Staff Augmentation CAPA and Deviation Specialists

    Our contracted CAPA management experts investigate, resolve, and prevent quality events—turning compliance challenges into opportunities for improvement while eliminating backlogs that put your operations at risk.

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    Efficiently manage quality events and drive continuous improvement

    We provide rapid access to dedicated quality event management specialists who work exclusively for your organization on a contract basis. These professionals integrate directly into your quality team—investigating deviations, developing corrective actions, and implementing preventive measures while operating within your systems and processes.

    Unlike traditional consultants who provide periodic support, our contracted specialists focus exclusively on your quality events day-to-day, rapidly resolving backlogs and implementing sustainable improvements. This model delivers specialized investigation expertise exactly when you need it, without the recruitment delays or long-term financial commitment of permanent hires.

    Our specialists understand the complexities of quality event management and have backgrounds implementing and optimizing CAPA systems at organizations ranging from startups to multinational corporations. Many have experience addressing significant backlogs, implementing electronic systems, and developing sustainable processes that satisfy regulatory requirements while promoting operational efficiency.

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    Backlog reduction resources without permanent overhead.

    When facing significant deviation backlogs, our staff augmentation model allows you to bring in one or multiple CAPA specialists simultaneously for rapid remediation, then scale back as the backlog diminishes—avoiding the inefficiency of maintaining permanent staff for fluctuating workloads.

    Investigation expertise aligned to your specific quality event types.

    Rather than hiring generalists who handle all deviations, our model enables you to engage specialists with experience investigating your specific types of quality events—whether sterility excursions, software issues, or manufacturing deviations.

    Flexible resource allocation as investigation complexity fluctuates.

    Unlike fixed headcount models that struggle with unpredictable investigation workloads, staff augmentation allows you to adjust resources in real-time as simple deviations are cleared and complex investigations require more attention.

    Knowledge transfer that strengthens your investigation methodology.

    Our contracted CAPA specialists don't just process deviations—they implement improved investigation techniques and root cause analysis approaches that elevate your permanent team's capabilities for sustained performance improvement.


    Click to expand CAPA and deviation management roles we augment

    We provide experienced professionals across the full spectrum of quality event management functions including, but not limited to:

    • CAPA Specialist
    • Deviation Investigator
    • CAPA System Administrator
    • Root Cause Analysis Expert
    • Quality Event Manager
    • Non-Conformance Specialist
    • CAPA Trend Analyst
    • Investigation Lead
    • CAPA Coordinator
    • Complaint Investigator
    • Quality Event Reviewer
    • Quality Event Triage Specialist

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    Is it time to augment your staff? When to consider augmenting your CAPA and deviation management function

    Our CAPA and deviation staff augmentation solutions are ideal during backlog situations when you need to rapidly process accumulated investigations without disrupting your core quality operations. They're equally valuable for implementing new CAPA systems, providing dedicated expertise to design and optimize quality event management processes. During post-inspection remediation, our specialists help address CAPA-related observations quickly and effectively.

    For teams experiencing increased event volumes due to production expansion or new product introductions, our resources manage the surge without requiring permanent headcount increases. Also, when managing high-impact investigations, our professionals bring specialized root cause analysis expertise to resolve complex quality events while your permanent team maintains routine activities.

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    Click to Expand A few frequently asked questions

    What is staff augmentation—and how does it work?

    Staff augmentation is a flexible workforce model where we provide full-time contracted professionals who work exclusively for your organization on a temporary basis. Unlike traditional consulting where advisors may serve multiple clients simultaneously, our staff augmentation consultants operate as specialized contractors that integrate directly into your team—following your processes, reporting to your management, and focusing solely on your priorities. This arrangement gives you immediate access to specialized expertise without the administrative burden, recruitment delays, and long-term commitment of permanent hiring.

    Our staff augmentation process follows these key steps:

    1. Needs Assessment: We begin with a detailed discussion of your requirements, including technical skills, experience level, project scope, timeline, and any specific certifications or backgrounds needed.
    2. Resource Selection: Our recruitment team identifies candidates from our network of thousands of consultants, including hundreds of former FDA personnel, who match your specific requirements. We present only the most qualified candidates (typically 1-2) for your consideration.
    3. Interviews and Selection: You interview the presented candidates and select the professional who best fits your needs. There's no obligation to proceed with any candidate who doesn't meet your expectations.
    4. Onboarding: Once selected, the consultant is quickly onboarded to your organization. They become integrated into your team, using your systems and following your processes.
    5. Management and Support: While you direct the day-to-day activities of the consultant, our account management team provides ongoing support to ensure your satisfaction throughout the engagement.
    6. Flexibility: The engagement can be extended, scaled, or concluded based on your evolving needs, with no long-term commitment required.

