Services: Retained Executive Search

When Retained Makes Sense for Scarce AI/ML Talent.
Retained executive search is ideal for senior, hard-to-fill AI and machine-learning roles, such as Head of AI, Chief Data Scientist, or Director of ML. These positions are highly specialized and competitive, so traditional recruiting methods often fall short. With a retained search, you partner exclusively with our firm, allowing us to focus fully on identifying and engaging every qualified candidate. This approach is best for high-impact, high-stakes hires where the talent pool is limited and precision is essential.

Engagement Structure

Non-Refundable Retainer & Milestone Payments

Our retained search engagement is structured to align our incentives with your hiring success. We operate on a staged retainer model: typically, the total fee is 25 to 30% of the position’s first-year compensation, divided into three equal installments. One-third is paid upfront as a non-refundable retainer to kick off an intensive search. The second installment is tied to a key milestone (for example, when we deliver a vetted shortlist of qualified candidates) and the final installment is due upon the successful hire. This phased payment structure guarantees you full commitment and transparency from start to finish. Because you engage us on an exclusive basis, we dedicate our time and resources to your search first and foremost. In practice, that means priority attention, regular progress updates, and a true partnership mentality. By investing in a retainer, you signal the strategic importance of the hire, and we reciprocate by leveraging every tool and tactic to fill your role efficiently and excellently. The retainer model is common in executive recruiting because it delivers results; both sides are committed, and critical hires get the focus they deserve.

What Makes Dynamic Sourcing?

Specialized Focus with Proven Process.
We know you have options in choosing a recruiting partner. Dynamic Sourcing stands out through innovative methods and uncompromising quality standards:

Dynamic Sourcing brings a unique specialty to retained searches: we focus exclusively on AI/ML roles and have built deep expertise in this domain. Unlike generalist recruiters, our retained search for ML leaders and AI experts taps into an extensive network and understanding of the AI talent landscape.

We have 20+ years of technical recruiting leadership experience behind our process, so you can trust our professionalism and judgment. Based in Los Angeles’s Silicon Beach tech hub, we stay close to the cutting edge of technology while serving clients nationwide. Our credibility comes from doing things the right way. We combine advanced tools with a high-touch approach: an AI-assisted sourcing engine finds and engages prospective candidates at scale, and then our seasoned recruiters apply rigorous human vetting at each step.

Every search follows a structured, high-signal process tailored to technical leadership roles. We start by deeply understanding your needs and calibrating the role, then map out the talent market to target the best candidates. From job description calibration to AI-driven outreach to hands-on interviews, we apply proven methodologies to identify those rare individuals who excel in AI and ML. Dynamic Sourcing is a boutique firm by design – that means you get direct access to experienced recruiters and a sharply focused strategy rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Our specialization in AI/ML gives us insight into where these experts are, how to attract them, and how to evaluate them in ways general recruiters can’t. In short, we speak the language of AI talent and understand what makes a great AI/ML leader. We bring that insight to every retained search engagement to deliver exceptional results.

Our Deliverables:

Calibrated Job Description, High-Signal Shortlists & Sprint Week.
When you engage Dynamic Sourcing on a retained search, you can expect clear deliverables and a transparent process. We don’t just promise results. We provide tangible outputs at each stage to keep you informed and confident in the search.
Here’s what we deliver as part of our retained executive search service:

Calibrated Job Description:

We work with you to refine and rewrite the job description into a clear, testable specification for the role. This “Job Description calibration” ensures we capture the outcomes, skills, and evidence required for success. By aligning on a precise role definition, we target exactly the right candidate profile from the start. A well-calibrated Job Description becomes the blueprint for our search, and it helps avoid false starts by making sure we and you are on the same page about what the ideal candidate looks like. This document often includes a competency rubric or must-have criteria that guide our vetting.

Deep Market Mapping:

For these scarce senior roles, we conduct extensive market mapping to identify every viable candidate in the landscape. Using our industry knowledge and research tools, we map out target companies, similar roles, and known experts in the field. This means looking at both active and passive candidates – including those who might not be on job boards. The result is a comprehensive view of the talent pool for your specific need. You’ll know that no corner of the AI/ML talent market was overlooked. We then strategically approach the best matches, armed with compelling outreach (often AI-personalized emails and calls) to pique their interest.

High-Signal Candidate Vetting & Shortlists:

Every candidate we present has been thoroughly screened and assessed for both technical excellence and leadership fit. Our vetting process is deep and high-signal, focusing on real indicators of ability rather than surface resume buzzwords. For example, we conduct live technical interviews where candidates might solve problems or even demonstrate how they work with AI tools in real time. We probe for evidence of strategic thinking, innovation, and cultural fit with your organization. Only those who meet our high bar make it to the shortlist. We deliver this shortlist as a curated report at an agreed milestone, typically as the second installment trigger in the engagement. Each shortlisted candidate comes with a profile summary and our notes on why they’re a strong match (including highlights from technical evaluations or past achievements). This saves you time: rather than sifting through dozens of resumes, you get a concentrated list of the top 3–5 candidates who truly fit your requirements. Shortlists are delivered at milestone stages so you can see progress early and provide feedback, ensuring the search stays aligned with your expectations.

Sprint Week Coordination:

To accelerate the final leg of hiring, we organize a Sprint Week: a concentrated week-long push to complete interviews and drive decisions. We line up all interviews back-to-back in a single week (Monday through Friday), coordinating schedules so that all your key decision-makers and the candidates can meet in rapid succession. Before Sprint Week begins, we help you block calendars and prepare a structured agenda. During the week, each day’s interview schedule is shared every morning, and we gather feedback by each evening. A shared tracker (e.g., a live spreadsheet) is used to monitor progress, capture interview feedback in real time, and keep everyone accountable. This intensive approach keeps candidates warm and engaged – no one is left waiting weeks between rounds – and it compresses your time-to-hire significantly. By the end of Sprint Week, you’ll have all the input you need to make a confident hiring decision quickly. Our clients love this approach because it creates momentum and prevents losing top candidates to slower competitors. We facilitate the Sprint Week process fully, so all you have to do is show up to the interviews; we handle the coordination and follow-ups to keep things on track.

Throughout all these deliverables, transparency is key. We maintain regular communication and progress reports. You’ll always know what we’ve done, what’s next, and how the candidate pipeline is shaping up. By providing these concrete deliverables – from a calibrated Job Description to high-quality shortlists and an organized Sprint Week – Dynamic Sourcing ensures that our retained search engagements are predictable, collaborative, and effective.

Ready to Get Started?

Hiring the right AI/ML leader can reshape your business — it’s too important to leave to chance. Share your role and goals with us, and we’ll outline how Dynamic Sourcing can deliver a world-class retained search. We offer a brief, no-obligation consultation to review your needs, present our approach, and propose a tailored market-mapping plan and Sprint Week.

Take the first step toward hiring your next AI leader. Contact us today to begin your retained search — we’re ready to partner with you and find the talent that will move your innovation forward.

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