Apsida Life Science is a specialist recruitment business, Headquartered in Surrey, with offices in London UK, Boston USA and Pretoria, SA. We provide a recruitment service that delivers genuine value and exceptional experiences through bespoke, cost-effective solutions grounded in quality and integrity. Leveraging our inch-wide, mile-deep networks we’re expertly placed to support your hiring needs across the CRO, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Medical Device, CDMO, eClinical, Patient Recruitment & DCT space.
As an Associate Recruitment Consultant at Apsida Life Science, I specialise in talent acquisition for the CDMO sector across the UK, Europe, and North America. My focus areas include Business Development, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance/Quality Control, and Technical Operations.
I partner with both candidates and clients to create impactful, long-term matches that align technical expertise with business objectives and team culture.
Key responsibilities:
• Talent Sourcing: Proactively identify and engage high-quality candidates through platforms such as LinkedIn, internal databases, and targeted headhunting strategies.
• Candidate Screening & Interviewing: Conduct thorough initial interviews to assess experience, skills, and cultural fit. Gain a deep understanding of candidates’ career goals and motivations to ensure strong alignment with opportunities.
• CV Presentation & Coordination: Support with formatting and submission of candidate profiles to clients or internal business development teams, highlighting key strengths and suitability for the role.
• Candidate Relationship Management: Maintain consistent and transparent communication with candidates throughout the recruitment process. Provide interview preparation, timely feedback, and guidance through to offer stage and onboarding.
Nov 2024 - Present (Remote)
Purpose-Driven Storytelling | Research & Editorial Writing | Social Impact Communications
GoodViral is a purpose-driven organization and podcast that helps businesses integrate social impact into their leadership and operations to enhance profitability and community engagement. Through keynote speaking, consulting, and storytelling, GoodViral highlights individuals and organizations making a positive societal and environmental impact.
• Researched and authored inspiring, solutions-focused articles highlighting global innovations, human resilience, and positive social and environmental change.
• Created content that aligned with GoodViral’s mission of promoting socially responsible leadership, uplifting narratives, and values-based business practices.
• Ensured all written work was optimised for readability, clarity, and audience engagement, while upholding journalistic standards and factual integrity.
• Collaborated with editors to refine voice, tone, and structure, contributing to a growing platform that merges storytelling with social impact strategy.
Jan 2022 - Sep 2024 (Daegu & Seoul, South Korea)
Global Education Leadership | Talent Development | Cross-Cultural Team Management
• Directed international HR operations across seven campuses, leading multicultural teams and embedding people-first practices to drive cohesion, engagement, and performance.
• Oversaw end-to-end global recruitment—from workforce planning to onboarding—designing scalable hiring strategies and implementing ATS-driven solutions to streamline sourcing, compliance, and candidate experience.
• Acted as a strategic HR advisor to the CEO, championing talent development frameworks, succession planning, and leadership coaching aligned with organisational growth and cultural sensitivity.
• Spearheaded team culture transformation initiatives, including remote collaboration systems (Slack, Notion, Asana), employee engagement programmes, and retention strategies that elevated trust, transparency, and ownership.
• Designed and led high-impact onboarding experiences for international hires, ensuring seamless integration and cross-cultural alignment.
• Drove HR-led corporate rebranding initiatives at BeTop Kids and OrangeCat Education in Seoul, positioning employer branding as a cornerstone of talent attraction and internal alignment.
• Led organisational development projects, including curriculum restructuring and internal comms strategy, to strengthen institutional identity and internal culture.
• Managed global digital communication for Son's Edu, integrating brand and culture messaging across platforms (Meta, LinkedIn, Wix), reinforcing the employer value proposition (EVP) to both internal and external audiences.
Nov 2016 - Jan 2022 (Daegu, South Korea)
People & Culture Leadership | Global HR Strategy | Talent Acquisition & Development
• Founded and led the International HR department, building the organisation’s first global people infrastructure—ensuring compliant contracts, English-language HR policies, and centralised systems for international staff support and conflict resolution.
