing relationships with hiring managers, procurement teams and senior leaders
• Taking briefs on contract requirements and working closely with delivery consultants to fill them quickly
• Negotiating contractor rates and client margins
• Managing ongoing client relationships, including extensions, renewals and account growth
• Supporting contractor care and ensuring a smooth experience for clients and contractors throughout each assignment
• Identifying new market opportunities and helping shape the growth of the London contract team
• Developing towards running your own contract desk, with clear progression into Consultant, Senior and leadership roles

Job description

Contract Client Associate | Hlx Life Sciences

London, UK | Full-time, On-Site | Contract 360 Recruitment

Join Hlx Life Sciences in London

London is where Hlx began. Founded in January 2024, Hlx Life Sciences has grown into one of the fastest-growing specialist life sciences recruitment businesses, with 50+ employees globally, offices in London, Basel, Boston and now New York, and over 100 years of combined industry recruitment experience.

Backed by leading life sciences investors, we partner with some of the world’s most innovative businesses across Pharma, Biotech, TechBio, CROs and CDMOs, supporting their growth across the UK, Europe and the US.

Following our strongest quarter to date, exceeding £6M in Q3 revenue, we’re growing our London contract division and looking for Contract Client Associates to join the team.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We’re looking for ambitious, commercially minded Contract Client Associates to help grow our contract recruitment business from our London headquarters.

Contract is one of the biggest growth areas at Hlx. In this role you’ll focus on the client side of the desk: winning new contract business, growing existing accounts and becoming a trusted partner to hiring managers who need specialist talent quickly.

You’ll work alongside some of our highest performers, including consultants billing £1M+ annually, and learn how a high-performing contract desk is built, from first conversation to long-term account.

We’re particularly interested in people who are early in their recruitment or sales careers and want genuine progression, real earning potential and a clear path to running their own desk.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• Experience in recruitment, sales, account management or another client-facing commercial role; contract recruitment experience is a strong advantage
• A genuine interest in business development and winning new clients
• Commercial awareness, with an understanding of (or eagerness to learn) contract rates, margins and extensions
• Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to engage hiring managers and senior stakeholders
• Organised and detail-focused, able to manage multiple clients and live requirements at once
• Financially motivated, with clear personal and professional goals
• Competitive, resilient and proactive, with a genuine desire to succeed in a high-performance environment
• Experience in Life Sciences, Technology, Engineering or other specialist markets is advantageous, but not essential

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

• Generating new contract business through calls, meetings and market mapping across the UK and European life sciences market
• Building and developing relationships with hiring managers, procurement teams and senior leaders
• Taking briefs on contract requirements and working closely with delivery consultants to fill them quickly
• Negotiating contractor rates and client margins
• Managing ongoing client relationships, including extensions, renewals and account growth
• Supporting contractor care and ensuring a smooth experience for clients and contractors throughout each assignment
• Identifying new market opportunities and helping shape the growth of the London contract team
• Developing towards running your own contract desk, with clear progression into Consultant, Senior and leadership roles

WHAT’S ON OFFER

• Competitive base salary + uncapped commission
• Clear progression path
• Direct mentorship from £1M+ annual billers, working alongside some of the industry’s highest performers
• Structured training in contract recruitment, business development and the life sciences market
• Unlimited holiday, with flexibility and autonomy
• International opportunities, as part of a global business with offices in London, Basel, Boston and New York
• Global travel, with opportunities to visit international offices, clients and industry events
• Luxury incentives and rewards, including international incentive trips, quarterly Lunch Clubs and performance-based rewards
• A fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with the backing of an established, investor-supported business

WHY HLX?

At Hlx, we believe exceptional people deserve exceptional opportunities.

In less than three years, we’ve opened four international offices, grown to over 50 employees and built a business where consultants in their mid-twenties are already billing £1M+ in fees annually. London is where that culture started, and it’s still the heart of the business.

Joining our London contract team means learning from the best, working directly with senior leadership and building a career in one of the most in-demand areas of specialist recruitment.

Whether your goal is to become a top contract biller, build your own team or progress into senior leadership, Hlx provides the platform, training and opportunity to make it happen.

If you’re based in London and ready to build a career in contract recruitment, we’d love to hear from you.