Staffing Firms Know Openings. We Know Your Industry.

Catalyst Personnel Resources places technical, manufacturing, life sciences, and skilled trades talent across Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Each search is built around the specific demands of your operating environment — not a generic applicant database.

We Recruit for the Role. We Understand the Environment.

Most staffing firms categorize candidates by job title. Catalyst categorizes them by what it actually takes to succeed in your facility, your department, or your compliance framework. We have built our search process around four industries where hiring errors are expensive and a wrong-fit placement can cost more than the position itself: technical operations, manufacturing and production, life sciences, and skilled trades. That focus means we ask different intake questions, screen against different criteria, and source from different networks than a generalist recruiter would. The result is a shorter time-to-fill, a lower risk of mis-hire, and a candidate who arrives prepared for your environment — not just the job description.

Technical — Engineering & Operations

Where precision hiring protects production.

Technical roles carry a long tail of risk when they stay open. A control systems engineer running behind schedule, a quality engineer missing a FMEA review, or a process engineer stretched across two facilities — these aren't abstract talent problems. They show up as downtime, rework, and customer complaints. Catalyst recruits technical professionals across engineering disciplines, quality functions, and operations management. We verify credentials, understand the difference between a hands-on process role and a strategic engineering position, and we match candidates to environments where they can sustain performance — not just perform on paper.

Roles We Fill in This Vertical: • Process / Manufacturing Engineers • Quality Engineers (CQE, Six Sigma, FMEA, APQP) • Controls / Automation Engineers (PLC, SCADA, HMI) • Maintenance Engineers & Reliability Technicians • EHS / Safety Engineers and Coordinators • Operations Managers and Plant Superintendents • Continuous Improvement / Lean Practitioners • Project Engineers and Program Managers What sets this vertical apart: We screen for environment fit, not just technical credentials. A strong process engineer in an automotive Tier 1 plant operates very differently than one in a food processing facility. We ask the questions that surface that difference before it becomes a placement failure.

Manufacturing & Production

Floor-level workforce intelligence, not just headcount.

A production line running short doesn't wait for a slow search process. Neither does a ramp for a new product launch, a seasonal demand spike, or a contract win that requires standing up a second shift in six weeks. Catalyst staffs manufacturing and production environments with workers who understand safety expectations, can meet attendance standards, and have direct experience in your type of operation — whether that's automotive assembly, metals and fabrication, industrial equipment, or food and consumer products. We recruit locally and regionally across our target markets, which means our pipelines exist before you call us.

Roles We Fill in This Vertical: • Production Operators and Assembly Technicians • CNC Machinists and Setup Operators • Welders (MIG, TIG, Stick — all certifications) • Material Handlers, Forklift Operators, and Shipping/Receiving • Quality Control / Inspection Technicians • Production Supervisors and Team Leads • Maintenance Technicians (Mechanical & Electrical) • Warehouse and Distribution Center Staff What sets this vertical apart: We screen for plant-floor realities, not just resume bullets. Attendance history, safety record, shift flexibility, and equipment-specific experience all factor into our screening before a candidate reaches your floor. We also understand the operational difference between contract-to-hire headcount and direct production staffing.

Life Sciences

Regulatory exposure starts with the wrong hire.

Hiring in life sciences isn't just about finding a qualified candidate — it's about protecting the integrity of your process. A quality systems hire who lacks GMP fluency can expose a facility to FDA findings. A validation engineer who misunderstands documentation requirements can delay a product launch. Catalyst recruits for life sciences roles with an understanding of what regulatory compliance looks like inside these environments, not just as a credential on a resume. We source candidates who have worked in regulated facilities, understand SOP-driven operations, and can contribute to quality culture from day one. Our markets include pharmaceutical, medical device, biotechnology, and nutraceutical manufacturing.

Roles We Fill in This Vertical: • Quality Assurance / Quality Control Specialists • Regulatory Affairs Specialists and Managers • Validation Engineers (IQ/OQ/PQ, CSV, process validation) • GMP Manufacturing Operators and Technicians • Lab Analysts and Research Associates • Document Control and Change Management Specialists • Supply Chain and Materials Coordinators (regulated environments) • Manufacturing / Operations Managers in GMP settings What sets this vertical apart: We qualify candidates on regulatory fluency, not just degree and years of experience. Our screening includes GMP exposure, FDA documentation experience, and comfort working under corrective action frameworks — the details that separate a regulated-environment professional from someone who will require significant onboarding time.

Skilled Trades

Certified, field-ready, and harder to find than ever.

The skilled trades shortage is not a future problem — it's an active constraint on what facilities can build, repair, and maintain today. Journeyman electricians, licensed HVAC technicians, industrial pipefitters, and millwrights are not available on demand, and a generalist recruiter posting to job boards will not reach them. Catalyst recruits skilled trades talent through direct outreach, trade-specific networks, and regional sourcing built around the markets we serve. We verify certifications, confirm licensure status, and match trades workers to projects and facilities based on the specific skills and tools required — not just a job title match.

Roles We Fill in This Vertical: • Industrial Electricians (licensed, low voltage, panel build) • HVAC/R Technicians (commercial and industrial) • Pipefitters and Industrial Plumbers • Millwrights and Equipment Installation Technicians • Industrial Painters and Surface Prep • Structural and Pipe Welders (AWS certified) • Boilermakers and Ironworkers • Maintenance Technicians (multi-craft, facilities) What sets this vertical apart: We lead with certification verification, not after-placement discovery. Before a skilled trades candidate reaches your site, we have confirmed their licensure, checked their tool proficiency, and understood their preference between project work and ongoing plant employment. This keeps your compliance intact and reduces the risk of an unqualified worker on a regulated or insured job site.

Regional Depth

We recruit across KY, TN, AL, GA, and FL — with local market knowledge in Louisville, Elizabethtown, Northern KY, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Huntsville, and Central Florida.

Compliance-Ready Screening

Our screening process accounts for certifications, safety records, GMP exposure, and shift compatibility — not just skill-set matching.

Industry-Specific Networks

We source from trade-specific pipelines, technical networks, and industry referrals built over time — not just job board applicants.

The Right Hire Starts with the Right Recruiter.

Whether you're filling one hard-to-find role or standing up a full production team, Catalyst builds searches around your environment — not a generic job description. Tell us what you need and we'll tell you how we'd approach it.