    What are the advantages of augmenting my quality staff?

    Staff augmentation offers several key advantages for drug, device, biologic, biotech, and others in the FDA-regulated industries:

    • Immediate Access to Expertise: Gain specialized skills right away—without the 3-6+ month recruitment timeline typically required for quality roles.
    • Flexibility: Scale your team up or down based on workload fluctuations without the administrative burden of hiring and layoffs.
    • Cost Efficiency: Avoid expenses associated with permanent employees, including benefits, training costs, office space, and technology.
    • Risk Reduction: Test-drive your position's roles and responsibilities before committing to permanent hires, reducing the risk of misaligned job descriptions.
    • Knowledge Transfer: Benefit from best practices and specialized expertise that contracted professionals bring from their experience across multiple organizations.
    • Focus on Core Activities: Let your permanent team concentrate on strategic priorities while contracted resources handle specific projects or workload surges.

    What are some examples of quality staff augmentation in practice?

    Here are a few recent real-world examples of how quality teams have successfully utilized our staff augmentation services:

    • A mid-sized pharmaceutical company augmented its team with five CAPA specialists for six months to eliminate a significant deviation backlog following a merger, completing the project ahead of schedule and under budget.
    • A medical device manufacturer brought in a contracted Quality Director for nine months during an executive search, ensuring continuity of operations and successful completion of a scheduled FDA inspection.
    • A biotech startup engaged two QMS specialists to build their quality system from the ground up during product development, avoiding the premature hiring of a permanent quality team before their funding round was completed.
    • A global pharmaceutical company supplemented their supplier quality team with three contracted auditors to address a backlog of vendor qualifications needed for a manufacturing expansion, allowing their permanent team to focus on ongoing operations.
    • A contract manufacturer utilized a documentation specialist to develop a comprehensive suite of SOPs for a new aseptic filling line while their internal team focused on validation activities, accelerating their timeline to operational readiness.
    • A specialty pharmaceutical company engaged a contracted Manufacturing Quality Specialist for 12 months to oversee quality operations during the tech transfer and startup of a new aseptic filling line, ensuring GMP compliance from day one.

    How do I know if staff augmentation is the optimal model?

    Staff augmentation is typically ideal in the following scenarios—however there are many more than this:
    • Temporary Gaps: When you need to fill critical positions quickly during transitions, leaves of absence, or unexpected departures.
    • Project-Based Needs: When timelines don't justify permanent headcount, such as remediation activities, system implementations, or facility startups.
    • Specialized Expertise: When you require specialized skills that aren't needed continuously but are critical for specific phases or projects.
    • Headcount Restrictions: When budget constraints or hiring freezes prevent permanent additions despite workload demands.
    • Uncertain Duration: When the timeline for resource needs isn't clearly defined, making the flexibility of staff augmentation particularly valuable.
    • Skill Validation: When you want to validate job descriptions and responsibilities before committing to permanent hires.

    If you're unsure whether staff augmentation is right for your situation, our account managers can help you evaluate your specific needs and recommend the most appropriate resourcing model. We do it all the time. Contact us.

    What industries and therapeutic areas do you staff into?

    We specialize in the FDA-regulated life science and medtech industries listed below. We also support Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs), Contract Research Organizations (CROs), and other service providers within these sectors. Our exclusive focus on FDA-regulated industries ensures that our consultants understand the unique regulatory requirements, quality standards, and compliance expectations specific to these sectors. This specialization allows us to provide resources who can contribute effectively from day one, without the learning curve typically associated with generalist staffing firms whose recruiters typically don't come from the industries they're hiring into.

    • Pharmaceuticals
      • Rx (Prescription) Drugs
      • Generic Drugs
      • Combination Products
      • Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications
      • Compounding Drug Products (including 503B facilities)
      • Orphan Drugs (for rare diseases)
      • Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
      • Radiopharmaceuticals
    • Medical Devices/Medtech
      • Diagnostics
      • Surgical Instruments
      • Implantable Devices
      • Wearable Medical Devices
      • Dental Devices
      • Ophthalmic Devices
      • Orthopedic Devices
      • Cardiovascular Devices
      • Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs)
      • Software as a Medical Device (SaMD)
      • In Vitro Diagnostic Devices (IVDs)
    • Biologics
      • Biosimilars
      • Vaccines
      • Blood and Blood Components
      • Allergenic Products
      • Peptides
      • CAR T-Cell Therapies
      • Tissue-Engineered Products
      • Monoclonal Antibodies
      • Cell and Gene Therapy
      • Stem Cell-Based Products
      • Recombinant Therapeutic Proteins

    What is the typical timeframe to bring on a staff augmentation resource?

