Navigating Growth & Change in Biopharma Recruitment

Govig & Associates is a national executive recruitment firm specializing in placing top talent in the Biopharma industry. We partner with companies of all sizes, from emerging startups to established leaders, across a range of therapeutic fields—including neuro-oncology, rare disease pediatrics, and genetics.
One of our past successes involved Nightstar, a small biotech startup advancing groundbreaking, one-time retinal gene therapies for rare inherited retinal diseases. Their lead program, a promising treatment for choroideremia (CHM)—a rare genetic disorder causing progressive vision loss—was in Phase 3 clinical trials, a critical milestone with no approved treatments currently available.
As Nightstar expanded, their Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs identified an urgent need for a Regulatory Affairs Chemistry Manufacturing Controls (RA-CMC) expert with mid-to-late-stage industry experience and Biological License Application (BLA) filing expertise—an exceptionally niche skill set. Having recently placed a senior RA-CMC professional in the same field and location, Govig was the natural choice for the search.
Our Development and Production team worked closely with Nightstar’s leadership to refine the job criteria, ensuring the hire would be a strategic fit. In startups, where lean teams mean every role is mission-critical, precision in hiring is key. Govig quickly identified top-tier local candidates and initiated the interview process.
Then, an unexpected challenge arose—Nightstar was acquired by a major pharmaceutical company. Practically overnight, our client transformed from a small biotech into part of a global organization. Understanding that such transitions can disrupt hiring momentum, our team adapted swiftly, maintaining clear and open communication with both the client and candidates. By keeping candidates engaged and aligned with the company’s evolving needs, we successfully completed the hiring process within two weeks. The selected candidate, recognizing the unique opportunity, accepted Nightstar’s offer over two competing offers.
At Govig, we thrive on navigating complex hiring landscapes. Whether it’s supporting a startup’s growth or guiding talent acquisition through industry shifts, we’re committed to delivering the right talent at the right time—no matter the challenges along the way.