A rushed executive hire in pharma or biotech can cost you more than just money. It's a bit like rushing FDA approval - the consequences can be devastating. Let's get real about something I've seen repeatedly in the life sciences sector: the pressure to fill senior roles quickly often leads to expensive mistakes. When a VP of Manufacturing position sits empty, or a Chief Commercial Officer role needs filling, the temptation to accelerate the hiring process is strong.

In life sciences, where a single executive hire can make or break a product launch or regulatory approval, this instinct-based approach is more expensive than ever. SHRM reports that a bad hire at the executive level costs up to 213% of annual salary. With average executive salaries in life sciences ranging from $250,000-$400,000, we're talking about a multi-million dollar mistake.