Staffing in pharmaceutical and life sciences is not just about filling roles. In GMP environments, the people on site carry responsibility for compliance, continuity, and day to day operational confidence. When turnover is high or knowledge walks out the door, the impact is felt quickly.
That reality is forcing many organizations to rethink how they resource critical support functions. Instead of asking who can fill a role the fastest, the better question is who can stay, grow, and truly own the work over time.
This article is the first in a three part Ask the Expert series with Mike Barrett, Director of Sales and Delivery of Professional and Managed Services at Catalyx. Across the series, Mike shares how Catalyx approaches resourcing differently, moving away from short term staffing and toward building permanent teams that become part of the operation.
In Part 1, Mike talks about what it means to deliver expertise rather than just people. He explains why Catalyx invests heavily in its own employees, how that investment shows up on client sites, and why permanence matters so much in regulated GMP environments.
Beyond Staffing: Delivering Expertise, Not Just People
Catalyx often says it does not just provide people, but expertise. What does that mean in practice for clients?
Over the past few years, demand has shifted significantly. Life sciences companies are no longer just looking for people to fill roles. They need the right people with the right expertise, especially in environments where compliance, consistency, and quality are critical.
Many organizations want to stay focused on their core mission, whether that is advancing R and D or delivering life changing products to patients, without being pulled into the complexity of managing supporting functions. That is where Catalyx comes in.
Rather than supplying temporary resources, Catalyx embeds highly skilled professionals who take real ownership of critical non core areas. This approach reduces pressure on internal teams, improves operational efficiency, and allows clients to focus on what matters most: innovation, compliance, and delivering for their customers.
A Different Model from Traditional Staffing
Catalyx’s Professional and Managed Services division operates very differently from traditional staffing models.
Approximately 80 to 90 percent of the people placed on client sites are Catalyx employees. This is a fundamental distinction. In many traditional staffing arrangements, a contract is won for a specific role and an individual is placed based on availability. The model is typically driven by the margin between what the individual is paid and what the client is charged.
Catalyx takes a long term view. People are hired directly because the goal is to build careers, not just fill jobs. That means investing in development through training, mentorship, coaching, and continuous support.
When a Catalyx professional goes on site, they are not simply filling a seat. They are fully trained, fully supported, and backed by the broader Catalyx organization. This creates a delivery model that is resilient, scalable, and sustainable, benefiting both clients and employees.
Why Permanent Teams Matter in GMP Environments
Having more than 90% permanent staff is a major advantage when operating in GMP regulated environments.
Permanence creates continuity. Over time, teams build deep knowledge of client systems, processes, and culture. In settings where compliance and consistency are essential, this stability significantly reduces risk and improves performance.
It also enables meaningful career development. For example, someone starting in a QC laboratory can be trained, mentored, and prepared to move into a QA role when the opportunity arises. From the client’s perspective, this means gaining experienced professionals who already understand the environment, rather than onboarding new hires from scratch.
The result is a win for everyone. Employees see clear growth paths, and clients benefit from trusted experts who can step up seamlessly as needs evolve.
Expertise Across the Operational Spectrum
Catalyx embeds expertise across the full range of functions required to keep pharmaceutical and life sciences operations running smoothly. This includes engineering, quality, maintenance, and day to day operations.
These are the professionals who ensure regulated operations remain compliant, efficient, and resilient, even as demands change.
A True Strategic Partnership
As Mike Barrett explains, Catalyx’s approach goes far beyond filling roles. By investing in people, embedding permanent teams, and consistently delivering quality in GMP environments, Catalyx helps clients build lasting capability within their operations.
It is not just staffing. It is a strategic partnership that delivers stability, compliance, and long term value across the life sciences industry.