MSP in Life Sciences: Merel van Os on Building Strategic Partnerships That Last

When Merel joined Panda, she immediately took ownership of what would become one of the company’s strongest MSP accounts: Johnson & Johnson Netherlands. The partnership marked Panda’s entry into a Tier 1 program and helped establish the business as a trusted supplier across Europe.

“I’ve always been drawn to large, complex organisations where understanding their culture and long-term goals is key,” says Merel. “Working with companies like J&J, Lonza, and Amgen has shown me that success isn’t just about delivery. It’s about partnership and impact.”

Soon after joining, she helped secure an exclusive partnership with Lonza, which has since become one of Panda’s flagship accounts. Today, Merel’s team manages several other key life sciences clients, including Amgen, Philips, Merck, Takeda, and Prothya.

The life sciences market is undergoing a major shift in how companies attract and manage contingent talent.

“More organisations are moving to MSP setups to gain visibility, control, and compliance,” Merel explains. “The focus has moved away from purely cost-driven models. It’s now about building sustainable, high-quality, and compliant workforce solutions that can scale with the business.”

In markets like the Netherlands, where labour laws and classification frameworks evolve regularly, compliance is front and centre.

“As a local partner, Panda stays ahead of these developments so our clients can focus on their growth,” says Merel. “That peace of mind knowing everything is compliant and transparent is what makes MSP partnerships so valuable.”

The most exciting opportunities for MSPs lie where technology and human understanding meet.

“As AI becomes more advanced, MSPs will evolve into predictive, data-driven partners,” says Merel. “But innovation isn’t only about technology. It’s about how we use it to strengthen human connections and make smarter decisions.”

She believes the future of MSPs will depend on their ability to blend insight with empathy. “The MSPs that stand out will be the ones that combine deep niche expertise with emotional intelligence. Recruitment is no longer transactional; it’s about partnership, advisory, and trust.”

For Merel, a successful MSP partnership is built on shared purpose.

“True success happens when both sides are working toward the same goal: attracting and retaining the right talent to help the business grow,” she says. “The best partnerships are open, transparent, and based on trust. We work as an extension of our clients’ internal teams, not as external suppliers.”

At Panda, that approach has redefined what value means in an MSP relationship. It’s not about cost reduction alone, but about consistency, cultural alignment, and continuous improvement.

A standout example is Panda’s partnership with Lonza. “We helped one of their key manufacturing sites build a full project team in a short timeframe,” Merel recalls. “Because we’d already placed professionals across other sites, we understood both the technical and cultural requirements. That allowed us to move quickly while improving retention and cohesion. It showed how an MSP can become a true strategic extension of a client’s workforce.”

Panda’s MSP offering stands out for its exclusive focus on life sciences - one of the most complex and highly regulated industries. Every consultant at Panda combines deep market expertise with strong advisory skills, ensuring every client receives strategic insight, not just delivery.

Performance is another key differentiator. Panda consistently ranks as a top-tier supplier within its MSP programs, maintaining an average fill rate of 20 percent, more than double the industry average of around nine percent.

“We see value as more than just cost,” says Merel. “It’s about quality, compliance, and building relationships that last. Each client has a dedicated Key Account Manager and delivery team, so there’s always accountability and a genuine partnership approach.”

For life sciences organisations considering an MSP for the first time, Merel’s advice is clear: don’t base the decision on price alone.

“The right MSP helps you build a compliant, scalable, and sustainable talent strategy, not just a cheaper one,” she says. “A slightly higher investment often results in better efficiency, stronger retention, and access to the right talent.”

She also points out a common misconception: that MSPs create distance between hiring managers and suppliers

“In reality, a strong MSP brings everyone closer together,” Merel explains. “It connects all stakeholders under one framework, creating faster decisions, less risk, and a much better candidate experience.”

Her final advice for talent leaders is simple but powerful: “Keep your supplier landscape focused. Partner deeply with the top-tier suppliers who consistently deliver quality and understand your business. But also leave room for innovation, bring in new disruptive suppliers to keep ideas fresh and performance high.”

Looking ahead, Merel see MSPs turning into the backbone of total talent management (TTM), playing a central role in how companies strategically manage their entire workforce.

“MSPs are evolving from operational programs into strategic talent partners,” she says. “Especially in life sciences, they’ll play a vital role in Total Talent Management, connecting permanent, freelance, and contractor strategies under one cohesive model.”

Data insights and predictive analytics will guide workforce decisions, while compliance and planning will become more tightly integrated.

“The MSP of the future won’t just manage processes,” Merel concludes. “It will help shape how life sciences companies compete for and retain talent in a global market.”

And at Panda, that future is already taking shape. “We’re scaling our partnerships across Europe and deepening collaboration with key clients. The goal is to be recognised as the go-to MSP partner for life sciences, one that blends quality, innovation, and trust.”

Panda International partners with leading life sciences organisations across Europe to deliver compliant, scalable, and high-performing MSP solutions. With deep sector expertise, human-led advisory, and best-in-class delivery, Panda helps clients transform contingent workforce management into a true strategic advantage.

Discover how Panda’s MSP model helps life sciences organisations gain control, compliance, and agility while unlocking access to top-tier talent.

Learn more about Panda's MSP offering here.