Retained search
Retained Agricultural Recruitment and Executive Search
Retained search is Talent Agri's dedicated placement service for senior, specialist, or hard-to-fill agricultural roles. Clients pay an upfront engagement fee that commits a dedicated consultant to the search on an exclusive basis.
The service is designed for farm manager, director, and technical specialist roles where general job advertising is unlikely to reach the right candidates.
When a retained approach makes sense
A senior appointment can influence a business well beyond an individual vacancy. The search may require a particular combination of sector knowledge, leadership experience and commercial judgement, or a discreet approach to candidates who are not actively applying.
Retained agricultural recruitment provides a focused search strategy for a business-critical role. We discuss the appointment, its context and your priorities before agreeing how the assignment will be managed.
Define the appointment before approaching the market
An executive search brief needs more than a list of tasks. We explore the remit, reporting relationships, decision-making responsibility and outcomes expected from the appointment. Understanding the business helps establish what relevant experience looks like.
This is also the point to discuss confidentiality, who will be involved in decisions and what information can be shared at each stage. The handling arrangements should reflect the circumstances of your particular search.
- The business priorities behind the appointment
- Leadership, technical and commercial requirements
- Reporting lines and the scope of responsibility
- Location, working arrangements and the proposed package
- Confidentiality, decision-makers and search milestones
Market mapping and discreet outreach
Our retained service combines senior talent mapping and market insight with confidential outreach. The aim is to identify relevant experience against the agreed brief, rather than relying only on responses to a public advert.
A dedicated consultant provides regular progress reporting. Those discussions give you visibility of the search and an opportunity to consider market feedback alongside your original requirements.
Structured assessment and a managed shortlist
We support structured shortlisting and assessment, helping you compare candidates against the responsibilities of the appointment. Interviews should explore the evidence behind a candidate's experience as well as their understanding of your business.
The process runs from consultation through to offer. Contact us to discuss the scope, communication arrangements and terms for your assignment. If a dedicated retained search is not the right fit, we can also discuss our permanent recruitment service.
Common questions
Is retained search only for executive roles?
Our retained service is designed for priority and senior appointments. Whether it is suitable depends on the importance and requirements of the assignment, not the job title alone.
Can a search be handled confidentially?
Discreet outreach forms part of our retained service. Discuss your circumstances with the team so the information-sharing arrangements can be agreed before the search begins.
Is retained search suitable for smaller farms?
Retained search is designed for organisations filling business-critical or senior roles where a thorough, confidential search is required. It is used by farms of all sizes when the role is senior enough that a general hire process would be too slow or insufficiently targeted.
How much does agricultural recruitment cost?
Talent Agri's permanent recruitment fee is charged as a percentage of the successful candidate's first-year salary, payable only on hire. Retained search involves an upfront engagement fee plus a success fee. Targeted job advertising is priced per campaign. Contact Talent Agri for a tailored quote based on role, seniority, and sector.
What is the typical recruitment process timeline?
Permanent placements typically complete within 4 to 8 weeks. Retained searches for senior or specialist roles take 8 to 12 weeks. Timeline depends on role seniority, candidate availability, and client interview scheduling.