Retained Services

180-Day Replacement Guarantee | 25% Placement Fee

Our Retained search is the gold standard for Director-level and above placements — and for confidential replacement positions where speed, discretion, and senior-level commitment matter. When you engage Optimum on a Retained basis, we dedicate a full team exclusively to your search and don't stop until the role is filled.

At this level of position, one of the first questions candidates ask is whether or not the search is Retained. VPs, Directors, and C-level Executives know they are important to an organization and want to feel as such. They won't waste their time with a company that doesn't value the role enough to conduct a Retained search.

The Optimum Container Fee

Most Retained firms charge 1/3 of the fee upfront, another 1/3 upon candidate submission, and the final 1/3 on placement — meaning you've paid 2/3 of the fee before you've even talked to a candidate, with no refund if the role doesn't fill. Optimum does things differently.

• One container fee. A single, one-time upfront fee retains us for the duration of the search — no milestone billing.
• Escrow protection. If we don't fill the role, your container fee sits in escrow for up to 1 year and can be applied to a new search.
• 20-day money-back window. If you're not pleased with our work within 20 days of commencement, we'll let you out of the retainer and refund your money.
• 180-day replacement guarantee on every placement.

What You Get

• Dedicated search team: Managing Partner, Senior Recruiter, Recruiting Analyst
• Executive-to-Executive communication with senior candidates
• Access to our deepest executive networks and confidential candidate channels
• Comprehensive candidate assessment including behavioral interviewing
• Regular status reports and candidate shortlists until the role is filled