Engagement · Retained
Retained Executive Search for life sciences.
Exclusive engagement with a structured fee, defined deliverables, and a named search team. The right model for VP/SVP/C-suite where the slate quality, confidentiality, and process matter as much as the placement itself.
- When
- VP/SVP/C-suite, board roles, confidential successions, post-financing leadership builds.
- Fees
- Tiered retainer (typically 30–33% of first-year cash compensation), paid in three installments tied to engagement, slate, and start.
- Timeline
- 12–16 weeks from kickoff to start, with the named slate delivered at week 6–8.
- Exclusive engagement — your search is staffed and prioritized accordingly
- Named slate of 3–5 candidates with full dossiers at week 6–8
- Structured 30–33% fee, paid in three installments
- Replacement guarantee on all retained executive placements
What's included
In scope at this fee tier
- ▪Search kickoff workshop with stakeholders, board (where relevant), and named hiring authority
- ▪Comprehensive market mapping for the role and TA
- ▪Named candidate slate (3–5 candidates) with full written dossiers
- ▪Structured reference process — 360-degree references on finalists
- ▪Offer negotiation support, including comp benchmarking and equity modeling
- ▪Onboarding support through 90 days post-start
- ▪12-month replacement guarantee
What's not included
Out of scope (charged separately if needed)
- ▫Background checks (handled by your preferred provider; we'll coordinate)
- ▫Psychometric / formal assessments (available a la carte if requested)
- ▫Compensation benchmarking studies beyond the role itself
- ▫Relocation and immigration logistics (handled by your HR)
Connected practice
How this work intersects the rest of the practice.
Frequently asked
Common questions, answered plainly.
- What does a retained search actually cost?
- Typically 30–33% of first-year cash compensation (base + target bonus). Equity is not factored. Paid in three installments: 1/3 at engagement, 1/3 at slate delivery, 1/3 at start. We're transparent with the calculation upfront.
- What's the timeline for a retained CMO or CCO search?
- 12–16 weeks from kickoff to start, with named slate at week 6–8 and finalists in process by week 8–10. Faster is possible occasionally; we don't promise it because rushed slates correlate with bad placements.
- Can a retained search fail?
- Yes — and we have language for it. If the slate doesn't yield a hire (rare), the engagement fee converts toward a replacement search. The replacement guarantee covers placements that depart in the first 12 months.
- Do you do contingent backup on retained searches?
- No. Retained means exclusive. Backup search engagements are explicitly negotiated; running parallel contingent search undermines slate quality and we don't accept it.
Is retained right for you?
Tell us about the role and we'll tell you honestly which engagement model fits — even if it isn't this one.