Operations Recruiters

Every client asks this question, and my answer is always the same. It depends on the hiring managers involved, the complexity of the search, and the market. Barring any complications, an average search takes between 4 – 6 weeks and we pace ourselves based on the speed and urgency of our client and how quickly they communicate and move our candidates through their interviewing process. If a client has a long and drawn-out process, it will take longer to complete a search. If they are decisive and their process is efficient, it can happen much quicker. It is not uncommon for a search to only take a few weeks, but it’s also not uncommon for a search to take several months. 

During our discovery call, we will do our best to provide you with an educated estimate of what we expect the timeline to take. We try to set realistic expectations as there are many factors outside our control that can affect the timeline.

We start each search with a detailed discovery call. We want to fully understand the needs of our client, the details of the position, and the culture of the company. This call can take up to an hour, but it sets the foundation for a partnership that allows us to get to know the company at a deep level so we can effectively present operations talent that will have not only the skills required, but who also blend in well with the team’s chemistry for a long-term fit. 

After the initial conversation our team meets to strategize our specific approach to the search. We take our extensive proprietary search process and curate it to ensure it will be as effective and efficient as possible in uncovering and vetting talent for your position. We continue to expand our understanding of your organization with weekly communication.

We believe in metrics and we measure various internal data points to ensure we perform and continuously improve for our clients. We look at time-to-fill, candidate flow, cycle times against targets and benchmarks, and more. We stay in touch beyond the hire as well. With our 5 Year Replacement program, we touch base periodically to measure both the success and length of our hires, which is higher than the industry average.

In 2021, we had a success rate of 96% on our Specialty Search. The industry average is 80%. On a contingency search, our average conversion rate is 47%, while the industry average is less than 24%. We pride ourselves on being selective and taking on hires we know we can fill successfully. We want to ensure there will be a good fit between both the company and the candidate. 

We owe our success to two main things. First is to our proprietary search process which is great at finding passive talent in hidden or unexpected areas in a persistent manner. Second, is due to the thoroughness of our interviewing process which rules out many unqualified candidates and helps you prevent mis-hires.

Hiring high-performing operational leadership is crucial to the success of a manufacturing organization. Generalist recruiters may not understand the complexity or skills needed to make a successful hire. It takes a dedicated and experienced operations recruiter to find and engage experts that can help you succeed in all facets of your manufacturing organization. The pandemic, trade wars and other market disruptions are changing company needs and our operations recruiters know how to help you acquire leaders with the experience you need. Our manufacturing recruiters can find you the right operational talent, whether you are seeking a strategic leader for transformational change or you want a manager who’s not afraid to roll up their sleeves and be hands on.

We aim to be a true partner to help you hire the best and brightest operational talent available. Our thorough process leaves no stones unturned in our search and we are very choosy who we put in front of you for consideration. We want to make sure that every person we present is someone you’ll be excited to speak with. Because of the thoroughness of our process, we can stand behind our candidates with a 5-Year Replacement Program – something our competitors can’t touch.

Well, it’s probably because we’re fun to work with and we are highly effective! Bottom line, we do our best to be honest, reliable, and a great resource for our clients. We strive to under-promise and over-deliver, so if we aren’t the best firm for a project, we’ll let you know who is. We provide regular communication and keep you apprised of what we are hearing during the search to help make you a better company. We can consult on ways to help you become a more highly desirable place to work and improve your retention rates. Why would you want to work with anyone else ?????

We recruit operational talent nationwide. We have had searches in major cities and are also adept at helping find talent in small and rural locations where there is a shortage of operations or manufacturing experts. We typically start our searches locally or regionally and can extend outwards if necessary. We are highly experienced in handling searches where relocation is necessary and can provide guidance appropriately.

Mangrum Solutions can help you fill your critical operations roles from mid-management through the executive level. 

• Operations
• General management
• Plant management
• Business unit management
• Manufacturing management
• Quality & continuous improvement
• Project & program management
• Product management
• Marketing management
• Regional, territory & national sales leaders
• Human resources
• Finance
• Staff level management

A reputable search firm will usually charge anywhere from 20% – 35% of a candidate’s 1st year guaranteed income. We customize each search and base our fees on the level of position, the difficulty of the search, and the amount of time expected to complete the search. 

Our average fee falls between 25 – 30% and we deliver high-level results that could warrant higher fees. However, our priority is to nurture a long-term partnership to help you with future placement needs. To support this, we also provide repeat placement discounts and other incentives to help you save more.

No. We never charge our candidates to place them. We work for clients to help them fill specific search assignments. This only works when we match great talent with desirable opportunities. So, while our candidates don’t pay us, we still do our best to ensure each person is being placed in a position they will be happy with and where they will be able to grow their career. In addition, we help the operations talent we don’t place by providing access to resources and other career opportunities.