We Build Your Ai
Life Sciences & Biotech Dream Team
We leverage our extensive industry knowledge and talent acquisition proficiency to identify, assess, and place highly sought-after AI and cross-disciplinary leaders within the life sciences and biotech sectors—integrating seamlessly into your organization.
The life sciences and biotech sectors are advancing rapidly, with AI and digital innovation at the forefront. At EMA Partners, we help organizations meet these demands by connecting them with proven leaders and specialists who can drive discovery, compliance, and transformation. We bridge critical talent gaps with clarity and speed—delivering impact where it matters most.
Need Help Hiring AI Talent for Life Sciences and Biotech?
Biotech AI Talent Gaps Are Real —And Rising
Demand for talent in life sciences and biotech AI is outpacing supply. Organizations are struggling to fill critical leadership roles—slowing development, increasing regulatory risk, and delaying innovation.
We help our clients fill critical executive, management and specialized roles across the life sciences and biotech AI landscape:
· Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
· Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)
· Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
· Chief Technology Officer (CTO) – AI & Digital Health
· Head of Research & Development (R&D)
· VP, Clinical Development
· VP, Regulatory Affairs
· VP, Data Science or AI
· Director, Precision Medicine or Genomics
· Head of Digital Therapeutics
· Senior Computational Biologist
· AI/ML Product Lead – Life Sciences
· Director, Bioinformatics
· Clinical AI Strategist
· VP, Commercial Strategy – Biotech AI
· Innovation Lead – Diagnostics or Digital Health
· Translational Science & AI Integration Leaders
In short, we bring qualified talent to the rapidly evolving world of life sciences and biotech—especially where AI, data-driven research, and digital health innovation are reshaping how therapies are discovered, developed, and delivered.
Life Sciences & Biotech AI Talent Demand Drivers
Explosive Sector Growth: Advances in precision medicine, AI-driven drug discovery, and diagnostics are accelerating industry expansion.
Talent Bottlenecks in Key Roles: Organizations face mounting pressure to fill senior positions in R&D, data science, regulatory, and digital strategy.
Cross-Disciplinary Gaps: The most sought-after leaders span science, technology, and business—yet few professionals are equipped to bridge all three.
Why Life Sciences Innovators Choose EMA Partners
EMA Partners is trusted by life sciences and biotech organizations to secure top-tier AI and scientific leadership. Our focused experience and commitment to precision help every search deliver measurable impact.
- Deep Industry Expertise: With backgrounds in biotech, diagnostics, and AI-driven cloud, our team understands the scientific, regulatory, and technical challenges you face—from early-stage innovation to global commercialization.
- Proven Processes: From targeted talent mapping to strategic onboarding, our search approach ensures every hire aligns with both your mission and scientific objectives.
- Specialized Talent Network: Access a curated, global network of life sciences and AI leaders—ready to drive innovation and deliver results.
Craig Scheiblauer is a Managing Partner at EMA Partners and is EMA Partners’ North American Practice Leader for Life Sciences & Healthcare. With over 20 years of experience in executive search and leadership roles at Abbott and Bayer, Craig has helped build world-class teams across diagnostics, biotech tools, and pharma—partnering with organizations from early-stage innovators to global enterprises.
Ezra Hodge is a Sr. Managing Partner at EMA Partners and is the Global Practice Leader for AI at EMA Partners. He also is a former global talent leader at Amazon Web Services (AWS). His expertise spans AI, cloud, and digital transformation.
From Life Sciences Executives to AI Specialists— We Deliver
EMA Partners specializes in sourcing high-impact professionals across the full spectrum of life sciences and biotech AI leadership. Here are just a few of the critical roles we help fill:
- Chief Technology Officer (CTO): Leads AI, data, and digital innovation across the organization, ensuring scalable solutions in biotech and life sciences.
- Head of R&D: Oversees scientific discovery and preclinical development, aligning innovation with strategic goals.
- Director of Bioinformatics: Designs and manages data infrastructure for genomics, proteomics, and other complex datasets.
- AI/ML Scientist – Drug Discovery: Applies machine learning to accelerate compound identification, target validation, and trial design.
- VP of Regulatory Affairs: Navigates FDA, EMA, and global regulatory pathways to ensure compliant product advancement.
