Leadership in life sciences staffing requires more than industry knowledge. It demands relationships, adaptability, and a commitment to quality. As General Manager of Orbis Clinical, Ryan Jacklin brings nearly two decades of experience navigating the evolving needs of pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device organizations. His journey reflects both the growth of the industry and the specialized approach that defines Orbis Clinical today. In this installment of Meet the Leader, Ryan shares insights on his background, the market outlook, and what sets Orbis Clinical apart.
From Recruiter to Leader at Orbis Clinical
Ryan’s career in life sciences staffing began in 2006 as his first job out of college, when he joined a large staffing organization helping launch a clinical research segment. Starting as a recruiter and progressing through business development and leadership roles across multiple firms, he built deep expertise serving pharma, biotech, medical device, and CRO clients. This progression gave him a comprehensive view of the industry, from candidate engagement to strategic growth initiatives.
What ultimately drew him to Orbis Clinical was the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a specialized, relationship-driven organization. Having worked in both large and small companies, Ryan discovered that boutique environments aligned better with his professional style and personal values. From his first conversations with the team, he recognized a shared commitment to integrity, collaboration, and growth that continues to motivate him today.
A Positive Shift in the Life Sciences Staffing Landscape
After several challenging years following the COVID-19 pandemic, Ryan sees renewed optimism across the life sciences sector. Budget constraints and cautious hiring slowed the market, but signs of recovery are emerging. He believes 2026 could mark a significant turning point, with organizations regaining confidence and reopening critical roles.
For Orbis Clinical, this shift presents opportunities to reconnect clients with highly specialized talent. As companies resume innovation initiatives and clinical programs, the demand for experienced professionals in regulatory affairs, drug safety, biometrics, and clinical operations continues to grow. Ryan emphasizes that staying close to both clients and consultants enables Orbis Clinical to anticipate needs rather than simply react to them.
The Orbis Clinical Model: Relationships First
A defining strength of Orbis Clinical is its relationship-focused approach. With more than 20 years dedicated exclusively to life sciences staffing, the firm has cultivated a vast network of trusted consultants and clients. Ryan stresses that successful placements are built on understanding people – their goals, values, and working styles – not just matching keywords on a résumé.
Unlike agencies driven purely by volume, Orbis Clinical prioritizes thoughtful, consultative partnerships. The team invests time to ensure that each placement aligns with both technical requirements and organizational culture. This approach helps clients secure talent that delivers long-term value while giving candidates opportunities where they can truly thrive.
Where Epic Staffing Group Scale Meets Orbis Clinical Specialization
As part of Epic Staffing Group, Orbis Clinical combines boutique specialization with enterprise-level support. Access to broader resources enhances learning and development, benefits, and operational capabilities for both internal teams and consultants. According to Ryan, this structure allows Orbis Clinical to offer advantages rarely available in the contractor space, including robust benefits that foster loyalty and continuity.
This backing also fuels growth. Consultants who have positive experiences often advocate for Orbis Clinical when joining new organizations, opening doors to additional partnerships. The result is a cycle of trust and expansion driven by consistent delivery and strong relationships, strengthened by the scale and stability of Epic Staffing Group.
The Orbis Clinical Difference
For Ryan, quality isn’t just a priority in staffing. It’s the foundation on which everything else is built. That means partnering with clients who genuinely value their consultants and identifying candidates who bring not only the right technical expertise but also the cultural alignment to succeed. By holding a high bar on both sides, Orbis Clinical creates placements that last, relationships that deepen, and outcomes that truly move organizations forward.
Specialization is the other defining force behind the Orbis Clinical approach. By concentrating on critical life sciences functions – including clinical operations, biometrics, quality, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance and drug safety, and site management – the team delivers a level of precision that generalist agencies simply cannot replicate. This focused expertise is paired with a consultative mindset grounded in honesty: if a role falls outside their strengths, they say so. That transparency not only builds trust but also reinforces Orbis Clinical’s reputation as a partner committed to doing what’s right, not just what’s easy.
Leadership That Puts People First at Orbis Clinical
Under Ryan’s leadership, Orbis Clinical continues to strengthen its position as a trusted partner in life sciences staffing by staying true to what has driven its success for more than two decades: relationships, specialization, and quality. His hands-on experience across recruiting, business development, and operations shapes a leadership style grounded in both strategy and empathy for clients and consultants alike. As the market regains momentum, Ryan’s focus on thoughtful growth and high standards ensures Orbis Clinical is not just keeping pace with the industry but helping define what excellence looks like within it. With a clear vision and a values-driven approach, Orbis Clinical is well-positioned to deliver meaningful impact for the organizations and professionals advancing life sciences innovation.
Epic Staffing Group is a diversified national provider of staffing services to the healthcare and biopharmaceutical industries. We focus on outsourced placement of talented and in-demand individuals in Life Sciences, Nursing, Allied Health, Children’s Physical & Behavioral Therapy, Cardiac & Cancer Treatment, Diagnostics and Imaging, Locum Tenens Surgical Services, and Interim Leadership. Check out our blog to learn more about the amazing leadership behind Epic’s continued success.
