Contracting in life sciences: pros and cons

Contracting was once viewed as a short-term solution. Today, it is a core part of how the Swiss and European life sciences industry delivers projects. From automation upgrades to quality remediation, contractors are often the first people called when timelines are tight, specialised expertise is required and compliance cannot slip.

For professionals, contracting offers fast entry into impactful projects, exposure to advanced technologies, and, in many cases, a pathway to permanent positions. It provides a platform to build a diverse skill set and expand professional networks.

Demand is rising. Life sciences projects are becoming increasingly complex, with the emergence of Pharma 4.0, digitalisation, and AI integration reshaping operations. CAPEX investments continue to grow in Switzerland, and Eurostat data show that temporary contracts are steadily increasing across Europe. Contractors help companies meet regulatory requirements, hit project milestones, and maintain uninterrupted production – the perfect solution?

From my view on the Swiss market, one thing is clear: CAPEX investments are not slowing down. Basel, Visp, Stein, and other hubs are announcing expansions or digital upgrades almost monthly. These projects are not small, we are talking about new biologics facilities, advanced fill-finish lines, and automation upgrades tied to global supply strategies. Every merger or acquisition adds another layer of integration work, often under inspection pressure and fixed launch deadlines.

This is where contractors prove essential. When a company acquires a new site or invests in biologics capacity, the workload spikes overnight. Internal teams rarely have the bandwidth to cover validation, QA, automation, and regulatory tasks at the same time. Contractors step in, embed into project teams, and carry the load until operations stabilise.

The pattern is repeating: big budgets, fast timelines, and a shortage of specialised skills.

Contractors have become the flexible lever that allows projects to stay on track. The hotspots I see most often in Switzerland include the following.

New facilities, tech transfers, and scale-ups trigger a surge in qualification and documentation. FAT/SAT, deviations, and audit responses cannot wait for permanent hires. Contractors help execute protocols, maintain GMP compliance, and keep projects on schedule.

Plant expansions and utility installations run on fixed timelines. Delays impact market launches and budgets. Contractors with CAPEX experience join fast, integrate into project teams, and provide expertise from design to qualification.

Pharma 4.0, MES upgrades, and PCS migrations require niche skills such as DeltaV or Siemens PCS7. These are rarely needed long-term. Contractors deliver this expertise quickly, avoiding integration delays and compliance risks.

As noted in our Regulatory vs Medical Affairs article (refer to link here: https://headcount.ch/blog/medical-affairs-vs-regulatory-affairs-which-is-the-smartest-pharma-career-path/ ), submissions and variations often require immediate expert input. Contractors with eCTD and global dossier experience help firms meet deadlines without adding permanent staff.

Right now, one of the biggest pressures in Switzerland is inspection readiness and remediation. Health authorities are applying more pressure, and sites cannot risk falling behind on deviations or CAPAs. I see many firms leaning on contractors with GMP and remediation expertise because they can be deployed fast and keep compliance on track.

The same is true for system rollouts. Pharma 4.0 investments are being announced, but permanent teams are already stretched. Contractors are bridging the gap, training users, migrating data, and validating new tools so daily operations don’t collapse under the change.

And in areas like medical writing and tech transfers, the demand is constant. These projects often sit outside of steady-state resourcing, yet they can make or break timelines. Contractors are the plug-in solution when companies don’t have the in-house capacity to deliver.

Here’s particular areas where contractor can help immediately:

When a site receives an FDA warning letter or critical audit finding, timelines become non-negotiable. Deviation backlogs, CAPAs, and remediation plans can overwhelm internal resources. Contractors with GMP and remediation experience can be deployed within weeks to restore compliance and prevent further regulatory risk.

Rolling out new QMS platforms, ERP systems, or electronic logbooks is resource-heavy. It involves data migration, user training, and validation under strict timelines. Contractors bridge the gap by supporting system implementation and onboarding until operations stabilize, reducing disruption to routine manufacturing.

Submission deadlines for regulatory dossiers, clinical documents, or patient information leave no room for delay. Medical writing requires precision, compliance with global templates, and deep understanding of health authority expectations. Contractors provide this expertise on demand, helping companies meet timelines without overloading internal teams.

Moving a product from development to manufacturing requires precise process documentation and validation. Contractors support tech transfer and scale-up activities, ensuring timelines are met.

Pharma 4.0, automation, and AI are reshaping how life sciences companies operate. These technologies bring new systems, data integrity requirements, and complex integration projects that demand specialised expertise, often on short notice.

Contractors are no longer temporary add-ons. They work inside project teams, follow the same GMP standards, and often stay until system qualification or facility start-up is complete.

Their presence allows companies to scale resources quickly without increasing fixed headcount, which is critical in a regulated and cost-sensitive environment.

Contracting is moving from being an emergency measure to a core workforce strategy. As projects grow in complexity and timelines stay tight, flexible talent will remain essential to keep operations compliant and competitive.

Traditions are changing – so is the contracting model and its perception in the industry.

For professionals, contracting is no longer a career stopgap. It offers a fast track to technical experience, exposure to major projects, and often a direct path to a permanent role. Contractors build strong networks, sharpen their skills, and position themselves for future opportunities.

For companies, contracting delivers flexibility and rapid access to expertise when it matters most – during audits, CAPEX projects, or system upgrades. It helps maintain compliance and project delivery without the delays of permanent hiring. It offers the right mix to ensure stability while giving access to skills on demand.

In life sciences, temporary talent has become one of the most permanent solutions to complex challenges. As projects grow faster and more specialised, contracting will remain a key part of how the industry gets things done.

It’s easy to see contracting and permanent roles as two opposing tracks. In reality, they are part of the same system. Many of the most successful teams in Switzerland rely on both: permanent staff as the backbone, and contractors as the flexible layer that absorbs peaks, delivers projects, and provides niche expertise.

This is where our team and I come into play. We support life sciences firms across Switzerland with interim and temporary specialists who can step in at short notice, keep projects on track, and give permanent teams the breathing space they need.

I’m proud to have built an extensive network across Swiss and European engineering projects to make that possible. So the real question is: how are you building the right balance between permanent and contracting talent in your teams?