- Head of Data Security & Compliance: Protects sensitive clinical and genomic data across AI-enabled platforms.
- Chief Medical Officer (CMO): Bridges clinical strategy with innovation, guiding pipeline priorities and external partnerships.
- Cloud Solutions Architect:Develops cloud-based solutions to support seamless scalability.
- Director of Digital Health Innovation: Leads the development of connected care, diagnostics, and patient-facing AI tools.
- Principal Computational Biologist: Integrates biology and AI to inform target selection and therapeutic design.
- VP of Engineering – Life Sciences AI: Oversees infrastructure and platform engineering for scalable, compliant scientific tools.
- VP of Commercial Strategy – Biotech AI: Aligns product innovation with go-to-market strategies in diagnostics, therapeutics, or health platforms.
- Translational Science Director: Connects research with clinical application, enabling effective AI-informed trial design.
- Global Head of Clinical AI Platforms: Manages the deployment and validation of AI solutions across international trials and health systems.
- Operations Leader – Digital Biotech: Ensures efficiency, compliance, and scale-readiness for tech-integrated life sciences operations.
How EMA Partners Solves AI Talent Gaps in Life Sciences
- Strategic Talent Mapping: We identify active and passive candidates across the globe, tapping deep industry networks in biotech, AI, and digital health.
- Collaborative Partnerships: We engage with academic research centers, venture-backed startups, and scientific communities to surface cross-disciplinary leaders.
- Rigorous Vetting: Each candidate is thoroughly evaluated for scientific expertise, leadership potential, and alignment with your mission and stage of growth.
Whether you’re hiring executive leaders, scientific specialists, or emerging talent in AI and biotech, we deliver candidates with the expertise and vision to help you move science forward.
Let’s connect to explore how we can help you overcome talent gaps and build the leadership team you need to grow.
Proven Processes to Close the AI Lifesciences TALENT Gap
Our multi-pronged talent strategy gives your organization access to top-tier scientific and technical leaders—whether you need immediate hires or are planning for long-term growth.
- Strategic Talent Mapping: We identify both active and passive candidates worldwide—across biotech, pharma, diagnostics, and AI-driven health sectors.
- Partnerships That Deliver: We collaborate with academic research hubs, venture-backed incubators, and scientific networks to source specialized and cross-functional talent.
- Comprehensive Vetting: We assess technical expertise, cultural alignment, and leadership potential to ensure each candidate elevates your team’s capabilities.
We Understand that A Shortage of AI Talent Is a Shortage of Discovery and Progress
In a fast-moving industry fueled by AI, precision medicine, and digital health, delays in hiring key talent mean:
- Missed Milestones: Scientific progress and regulatory timelines slip without the right leadership in place.
- Lost Funding & Revenue: Delays in product development and commercialization impact investor confidence and profitability.
EMA Partners helps accelerate time-to-hire—without compromising on scientific, technical, or cultural fit.
Craig Scheiblauer
“We connect our clients to transformative leaders at the intersection of science, technology, and innovation.”
A Letter from EMA’s Executive Member and North American Life Sciences Practice Leader
Colleagues,
With more than two decades in retained executive search—and prior leadership roles at Abbott and Bayer—I’ve had the privilege of working closely with some of the most innovative organizations in life sciences, diagnostics, and biotech. Across hundreds of searches, I’ve seen how the right leader can accelerate discovery, ensure regulatory readiness, and ultimately bring transformative therapies and technologies to market.
Today, the intersection of life sciences and AI is reshaping our industry. From AI-driven diagnostics to digitally enabled clinical trials, the speed of innovation is creating both extraordinary opportunity and unprecedented talent pressure. Organizations now require leaders who not only understand the science but also know how to harness data, scale technology, and navigate evolving regulatory landscapes.
Finding these individuals—the rare leaders who bridge science, technology, and business—is no longer a luxury. It’s a strategic necessity.
At EMA Partners, we understand what’s at stake. I’ve led searches for companies at every stage, from preclinical startups to global life sciences giants. Our work spans the C-suite to specialized technical leadership, and we bring not only a rigorous search process but also deep industry knowledge.
I’ve seen firsthand how a single hire can change the trajectory of a company. It’s that impact that continues to drive my passion for this work.
