What Is Retained Search?
Retained search is a high-touch, strategic recruitment service used to fill critical, high-impact, or hard-to-fill clinical and executive roles. In this model, your organization partners exclusively with a trusted recruiting firm that is fully dedicated to managing the entire search process from start to finish. Unlike contingency recruiting, retained search is proactive, consultative and partnership-based by definition. Retained search is ideal for healthcare organizations that don’t just need a candidate, but the right leader or clinician who will shape their future.
A relationship built on true partnership.
Why partner with Optigy Group for Retained Search:
Strategic Partnership, Not Just Recruiting
We act as a true advisor, guiding you through the search process and helping you make the best long-term hire.
Deep Clinical and Healthcare Expertise
From executive leadership to niche clinical roles, we understand the unique challenges of healthcare recruitment.
Discreet and Confidential Execution
We protect your brand and internal dynamics with total discretion, ideal for sensitive or high-level searches.
Data-driven and Transparent
You’ll receive regular updates, market insights, and candidate feedback throughout the search process.
Long-Term Focus
We measure our success by retention, impact and fit - not just time-to-fill.
Benefits of Optigy Retained Search
Benefit
What It Means for You
Priority and Exclusivity
Your search is our top priority with full focus from our senior team
Higher Quality Talent
Access passive candidates and high performers not applying to job boards
Aligned Strategy
We build your search around your mission, culture and vision
Reduced Risk of Mishire
Deep vetting and cultural matching lead to stronger, longer-lasting placements
Brand Protection
Your role is presented professionally and confidentially to the market
FAQs
Retained search is an exclusive, partnership-based engagement where Optigy manages the entire search process from start to finish for one dedicated client. Contingency staffing is a performance-based model where payment is tied to a successful placement, often run alongside other firms competing for the same role.
Retained search covers a broad range of mission-critical or hard-to-fill roles, clinical or executive. Executive search focuses specifically on C-suite and senior leadership positions. Optigy can help determine which model fits a given hiring need.
Most retained searches take 60 to 90 days from kickoff to signed offer, depending on the role's complexity and market. Optigy's dedicated approach and passive-candidate network are built to move efficiently without sacrificing fit.
Yes. Retained search is an exclusive engagement, meaning Optigy is the sole firm managing the search. This allows for a fully dedicated process with deeper discovery, sourcing and candidate vetting than a non-exclusive model allows.
Retained search works best for mission-critical, hard-to-fill or confidential roles, including rural or highly competitive market placements, replacements for high-profile positions and roles where an internal team lacks the bandwidth or sourcing reach to manage the search alone.
All-In-One Staffing and Recruitment
We recognize that you don’t have cookie cutter needs. That’s why we design each solution around you.
Locum Tenens
Address gaps or cover absences
Direct Hire Support
Streamline processes for efficiency
Recruitment Process Outsourcing
Outsource to an expert, dedicated recruitment team.
Explore more insights on Retained Search.
Explore more insights on developing, engaging and retaining your healthcare team.
Who We Serve
We focus 100% on healthcare because that’s what we know, and we know you deserve a partner that understands your unique
challenges. Check out the organizations we’re proud to call partners (not clients).
Free Talent Acquisition
Assessment
When we take on a new partner, we’re all in. Our Talent Acquisition Assessment is designed to help you identify opportunities in your program, presenting you with a scorecard to help you make effective decisions for moving forward. Schedule your FREE Talent Acquisition Assessment today!