welcome to elevate Search

Contained search creates shared commitment from the start. It gives the client dedicated recruiting support without the full weight of a traditional retained search, while giving the search partner enough commitment to prioritize the work and run a tighter process. 

It sits between contingency and retained search: more focused, more accountable, and better aligned for roles that matter but do not call for a full executive search structure. 

Two Ways to Engage

1. Hourly Container
A dedicated search partnership built around a set weekly level of support, typically 10, 20, or 40 hours per week. This works like an embedded recruiting partner for a defined period, with focused market coverage, outreach, screening, and process support.

2. Engagement Fee
An upfront fee secures the search and launches the process, with the balance due upon successful hire. This structure creates commitment on both sides while keeping the full fee tied to outcome.

When to Use Contained Search

• For mid- to senior-level hires that need more focus than a contingency search 
• When the role is important, but does not require a full retained search 
• When you want a more disciplined, committed process without carrying the full cost upfront 
• When you need a recruiting partner who can give the search real attention and consistent follow-through

Retained search is designed for business-critical hires where the margin for error is small. We commit dedicated time, market coverage, and search strategy to one key role, allowing for a deeper, more disciplined process than a standard contingent search.

This model is best for executive, senior, and highly specialized positions where confidentiality, precision, and strong market reach matter. It also gives clients a true advisory partner throughout the search, with reporting, market feedback, and clear process alignment from start to finish.

How it works

The total fee is paid in scheduled installments across the life of the search, typically tied to launch, active search execution, and successful completion. Fees may be structured as a flat amount or as a percentage of compensation, depending on the scope and level of the hire. 

When to Use Retained Search

• Executive and senior leadership roles 
• Specialized hires with a narrow talent pool 
• Confidential or competitor-targeted searches 
• Companies that need a dedicated partner for a critical hire

Contingent search is the most flexible hiring option and requires no upfront commitment. We are paid only if you hire a candidate we deliver.

Because our firm carries all of the upfront liability, labor, and delivery risk, this model has the highest fee per placement and the lowest level of dedicated engagement support. 

It works best for companies that want optionality and limited upfront exposure, but it is not the right structure for highly complex, confidential, or business-critical searches.

Best Fit For

• Roles that need market coverage without upfront investment 
• Non-executive and less specialized hires 
• Searches with a broader candidate pool 
• Companies prioritizing flexibility over depth of partnership

Talent Studio is for firms that do not need an active search, but do want to stay connected to talent that fits their business. Through our Elevate Project and Elevate Ledger networks, we build focused talent pools across project delivery, construction, and accounting and finance.

When a candidate in our network aligns with your firm, we can make a direct introduction without launching a formal search. If a hire is made, the engagement is handled through a reduced finder’s referral fee rather than a standard recruiting fee.

Best Fit For

• Firms not running an active search 
• Companies that want access to aligned talent over time 
• Teams open to opportunistic introductions 
• Businesses looking for a lower-commitment hiring model