If you’re building your leadership team, expanding into AI-driven discovery, or preparing for your next phase of growth, my team and I would be honored to support you. Let’s talk about your specific needs—and how we can help you secure the talent that will define your future.
Sincerely,
Craig Scheiblauer
Managing Partner, EMA Partners Atlanta
North American Practice Leader, Life Sciences & Healthcare
A Letter from EMA’s Global Practice Leader for Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Leaders,
AI is no longer emerging—it’s reshaping the future of life sciences. From predictive modeling in drug discovery to real-time diagnostics and personalized medicine, innovation is accelerating at an extraordinary pace. But none of it moves forward without the right people.
At EMA Partners, we understand the talent challenges this transformation brings. My earliest career began in medical illustration at Ochsner Hospital, a biomedical research leader, where I learned how visual storytelling can clarify the most complex breakthroughs in science and medicine. It gave me a front-row seat to the pace of discovery—and the importance of bridging technical depth with human understanding. Later, at Amazon Web Services (AWS), I led global initiatives to scale AI and cloud talent—building the teams behind some of the most impactful digital transformations.
Today, I apply those lessons to the world of life sciences and healthtech, where the stakes are even higher. Whether you’re a biotech startup pushing the boundaries of digital therapeutics or a global life sciences company integrating AI into your pipeline, we help you secure the leadership and technical talent to move faster—with clarity and confidence.
Let’s talk about how we can help you build a future-ready team that delivers real impact.
Sincerely,
Ezra Hodge
Sr. Managing Partner, EMA Partners Seattle
Global Practice Leader, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Specialized. Insightful. Results-Driven.
Our retained search model ensures your most critical hiring needs receive focused attention, domain-specific expertise, and consistently high-quality results.
- Exclusive Priority: Your most urgent and high-impact roles receive dedicated attention from our specialized team.
- Customized Solutions: Search strategies are tailored to the complexity of scientific, technical, and cross-functional leadership roles.
- Post-Hire Support: We stay engaged beyond placement to help ensure retention, integration, and long-term success.
Contact Us
IT TAKES A TEAMLet’s Build the Future of Life Sciences Together
Request EMA's AI Lifesciences Talent White Papers
Your Life Sciences AI Talent Solution—Built to Accelerate Innovation
In the rapidly evolving life sciences and biotech landscape, securing the right talent is no longer a luxury—it’s a strategic imperative. With accelerating advancements in AI, precision medicine, digital diagnostics, and regulatory complexity, the demand for cross-disciplinary leaders has never been greater.
At EMA Partners, we specialize in retained search services that address one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: the shortage of qualified, visionary talent. Whether you’re scaling an R&D pipeline, integrating AI into your discovery platforms, or preparing for regulatory submissions and commercialization, we help ensure your organization has the leadership in place to innovate and grow.
The Biotech & AI Talent Shortage Is Real—And Growing
The life sciences and biotech sectors are experiencing hyper growth, driven by breakthroughs in AI, data science, and precision medicine. Yet the industry faces a critical challenge: the demand for specialized leadership and technical AI talent far exceeds the available supply.
- Thousands of Roles Open Each Year: Critical positions in R&D, AI, and clinical strategy remain unfilled—slowing innovation and growth.
- Retiring Expertise: Senior leaders with decades of experience are exiting the workforce, creating leadership gaps across the industry.
- Limited Cross-Disciplinary Pipeline: Few professionals are trained to navigate both science and AI, leaving biotech organizations short on hybrid talent.
This talent gap puts innovation, compliance, and scalability at risk. But there’s a solution.
Why Life Sciences and Biotech Decision-Makers Choose EMA Partners
At EMA Partners, we don’t just fill roles—we help build the future of healthcare and innovation through talent. With deep expertise in life sciences, biotech, and AI-driven transformation, our team connects you to the leaders who drive discovery, compliance, and growth.
- Deep Industry Knowledge: Led by Craig Scheiblauer and Ezra Hodge, our team brings decades of experience across life sciences, diagnostics, biotech tools, and AI innovation.
- Proven Processes: From strategic talent mapping to executive onboarding, we deliver hires who align with your scientific, technical, and cultural goals.
