When a global biotechnology company needed a Freelance Project Director for a $200M project in Nebraska, they initially planned to engage an EPCM (Engineering Consultancy) to source the entire project team externally. However, BioTalent offered an alternative solution—a tailored in-house model that provided greater cost savings, control, and long-term benefits.
Key Stats
20 project freelancers under an exclusive Master Service Agreement (MSA)
40% cost savings compared to local EPCMs
7 roles placed to date, with guaranteed job flow for two years
Option to convert consultants to permanent employees
The Challenge
The global biotechnology company required an experienced Project Director to lead a high-value project but had initially decided to work with an EPCM, which would provide a full external project team. This approach, however, came with drawbacks:
Higher costs due to "margin on margin"—where the EPCM outsources to firms like BioTalent but adds their own markup.
Loss of project knowledge—as EPCMs typically retain intellectual property (IP) and expertise within their consultancy.
Limited control—consultants in an EPCM model report to both the client and the consultancy, creating dual-stakeholder challenges.
The Solution
Rather than working through an EPCM, BioTalent proposed a direct in-house recruitment model, providing the talent directly to the client. We:
Took part in a tendering process—demonstrating our ability to deliver an in-house team at a more competitive rate.
Secured an MSA for 20 project freelancers, agreeing on a structured pricing model with incremental reductions as more placements were made.
Provided exclusive access to specialist talent, ensuring that all project hires reported directly to the client, rather than a third-party consultancy.
The Results
The partnership resulted in significant benefits for the client:
40% cost savings—compared to EPCMs, eliminating unnecessary consultancy markups.
No margin stacking—BioTalent sourced all talent directly, avoiding EPCM markups.
Full project control—all freelancers report solely to the client, eliminating dual-stakeholder conflicts.
Knowledge retention—project expertise remains in-house, rather than within an external consultancy.
Future-proofing talent—The client has the option to convert freelancers into permanent employees, an option EPCM agreements prohibit.
What does this means for 'Agile' hiring?
This case study showcases the power of BioTalent Agile—a flexible, cost-effective alternative to traditional outsourcing models. By bypassing EPCMs and working directly with clients, we deliver:
✔ Lower costs
✔ Faster hiring
✔ Greater control
✔ Stronger knowledge retention
For life sciences companies looking to scale teams quickly without consultancy overheads, BioTalent Agile is the future of workforce solutions. Looking to streamline your project hiring? Let’s talk.