• Oversaw end-to-end talent acquisition across multiple campuses, designing strategic hiring pipelines and personally training branch managers in recruitment best practices, candidate evaluation, and onboarding standards.
• Recruited, trained, and mentored over 100 educators and academic staff, significantly improving retention, teaching quality, and long-term team cohesion.
• Spearheaded employee well-being initiatives, including inclusive policies, transparent communication channels, and proactive conflict resolution, fostering a workplace culture of psychological safety and cultural belonging.
• Led a high-performing cross-cultural team of educators and managers, promoting collaborative leadership, professional growth, and cultural integration.
• Directed the emergency pivot to online education during COVID-19, launching digital upskilling programmes and maintaining staff engagement across locations.
• Developed employer branding strategies using Meta, LinkedIn, and professionally designed websites (Wix, GoDaddy) to attract global talent and strengthen organisational identity.
• Embedded HR best practices into programme delivery, from feedback cycles and development planning to international onboarding and remote team management.
Nov 2013 - Nov 2016 (Daegu, South Korea)
Academic Team Lead | ESL Instructor Recruitment, Onboarding & Training Strategy
• Recruited, onboarded, and supported a team of 13+ ESL instructors, ensuring alignment with pedagogical standards, institutional goals, and student needs.
• Designed and delivered structured onboarding programmes for new instructors, including cultural integration, curriculum orientation, and classroom methodology—accelerating ramp-up time and enhancing retention.
• Created comprehensive training and coaching frameworks, improving classroom delivery, lesson planning, and student engagement, reflected in a 25% increase in performance evaluation scores.
• Conducted structured performance reviews and implemented tailored improvement plans, leading to a 30% rise in student satisfaction and teaching consistency.
• Revamped instructional strategy by embedding project-based learning, digital tools, and differentiated instruction, resulting in a 40% increase in engagement and 15% boost in student retention.
• Developed and refined learner-centred curricula tailored to ESL environments, contributing to a 20% improvement in standardised test outcomes.
• Served as liaison between teaching staff and senior leadership, advocating for teacher resources and development while ensuring compliance with educational standards.
Jan 2020 - Sep 2024 (Daegu & Seoul, South Korea, Hybrid)
Creative Staffing | Brand Strategy | Multilingual Content Operations
• Led global hiring efforts for freelance 2D/3D animators, illustrators, and translators—building agile, remote-first creative teams to support international YouTube content and brand storytelling.
• Developed and executed cross-border recruitment strategies, navigating local market nuances and compliance challenges to build a scalable, global talent pipeline.
• Created brand-aligned job briefs and visual communication assets to ensure role clarity, talent fit, and creative cohesion across cultures and time zones.
• Managed full-cycle recruitment—sourcing, interviewing, onboarding, and contract management—reducing time-to-hire by 30% and improving project delivery timelines.
• Spearheaded English-language brand development, refining the tone, UX, and storytelling of the OrangeCat Global website to appeal to a broader international audience.
• Directed social media hiring campaigns across LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Meta, increasing visibility and inbound applications from qualified creative professionals.
• Coordinated SEO and website optimisation efforts, resulting in a 30% increase in qualified traffic and improved conversion from interest to hire.
• Acted as the primary liaison between creative freelancers and leadership, aligning hiring goals with brand vision, localisation priorities, and production schedules.
Sep 2012 - Sep 2013 (Daegu, South Korea)
Curriculum Development | Student-Centred Instruction | Language Acquisition
• Designed and delivered dynamic, age-appropriate lesson plans for learners aged 6–16, fostering measurable growth in English language proficiency, fluency, and classroom confidence.
• Facilitated customised Business English seminars for adult professionals, adapting instruction to meet varied industry needs and individual learning styles.
• Developed and implemented full curricula for elementary and middle school programmes, including the creation of seasonal intensive courses (summer/winter), tailored to institutional goals and student progression.
• Promoted an inclusive, interactive learning environment using multimedia resources and communicative teaching methods to boost learner engagement across age groups.
