How does the commercial arrangement work?

Scope, fee split and candidate ownership are agreed in writing before any outreach. There is no arrangement where a candidate is presented by two firms.

Will you work directly with our client?

Only as agreed in the scope. Some partners want us on client calls for the technical scoping, and some want research delivered to them. Both work.

Do you subcontract research only?

Yes. Market mapping and compensation research can be delivered as a standalone deliverable without any search obligation.

Who we serve

Partnering with Founder-Led Staffing Firms

Critical Path Hiring works alongside other founder-led staffing and search firms when a client need overlaps with infrastructure specialization. Scope boundaries are written down, candidate and research ownership is agreed, and each role has one accountable owner so the client never receives duplicate outreach.

Book a Hiring Diagnostic Request a Talent Market Map

Hiring situations

A generalist firm has a client need in commissioning, controls or GPU infrastructure.
A staffing partner needs a market read before accepting a search.
A client program needs more capacity than one founder-led firm can carry alone.
Two firms are inadvertently working the same market and need boundaries.

Roles

Overflow search work in AI infrastructure and data center disciplines
Market mapping and compensation research as a subcontracted deliverable
Scorecard help on unfamiliar technical roles
Joint coverage on multi-discipline programs

Engagements

Engagement types

Fixed-fee research or a fixed monthly search retainer. We commit to the work, and we do not guarantee a hire.

Talent Intelligence Sprint

Fixed-scope market read before headcount is committed. See homepage engagement scopes.

Embedded Search Sprint

A recruiter inside your process for a defined sprint. See homepage engagement scopes.

Site Launch or Team Build

Monthly hiring capacity sequenced against a milestone plan.

FAQ

Questions

How does the commercial arrangement work?: Scope, fee split and candidate ownership are agreed in writing before any outreach. There is no arrangement where a candidate is presented by two firms.
Will you work directly with our client?: Only as agreed in the scope. Some partners want us on client calls for the technical scoping, and some want research delivered to them. Both work.
Do you subcontract research only?: Yes. Market mapping and compensation research can be delivered as a standalone deliverable without any search obligation.

Talent Intelligence Sprint

The research deliverable partners most often subcontract.

About Critical Path Hiring

Background, method and what we will and will not claim.

Start a conversation

Send the scope and the market in question.

Other segments

Next step

A short hiring diagnostic covers the role scope, the local market and pay, and ends with a recommendation.

Book a Hiring Diagnostic Request a Talent Market Map