    Once your requirements are defined, we typically present qualified candidates within 3-5 business days—often much faster—sometimes virtually immediately. After selection, most consultants can begin within 1-2 weeks, depending on their availability and any onboarding requirements specific to your organization. For urgent needs, we can often accelerate this timeline, particularly for common quality roles.

    What if the consultant or contractor isn't a good fit for our team?

    While our 95% first-time success rate demonstrates our ability to match the right resource to your needs, we understand that not every placement works perfectly. If you're not satisfied with a consultant's performance or fit, we'll work promptly to address your concerns or provide a replacement under our Total Quality Guarantee. Our goal is your complete satisfaction with every placement.

    What should I prepare for our initial discussion?

    To make our initial conversation as productive as possible and help us identify the perfect resource for your needs, consider preparing the following information:

    • Role Description: A brief outline of the position you need to fill, including key responsibilities and deliverables. If you have a formal job description, that's helpful but not required.
    • Required Experience: Specific industry experience, technical skills, or regulatory knowledge the ideal candidate should possess.
    • Project Scope: For project-based needs, a summary of the project scope, key milestones, and expected timelines.
    • Timing Considerations: Your ideal start date and the expected duration of the engagement.
    • Location Requirements: Whether the role requires on-site presence (and where), can be performed remotely, or requires a hybrid approach.

    Don't worry if you don't have all of this information prepared! Our account managers are skilled at asking the right questions to understand your needs. The more context you can provide initially, the more efficiently we can identify the ideal resource for your specific situation.

    I'm interested—what's the first step I should take?

    We make this very easy. The first step is simply to contact us for an initial conversation about your specific needs. Complete the form at the bottom of this page, and a dedicated account manager will reach out to you within one business day (often within hours) to discuss your requirements.

    During this initial conversation, we'll discuss:

    • The specific role or expertise you're seeking
    • Your timeline and duration requirements
    • Technical skills and experience levels needed
    • Your budget considerations
    • Industry-specific requirements
    • Location preferences (on-site, remote, or hybrid)

    After understanding your needs, we'll quickly identify suitable candidates from our network and present them for your consideration. There's no obligation to proceed, and we're happy to refine our search based on your feedback.

    The entire process is designed to be simple and responsive, with our team handling all the details to connect you with the right quality professional as quickly as possible.

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    Why work with The FDA Group?

     
    • Exclusive life science focus and expertise
    • Dedicated account management team
    • Right resource, first time (95% success)
    • 97% client satisfaction
    • Total Quality Guarantee

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    Case Study QMS Remediation Through Staff Augmentation

    The FDA Group helped a multinational pharmaceutical company eliminate its deviation and CAPA backlogs while implementing systemic quality improvements. Our team of 17 specialists tackled remediation activities, provided staff training, and ensured continuity of improvements across their QMS. The project was completed on time and under budget, restoring the company's compliance status without disrupting operations.

    Read the case study (PDF) »

    Case Study Long-Term Quality System Staff Augmentation

    Learn how The FDA Group partnered with a large clinical service company to manage its QMS remediation efforts and fulfill long-term staffing assignments for two vital roles in the management of the company’s quality and pharmacovigilance functions. This case study demonstrates the value of our convenient, cost-effective staff augmentation model as a means of circumventing the administrative costs and burdens of traditional hiring.

    Read the case study (PDF) »

    Our Proven Process

    Introductory Conversation

    • About Us
    • About You
    • Scope Of Work

    Resources Definition

    • Background And Expertise
    • Location Of Resource
    • Rate Rightsizing

    Proprietary Resource Selection Process

    • In-House Subject Matter Experts
    • Recruiting Team External Search
    • Resource Identification

    Resource Presentation

    • CV And Rate
    • Perfect Match Summary
    • Interview Call Coordination

    Agreement Processing

    • MSA And Addendums
    • Supplier Qualification
    • Kickoff Coordination

    Account Management

    • Project Management Of Resource
    • Satisfaction Management For Client
    • Total Quality Guarantee

    Start the conversation Let's connect about your quality staffing needs

    Ready to discuss your quality resource requirements? We're here to help. When you submit this form, a dedicated account manager will review your needs and contact you within one business day—often within hours. Your information remains strictly confidential and is used solely to match you with the right quality resource for your specific requirements.