Questions, answered.

Executive search is a focused, research-led method for filling senior and leadership roles. Rather than posting a job and screening applicants, we map the market, approach qualified people directly, including those who are not actively looking, and present a small, carefully assessed shortlist. It is built for roles where the quality of the hire matters more than the speed of filling the seat. How executive search works.

Contingency recruiters are paid only if they place a candidate, so they often run many searches at once and compete to submit resumes first. Hawthorne works on a retained or engaged basis: we commit to each search exclusively and take on a limited number at once, so each one gets the time it takes to find the right person. Retained vs. contingency, compared.

Executive and senior leadership searches, such as chief executive, vice-president, director and board roles, and mid-to-senior professional roles in finance, human resources, marketing and communications, operations, legal, technology and project management. See executive search, professional search and representative mandates.

Real estate and development, construction and infrastructure, technology, energy and renewables, healthcare, professional services, nonprofit and social sector, government and public sector, financial services and insurance, legal, education and post-secondary, and arts, culture and tourism. Sector detail: construction and real estate, energy, nonprofit and public sector.

Hawthorne Recruitment is based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and works across Halifax and Atlantic Canada. We also support clients nationally when a search calls for a wider reach.

Most searches run from briefing to shortlist in a matter of weeks, and the full process through offer and acceptance typically completes within a couple of months. Timelines depend on the seniority of the role and the size of the qualified market, and we set clear expectations at the start of every engagement.

Fees are typically a percentage of the role's first-year compensation, structured to the engagement. We outline the cost clearly before any work begins, with no surprises.

Yes. We stand behind our placements. The specific terms of the guarantee are agreed up front as part of the engagement, so you know exactly where you stand.

On a search engagement we represent the hiring organization. We still treat every candidate with care and honesty. Strong, respectful candidate relationships are exactly what give us access to the best people over time. How we work with candidates.

The strongest leaders are rarely scrolling job boards. We rely on years of relationships and deliberate market mapping to identify and discreetly approach the right people, including those who would never see, or respond to, a public posting.

Look at current open roles, or send your CV through the Candidates page. Even when there isn't an immediate match, we build long-term relationships and keep strong people in mind as the right searches come in.

Start a conversation through the contact form or email info@hawthornerecruitment.com. We'll talk through the role, your organization and what a great hire looks like before any work begins.