Staff Augmentation CMC Regulatory Specialists

    Bridge the gap between technical development and regulatory requirements with CMC specialists who ensure your chemistry, manufacturing, and controls strategies support successful submissions and lifecycle management.

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    Transform technical complexity into regulatory success

    The chemistry, manufacturing, and controls sections of regulatory submissions often determine approval timelines—yet they require a rare combination of technical depth and regulatory acumen. Our CMC regulatory specialists bridge this gap, translating complex technical data into compelling regulatory narratives that reviewers understand and approve.

    These professionals embed within your organization, working hand-in-hand with your technical teams while maintaining the regulatory perspective needed for successful submissions. They understand that CMC isn't just about documenting what you've done—it's about telling a story that demonstrates control, understanding, and quality. From early development decisions through post-approval changes, they ensure your CMC strategy supports both immediate milestones and long-term flexibility.

    Our CMC specialists come from diverse technical backgrounds—formulation scientists who learned regulatory, regulatory professionals who mastered CMC, and everything in between. They've guided products through the challenges of demonstrating comparability, supported process scale-up without delaying timelines, and helped companies navigate the regulatory aspects of innovative technologies like continuous manufacturing. Most valuably, they speak both languages fluently, ensuring nothing gets lost in translation between your labs and regulatory submissions.

     

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    Deep expertise at the intersection of science and regulation.

    Our CMC regulatory specialists combine technical backgrounds in pharmaceutical development with extensive regulatory experience. They translate complex manufacturing and analytical data into compelling regulatory narratives that reviewers understand and approve.

    Navigate CMC challenges throughout the product lifecycle.

    From early development through post-approval changes, our specialists guide CMC strategies that support regulatory milestones. They help avoid common pitfalls in specifications, stability programs, and manufacturing changes that can delay approvals.

    Optimize manufacturing flexibility while maintaining compliance.

    Our CMC experts help design regulatory strategies that provide operational flexibility—whether for scale-up, site transfers, or process improvements—while ensuring continued compliance and avoiding supplemental filing delays.

    Bridge technical and regulatory teams effectively.

    Serving as interpreters between manufacturing, analytical, and regulatory groups, our specialists ensure technical teams understand regulatory implications while helping regulatory teams grasp technical complexities.

     

    Click to expand CMC regulatory specialist roles we augment

    We provide experienced professionals across CMC regulatory functions including, but not limited to:

    • CMC Regulatory Manager
    • CMC Submission Writer
    • CMC Strategy Consultant
    • Pharmaceutical Development Specialist
    • CMC Regulatory Affairs Specialist
    • Analytical Regulatory Expert
    • Manufacturing Regulatory Specialist
    • CMC Project Manager
    • Stability Program Regulatory Lead
    • CMC Technical Writer
    • Process Validation Regulatory Expert
    • CMC Compliance Specialist
    • Drug Substance Regulatory Lead
    • Drug Product Regulatory Lead
    • CMC Lifecycle Management Specialist

    Contact us »

    Is it time to augment your staff? When to consider augmenting your CMC regulatory function

    CMC regulatory augmentation is critical during IND preparation, technology transfers, or when planning post-approval manufacturing changes. Companies frequently need our specialists when developing specifications, managing complex stability programs, or addressing CMC deficiencies in FDA responses.

    Our CMC experts are also essential for companies developing novel drug delivery systems, managing combination products, or navigating the regulatory aspects of continuous manufacturing, QbD implementation, or other advanced manufacturing approaches.

    Contact us » Read our staff aug guide »

    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 regulatory 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 regulatory staff augmentation in practice?

    Here are six recent, real-world scenarios that show how regulatory teams have tapped our staff-augmentation model to clear bottlenecks and hit critical milestones:

    • A mid-size oncology biotech added three regulatory CMC writers and a submission publisher for 10 months to compile Module 3 in eCTD format while its core team drafted the clinical sections. The bolstered bandwidth let the company file its U.S. NDA and EU MAA within the same quarter—meeting a board-mandated launch window and avoiding a costly financing delay.
    • A surgical-robotics start-up brought in two former-FDA regulatory strategists for eight months to shepherd a De Novo request, manage Q-Sub meetings, and draft responses to additional-information requests. The firm cleared the De Novo pathway on its first cycle, gaining earlier market access while postponing permanent RA hires until post-commercial scale-up.

    • A large generics manufacturer deployed four contracted regulatory-operations specialists for six months to prepare 70+ nitrosamine risk-assessment supplements ahead of the GDUFA III target date. All supplements were accepted for filing with zero RTRs, preserving the company’s competitive supply position and avoiding potential stock-outs.
    • An emerging-markets vaccine developer supplemented its team with two regional regulatory project managers and an eCTD publisher for 12 months to prepare and submit CTAs in Brazil, South Africa, and India. The augmented capacity cut start-up time by 30 percent, enabling first-patient-in three months earlier than forecast and protecting critical efficacy readout timelines.
    • Two senior regulatory strategists embedded for one year to draft the RMAT request, map accelerated-approval options, and outline Module 2 summaries. The designation was granted, and the team entered rolling-submission status six months sooner than projected, giving investors a tangible de-risking milestone.
    • A global diagnostics company hired a three-person labeling compliance squad for nine months to update IFUs, carton labels, and GUDID data sets to meet EU IVDR and U.S. UDI revisions. The surge team completed all updates ahead of the staggered enforcement dates, allowing uninterrupted shipments and freeing the core RA staff to focus on a forthcoming PMA.

    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

    Read our brochure »

    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 regulatory staffing needs

    Ready to discuss your regulatory 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.