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Life Science Recruitment

Employer of Record in Germany

You want to launch in Germany and need key staff – such as a Managing Director (Geschäftsführer), Medical Science Liaisons or field sales – while the formation of your German company is still under way? We find the right specialists, employ them ourselves and assign them to you until your own company takes them on. We work exclusively for the life sciences industry.

Book an initial call

How it works

  1. Clarify requirementsRole, seniority and timeline.
  2. Find specialistsWe search for the candidates; you decide whom you meet.
  3. Employment with ConstaresWe employ under the Temporary Agency Work Act (Arbeitnehmerüberlassungsgesetz, AÜG), with social security, payroll and collectively agreed terms. You receive one invoice per month.
  4. Direct hireOnce your company is set up, you take the employees on. This is required after 18 months at the latest. The conversion fee decreases with the length of the assignment; after 12 months direct hire is free of charge.

The legal framework

“Employer of Record” is not a legally defined term in Germany. Anyone who employs staff who work for another company is engaged in temporary agency work (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung) and needs a licence for temporary agency work (Überlassungserlaubnis) under Section 1 AÜG. Constares holds an unlimited licence, granted by the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), Nuremberg Regional Directorate.

Licence for temporary agency work, PDF (German)

The assignment of individual employees is limited by law to a maximum assignment period of 18 months (Section 1(1b) AÜG). For roles with designated responsibilities such as Qualified Person, graduated plan officer (Stufenplanbeauftragter) or information officer (Informationsbeauftragter), we agree the appropriate structure with you.

What your employees can expect from us

Fair pay under the collective agreement for temporary agency work, salary paid on time at the end of the month and personal support with regular meetings. Our employees rate us 4.7 out of 5 on kununu and Google.

We know the German life sciences market

Market-rate pay made up of base salary, bonus and annual leave, company cars for field sales, job titles that are understood in the German market, the usual notice periods of three months and standard employment contracts – we factor all of this in from the start.

Five questions for every EOR provider

  1. Who is legally the employer, and is there a licence under the AÜG?
  2. How is the maximum assignment period of 18 months handled?
  3. What does the transfer to your own company cost?
  4. Who finds the candidates?
  5. What industry knowledge does the provider bring?

Constares compared with global EOR platforms

Criterion Global EOR platforms Constares
Candidate search no, employment only yes, core service
Industry focus all industries life sciences only
Industry knowledge general specific, almost 30 years
Support with company formation not core business yes, via partners
Knowledge of Qualified Person & co. generally not yes
Transfer to your own company offboarding process intended goal
Contact person usually platform and ticket system owner in person
Coverage over 100 countries Germany

For roles in IT, engineering or e-commerce, global platforms are the better choice.

Which roles we cover

Managing Director DACH and assistant, medical (MSL, Medical Advisor), drug safety and pharmacovigilance, Regulatory Affairs, quality (GMP, GCP, GDP, GLP), Market Access, sales and marketing. Not covered: IT, production and engineering.

From the first employee to your own GmbH

We support you from the first hire to your own company: from the search for a Managing Director through employment before formation to building the team and permanent employment with your company. We do not handle the formation itself, but we put you in touch with specialised partners for legal, tax and payroll.

over 500
placements since 2011
over 90 %
of candidates from the life sciences
0
no-shows on the first working day
less than 2 %
leave the position before the end of the assignment

Frequently asked questions

Can we employ staff in Germany without having our own company?

Yes, via temporary agency work: Constares is the employer, and your company deploys the employees.

Is Employer of Record legal in Germany?

The term is not defined by law. What matters is the activity: anyone who employs staff for another company needs a licence under the AÜG. Constares holds one without time limit.

What distinguishes Constares from global EOR platforms?

We find the candidates ourselves, work only in the life sciences, support you with company formation through partners and look after you personally.

What if a provider ignores the 18 months?

Ask who is legally the employer and who bears the risk.

How long can the employees stay with Constares?

A maximum of 18 months.

What happens once our German company is set up?

You take the employees on into employment with your company.

How quickly can we start?

Once the person has been chosen, usually within one day – depending on their notice period.

What does it cost?

A monthly rate that includes employment and recruiting costs, including annual leave and sickness. One invoice per month, no set-up fee.

Do you help with forming the company?

We put you in touch with specialised partners for legal, tax and payroll.

Does the offer also apply to other industries?

No. For other industries, we recommend other providers.

Contact

We usually reply within one working day. Initial calls are possible in English or German.