Retained Search
Critical hire. Dedicated search. Complete market coverage.
For appointments that are too important to leave to chance.
For business-critical appointments, Imperium provides a dedicated search team to identify, approach and secure high-calibre talent across the global commodity markets.
We don’t start with who’s applying.
We start with who you should be speaking to.
Dedicated Search Team
Complete Market Mapping
Proactive Headhunting
12-Month Guarantee
One critical hire, or an ongoing hiring programme?
Choose a search structure built around your hiring plans.
Retained Search
One critical hire. One dedicated search.
For individual strategic appointments where finding the right person matters more than simply generating CVs.
We build a dedicated search around your requirement, map the relevant market, identify and approach passive talent, and manage the process through to successful completion.
Ideal for:
- Senior or business-critical appointments
- Difficult-to-fill or confidential searches
- Dedicated market mapping and headhunting
- Assignments requiring focused search ownership
Search Partnership
Multiple hires. One ongoing search relationship.
For businesses making multiple, ongoing or evolving strategic hires across a team, desk, market or geography.
Rather than restarting the recruitment process for every vacancy, Imperium remains continuously engaged — building market knowledge, candidate relationships and search intelligence over time.
Ideal for:
- Multiple or evolving hiring requirements
- Team, desk or function build-outs
- Continuous market and candidate coverage
- Monthly retainer credited against placement fees
Why Retained Search?
Recruitment built around your requirement, not our candidate database.
Contingency recruitment often begins with the candidates an agency already knows or those actively looking for their next move.
Retained Search starts somewhere different: your business.
We first understand the appointment, the commercial objective behind it, your organisation and culture, and the market in which the successful candidate needs to operate.
Only then do we enter the market.
Rather than asking “Who do we already know?”, we ask:
Who should be in this process?
We then map that market, identify the strongest relevant individuals and approach them directly — including those who may not be actively looking for another role.
DEFINE
the requirement
MAP
the market
IDENTIFY
the talent
ENGAGE
the candidate
Our Retained Search Process:
01. Brief & Define
We begin with a detailed consultation to understand the role, business objectives, culture, reporting structure, remuneration, target organisations and search parameters.
02. Map the Market
Our research team map the relevant competitor landscape, talent pools and individuals whose experience aligns with the assignment.
03. Identify & Engage
We proactively approach selected individuals through targeted headhunting, including passive talent who may not be actively considering a move.
04. Assess & Shortlist
Candidates are assessed against experience, commercial suitability, motivations, culture, remuneration expectations and long-term objectives before being presented for review.
05. Interview & Select
We manage communication throughout the interview process, coordinate meetings, maintain candidate engagement and support both sides with feedback throughout selection.
06. Secure & Onboard
We support the offer process, remuneration discussions, resignation, notice period and onboarding, remaining involved through to successful completion.
From initial brief to accepted offer, one dedicated search team remains accountable throughout.
Retained By Commitment. Driven By Delivery.
Retained Search Fee Structure
A retained model that keeps the majority of our fee tied to delivery.
33%
On Engagement
The initial payment activates the retained search and commits dedicated consultant and research resource to the assignment.
This covers briefing, market mapping, research, targeted headhunting, candidate engagement and management of the search process.
67%
On Successful Placement
The remaining balance becomes payable when the appointment is successfully completed.
This keeps the majority of our fee linked to delivering the outcome you engaged us to achieve.
You commit to the search.
We remain accountable for delivering it.
Built to Deliver Appointments That Last
Why commodity businesses choose Imperium for their critical hires.
67% of Our Fee Is Tied to Success
Only 33% is payable on engagement. The remaining 67% becomes payable when we successfully complete the appointment.
12-Month Replacement Guarantee
Every retained appointment is backed by our 12-month replacement guarantee, subject to agreed terms.
Dedicated Search Team
Your assignment is supported by dedicated consultant and research resource — not simply passed to an individual recruiter and their existing network.
Transparent Market Mapping
We provide visibility into the market we research, helping clients understand the talent landscape behind the shortlist rather than simply receiving CVs.
Specialist Commodity Expertise
Imperium works exclusively across the international commodity markets, giving our team an established understanding of the businesses, functions and talent pools we search.
Built for Long-Term Appointments
Our involvement continues beyond candidate introduction, through interviews, negotiation, resignation, notice period and onboarding.