May 2012 - Aug 2013 (Washington, D.C.)
NGO Leadership | Conflict Transformation | Cross-Cultural Programme Management
• Served as a core leadership figure in a high-impact nonprofit programme uniting emerging Israeli and Palestinian changemakers through internships, dialogue, and civic leadership training.
• Facilitated cross-cultural leadership development and team-building initiatives, equipping participants with the skills to lead within divided societies and engage in constructive conflict resolution.
• Managed stakeholder communications with high-profile institutions including the U.S. Congress, Al Jazeera, the World Bank, and various embassies, ensuring meaningful engagement and visibility for the programme.
• Coordinated multi-agency events, including embassy briefings and advocacy sessions, while supporting participant placement in prestigious internship roles across Washington, D.C.
• Contributed to the organisation’s mission of empowering the next generation of peacebuilders, with a strong focus on storytelling, empathy-driven leadership, and community impact.
Nov 2011 - May 2012 (Tsalenjikha, Georgia)
Education Access | Cross-Cultural Exchange | Community Empowerment
• Taught Interactive English Communication to primary students (ages 6–12), as well as adult learners—including local teachers, healthcare professionals, and community leaders—in rural Georgian settings.
• Organised and led community-wide English cultural events, including an original English-language play, officially endorsed by the former President of Georgia, to promote language learning and cross-cultural appreciation.
• Played an active role in developing the town’s cultural and academic centre, contributing to sustainable educational infrastructure and increased community engagement with global perspectives.
• Supported local educators through capacity-building workshops and informal training, helping to strengthen long-term English teaching standards in the region.
Jan 2010 - Jul 2011 (Stellenbosch, Part-Time)
Higher Education | Curriculum Design | Bilingual Instruction & Research Support
• Designed curriculum content, assessments, and learning materials for over 300 undergraduate students, supporting academic delivery in both the Department of Education (Curriculum Studies) and the Department of History.
• Delivered undergraduate lectures and tutorials, fostering critical engagement and academic development across diverse student cohorts.
• Translated and edited academic materials between English and Afrikaans, ensuring clarity, accessibility, and linguistic accuracy in course delivery.
• Provided direct research and administrative support to Dr. Chet Fransch, contributing to ongoing academic publications, archival research, and academic planning initiatives.
Feb 2010 - Jul 2010 (Stellenbosch, Part-Time)
Global Education Partnerships | Higher Education Strategy | Cross-Cultural Programme Management
• Oversaw academic and cultural exchange programmes between Stellenbosch University and partner institutions in China and Europe, strengthening global academic cooperation and intercultural understanding.
• Managed all aspects of international programme operations—from student placement to institutional collaboration—within a higher education framework aligned with both local and international standards.
• Organised high-impact liaison events and delegation visits, fostering strategic partnerships and enhancing the Confucius Institute’s visibility and academic relevance.
• Spearheaded campus-wide initiatives to promote Chinese language and culture, increasing student participation and stakeholder engagement through well-executed events, seminars, and cultural showcases.
• Played a key role in positioning the Institute as a bridge for cross-border education and diplomacy, with a strong emphasis on inclusive global learning experiences.
Jun 2010 - Jul 2010 (Washington, D.C.)
International Research | NGO Programming | Global Leadership Development
• Selected as one of only 13 South Africans for the prestigious South African Washington International Program (SAWIP)—a U.S.-based leadership initiative focused on global citizenship, ethical leadership, and social impact.
• Conducted targeted research in International Relations and Economic Development, contributing to educational workshops and public policy discussions hosted by the World Affairs Council.
• Led the planning and coordination of Embassy events in Washington, D.C., promoting intercultural dialogue and international cooperation among diplomatic stakeholders.
• Produced research briefs on BRICS economic growth and sustainability, supporting broader conversations on emerging global economies and their role in international affairs.
• Engaged in a collaborative leadership programme involving NGOs, civic leaders, and public institutions, cultivating a deeper understanding of social justice and cross-cultural diplomacy.
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