Direct Hire
A bad senior technology hire costs far more than the fee that produced it — in salary, in the decisions they make, and in the year it takes to recover.
We recruit deliberately rather than quickly: a properly defined role, a targeted search, technical assessment by a practising consultant, and a short list you can actually choose between.
Platforms we typically deliver this on
Scope of the service
Role definition
Working with you to produce a specification that is fillable in this market and honest about the trade-offs.
Targeted search
Active sourcing through our network and market mapping, not only advertising and inbound applications.
Technical assessment
Screening by a practising consultant in the relevant discipline, with written assessment provided.
Interview support
Interview structure, technical exercises and panel guidance where your team lacks depth in the discipline.
Offer management
Compensation benchmarking, offer construction and counter-offer handling.
Placement guarantee
A defined guarantee period on every permanent placement.
Where this is used
Representative engagements, described at the level our clients permit. Sector and shape are accurate; identifying detail is withheld.
Recruiting a first head of data
The organisation had never hired at this level in this discipline. We defined the role, mapped the market and supported the panel through technical assessment.
Outcome — A senior hire made with technical assessment the panel could not have run alone.
Filling a role that had been open a year
The specification demanded an unrealistic combination. We reworked it into two achievable profiles and filled both.
Outcome — A year-old vacancy resolved by fixing the specification rather than the search.
Building a data team in sequence
Rather than posting five roles at once, we sequenced the hires so the lead was in place to help select the rest.
Outcome — Later hires chosen by the person who would lead them.
Before you get in touch
How are you paid?
A percentage of first-year salary, payable on start date, with a guarantee period. Terms are agreed in writing before search begins.
Do you work exclusively?
We work both ways, though exclusive searches justify deeper market mapping and generally produce better short lists.
Can you benchmark compensation?
Yes, and it is often the most useful early conversation. Many long-open roles are priced below market rather than badly advertised.
Often engaged alongside this
AI & Data Talent
Machine learning engineers, data engineers, AI architects, MLOps specialists and AI governance leads — technically assessed before you see them.
Read moreTalent SolutionsTemporary to Permanent
Contract-to-hire arrangements with a defined conversion point, so both sides evaluate on evidence rather than on interview performance.
Read moreTalent SolutionsContract Staffing
Contract technology professionals for defined periods — screened, compliant, and supported through the engagement rather than placed and forgotten.
Read moreStart with three weeks and a straight answer
The AI Readiness Assessment is fixed in scope, fixed in price and produces four deliverables you own — whether or not you continue with us.