- Specialized Talent Network: Access a global pipeline of biotech, clinical, and AI leaders—carefully curated to meet the evolving needs of your organization.
We bring decades of domain-specific experience to every search—making us a trusted partner to life sciences and biotech organizations around the world.
Discover why leading biotech and life sciences organizations turn to EMA Partners for critical talent solutions.
The success of your data center operations depends on the right people in the right positions. EMA Partners specializes in sourcing top talent for the most critical roles, including:
- Leadership Roles:
a. Chief Technology Officer (CTO): Leads AI and digital transformation across scientific and commercial functions.
b. Chief Medical Officer (CMO): Guides clinical strategy, regulatory engagement, and patient-centered innovation.
c. Chief Scientific Officer (CSO): Shapes R&D direction and scientific vision for discovery and development programs. - Specialized Technical Roles:
Director of Bioinformatics: Oversees data-driven approaches to genomic analysis and interpretation.
AI/ML Scientist – Drug Discovery: Applies machine learning to target identification, compound optimization, and clinical trial design.
Clinical AI Strategist: Integrates AI into diagnostics, remote monitoring, and digital health solutions.
Computational Biologist: Connects biological data with modeling tools to support translational science. - Operational & Regulatory Roles:
VP of Regulatory Affairs: Ensures global compliance, including FDA/EMA submissions and evolving AI regulations.
Director of Quality Systems: Oversees validation, GxP processes, and AI-enhanced QA workflows.
Head of Clinical Operations: Manages trial logistics and vendor coordination to accelerate study timelines.
VP of Data Governance: Maintains security, privacy, and ethical use of sensitive clinical and genomic data. - Emerging & Hybrid Roles:
Digital Therapeutics Product Lead: Combines product strategy, AI integration, and clinical insight for digital interventions.
Translational AI Lead: Bridges discovery science and patient outcomes through intelligent data systems.
Director of Platform Engineering – Life Sciences: Leads design of secure, scalable infrastructures for data and ML pipelines.
Innovation Officer – Diagnostics & Digital Health: Identifies new opportunities and technologies to improve care pathways. - Scientific Support & Engineering Roles:
Project Scientist – Precision Medicine: Supports assay design, data interpretation, and biomarker validation.
Biomedical & Systems Engineers: Enable device integration, instrumentation, and real-time data capture in clinical environments.
Explore our specialized expertise in filling these critical Life Sciences & Biotech AI roles
Every Day Without the Right Talent Slows Innovation — and Increases Risk
The rapid advancement of AI, precision medicine, and digital health is placing unprecedented pressure on life sciences and biotech organizations. The cost of delayed hiring is significant:
- Missed Growth Opportunities: Talent gaps delay product development, regulatory filings, and market entry.
- Increased Costs: Inefficiencies, trial delays, and compliance risks drive up both direct and indirect expenses.
EMA Partners accelerates time-to-hire without compromising on scientific or strategic fit. Our retained search process is built to reduce delays—so your organization stays on track to innovate, scale, and deliver impact.
Don’t wait to fill the critical roles that drive your innovation and growth.
Well Paired Hiring Pays Off
- Unqualified Hires: A SHRM survey showed 61% of employers admitted to hiring underqualified candidates, with 56% acknowledging they rushed recruitment.
- Financial Impact: According to Forbes, a bad hire can cost 50–250% of that employee’s salary—burdening already stretched R&D and commercialization budgets.
- Team Morale: Poor hiring decisions disrupt high-performing teams and delay momentum across clinical, scientific, and commercial programs.
- Regulatory & Technical Risk: In regulated fields, the wrong hire can derail product filings or compromise data integrity—introducing unnecessary risk and delay.
Let Us Find the Top Talent Driving Innovation in Life Sciences & Biotech AI
You Need Life sciences AI Talent:
Tell Us Your Requirements and Let’s Talk
- Strategic Talent Mapping: We identify both active and passive candidates globally—drawing from biotech, pharma, diagnostics, and AI ecosystems to surface the right leaders.
- Collaborative Partnerships: We engage with academic institutions, incubators, and scientific networks to expand access to diverse, high-impact talent.
- Rigorous Vetting: Each candidate is thoroughly evaluated for domain expertise, cross-functional leadership, and cultural alignment through a multi-layered assessment process.
