Engaged search · contingent · staffing·17 years of placement expertise·Backed by ProHireHQ AI ↗
Engaged Headhunters/Solutions/Retained Search
Solutions · Pillar

Retained Search.

Paid in tranches across the engagement, regardless of placement. Exclusive. Confidential. Reserved for strategic senior hires.

Fee
25-35%, in 3 tranches
Best for
C-suite, board, sole-incumbent
Engagement
Exclusive
Timeline
90-120 days
Definition

What is retained search?

Retained search is the highest-commitment executive search structure. The hiring company engages the firm exclusively and pays the fee in tranches, typically thirds, across the engagement. Payment is made regardless of whether the role is filled by the firm, by you, or not at all.

The structure exists for searches where the firm needs to be fully invested without the meter ticking on placement. Confidential board-level roles. Founder-CEO replacements. Sole-incumbent roles where exposure is sensitive. Markets so narrow that paying on placement would underprice the work.

Retained is selected when the bar is highest and the cost of a wrong hire is highest. The senior headhunter running it commits to the full engagement, not just the close.

How it works

The retained engagement, in five steps.

Exclusive engagement. Three tranches. A senior headhunter running the search end-to-end. The depth retained pricing pays for is the research, mapping, and outreach a contingent search cannot afford.

  1. Engagement & first tranche

    Engagement letter signed. First tranche paid. Off-limits scope, confidentiality protocols, and replacement-guarantee window agreed in writing.

  2. Market mapping & research

    Deep, named research across the live universe of qualified candidates inside the niche. Mapped before a single outreach. Calibration call to align on bar.

  3. Direct, confidential outreach

    Personal outreach by the headhunter running the search. Role not listed publicly. Company not named until candidates are NDA'd. Confidential to the market.

  4. Shortlist & second tranche

    Calibrated shortlist delivered with full diligence, references, comp validation, and motivation read. Second tranche paid on shortlist delivery.

  5. Close, third tranche & guarantee

    Offer support, counter-offer management, start-date logistics. Third tranche paid at signed offer. Replacement guarantee runs for the agreed window.

Compare

Retained vs. Engaged.

Both run end-to-end with a senior headhunter. Different commitment shapes. Pick the one that matches the role and your risk profile.

Retained Search

  • Paid in 3 tranches regardless of outcome
  • Exclusive to one firm
  • Confidential by default
  • Best for C-suite, board, sole-incumbent
  • Off-limits + replacement guarantee scoped

Engaged Search

  • Deposit upfront, balance on placement
  • Hybrid commitment shape
  • Funds passive-talent advertising
  • Best for VP & senior headhunters
  • Same headhunter running it end-to-end
Where this runs today

Retained search by industry.

Industry pages are SEO/AEO entry points. The actual product is the headhunter, and headhunters work in niches we may not yet list.

SILO · 01

Healthcare leadership

CEOs · CMOs · System leadership

Health-system CEOs, CMOs, VP Clinical Ops

See headhunters →
SILO · 02

Wealth Management

RIA leadership · M&A · firm presidents

RIA Presidents, Senior Wealth Advisors, Heads of Wealth

See headhunters →
SILO · 03

Technology

CTOs · CISOs · Heads of AI

CTOs, VPs Engineering, Heads of AI, CISOs

See headhunters →
SILO · 04

Finance

CFOs · Treasury · Tax leadership

CFOs, Treasurers, VPs Finance, Tax Directors

See headhunters →
SILO · 05

Manufacturing

Plant ops · supply chain

VPs Operations, Plant General Managers, Supply Chain VPs

See headhunters →
SILO · 06

Aviation

Operations · maintenance · safety

Directors of Maintenance, Chief Pilots, Safety Officers

See headhunters →
FAQ

Retained search,
specifically.

The questions hiring managers ask in the first call. Answered the way we answer them in the call.

Is the engagement exclusive?
Yes. Retained engagements are exclusive to one firm; you do not run the search in parallel with contingent recruiters. That exclusivity is what allows the senior headhunter to commit the depth of research, market mapping, and direct outreach required for the role.
What does a retained search cost?
Retained search runs 25 to 35 percent of first-year compensation, paid in three tranches: at engagement, at shortlist delivery, and at offer signed. The fee is quoted to the scope of the search and includes off-limits coverage, replacement guarantee, and confidentiality protocols.
What is the replacement guarantee on a retained search?
Retained engagements carry a replacement guarantee scoped per engagement. Standard windows are 90 to 180 days; longer windows are available with a fee adjustment. If the placed candidate leaves inside the guarantee window, we restart the search at the cost the guarantee was scoped to.
Can a retained search be confidential to the market?
Yes, and most are. Confidential retained means the role is not listed publicly, the company is not named in outreach until candidates are NDA'd, and references are run on the candidate's network without exposing the engagement.
What if I cancel the search mid-engagement?
The tranches paid to date are kept; further tranches are not owed. The engagement letter spells out the cancellation terms in writing before kickoff so there is no ambiguity if priorities change.
Who runs my retained search?
The senior headhunter who pitches the role is the one who runs it. There is no junior-associate handoff. The recruiter on the network is a niche headhunter supported by ProHireHQ for sourcing scale and the firm for the back-office.
●Discuss a retained engagement

Confidential. Exclusive. Senior.

We come back inside one business day with a scoping call, a fee quote, and a candidate market read.

Start a search →See engaged →
SILO · 01 — FOR COMPANIES