Niche headhunters backed by AI sourcing, delivering calibrated shortlists of passive C-suite and VP leadership. Calibrated for long-term retention and measurable operational impact.
Verified Track Record
We partner with organizations that cannot afford a mis-hire. Combining targeted research, direct partner-led outreach, and our 5-Point Calibration Protocol, we secure proven executives across Healthcare, Technology, Finance, and Manufacturing.
Retained and engaged searches for CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and board-level roles. We map the market, approach proven leaders directly, and manage the search from intake through a signed offer with calibrated execution.
Hospital, health system, and senior care leadership is a dedicated practice with its own team. If your search is a CNO, administrator, or executive director role, start with our healthcare specialists.
CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and product leaders for SaaS, AI, and cybersecurity companies. Technology searches move fast because elite tech leaders evaluate employers rigorously.
CFOs, controllers, and senior finance leaders for banking, private equity, and fintech. Finance placements demand verified balance sheet stewardship and discretion, running confidential by default.
COOs, VPs of Operations, plant managers, and lean supply chain leaders for precision manufacturing and industrial operations. We secure leaders who eliminate downtime and protect gross margins.
Flexible, high-impact interim leadership and specialized project staffing when organizations face critical operational surges, rapid turnarounds, or leadership transitions.
James Pemberton is a U.S. Navy veteran with 15+ years in executive search and 500+ placements. The person who scopes your search runs it.
Over 93% of our placed executives remain in their roles past the 24-month mark. Built on calibrated vetting, scorecards, and culture alignment.
Our Engaged Search model requires a manageable $7,500 deposit with 25% due only upon successful start. Scored for long-term retention.
Four steps, weekly updates, no black box. Most searches reach a signed offer in 45 to 90 days.
A direct conversation about the role, the market, and whether we are the right firm for it. You leave with an honest read either way.
We identify every organization and leader relevant to your search, then approach the strongest candidates directly and confidentially.
You see a calibrated shortlist inside the first three weeks. Every candidate is screened, referenced, and genuinely interested.
We manage negotiation, resignation, and executive transition, remaining actively engaged through early onboarding milestones to ensure long-term retention.
We replaced subjective hiring debates with an interactive 5-Point Calibration Protocol and real-time Authority Diagnostic. Both parties score mutual alignment across five core criteria before any offer is extended.
Verified track record matching your exact operational milestones, not resume buzzwords.
Alignment on career catalysts, timing, and why this leadership opportunity matters now.
Scoring executive temperament, stakeholder management, and cross-functional leadership under stress.
Pre-calibrated base, incentive, and equity ranges to eliminate late-stage negotiation stalls.
Structured 30-60-90 day milestone frameworks designed to accelerate impact and secure multi-year leadership retention.
Run a 60-second audit on your entity. Evaluate your AI Search visibility (ChatGPT/Claude), entity trust markers, and market dominance index before launching your next executive hire.
Engaged, contingent, or staffing: the senior headhunter on your niche picks the model that fits the search, then runs it end to end. Inside one business day from first call to scoped engagement.
$7,500 deposit upfront · 25% fee on placement
For senior roles that cannot stay open. A dedicated search partner runs your search end to end with an initial $7,500 commitment, calibrated candidate scorecards, and dedicated research capacity.
Best For
C-suite · Hospital CEOs & CNOs · VPs of Engineering · Senior Leaders
Performance-only when speed matters more than exclusivity.
For roles where you want the headhunter on your niche working the search without an upfront commitment. Same senior recruiter, paid on placement.
Best For
Mid-to-senior leadership · Department heads · Specialist hires
Interim and contract talent: same vetting bar.
For interim leadership and contract clinical or technical roles. Pre-vetted talent placed against a scoped statement of work.
Best For
Interim DON · Interim CFO · Contract clinical ops · Project leadership
First call to scoped engagement · Inside one business day
We measure our success by the long-term impact of the leaders we place across all core practices.
Engaged Headhunters didn't just find us a candidate; they found us a transformational leader. Their process is surgically precise and their 21-day shortlisted talent gave us total confidence.
The speed and quality of our CTO search was unprecedented. They understood our technical requirements and cultural nuances from day one. Highly recommended for elite tech roles.
The most professional search firm I've worked with in 20 years. Their niche expertise in the finance sector is unmatched. They delivered three perfect candidates within the first month.
Placing our VP of Operations across two multi-site facilities seemed daunting until we engaged James and his team. They delivered a seasoned lean operations leader who improved plant efficiency within 60 days.
Expert insights on executive search and leadership placement economics.
An executive search firm is a specialized recruitment agency retained to identify, evaluate, and place senior-level professionals in leadership roles. Unlike general staffing agencies, executive search firms use targeted research, direct outreach, and rigorous vetting to surface candidates who are often not actively looking for a new role.
Engaged Headhunters specializes in technology, finance, manufacturing, and healthcare executive search. This includes SaaS, fintech, industrial operations, behavioral health, home health, and senior care organizations.
We calibrate every search with bespoke scorecards and structured vetting, yielding a 93% 2-year executive retention rate. Specific performance terms and contractual search protections are customized during executive consultation based on your organizational tier.
Executive search fees typically range from 25% to 35% of the placed executive's first-year compensation. Retained search firms charge upfront in installments, while contingency firms charge only upon successful placement. The investment protects against the far greater cost of a failed senior hire.
A standard executive search takes between 45 and 90 days from the initial intake session to the signed offer. We prioritize speed without sacrificing quality, typically presenting the first qualified candidate shortlist within the first 21 days of the search launch.
Whether you're hiring your next executive or exploring career opportunities, we're ready to connect.
Your information is kept confidential.
