Your Retainer: Where Does It Go?

We understand that for some clients, the concept of a retainer can feel unfamiliar—especially in an industry where contingency search is the norm. But for true, tailored executive search, a retained model isn't just a different approach—it's a better one.

When you engage MacNair Retained Search on a retained basis, you're not simply paying to try and fill a role. You're securing a dedicated partnership. That retainer allows us to immediately prioritize your search, allocate our full resources to it, and dig deep into our network to find the kind of leader you’ve described—not just the most available one.

So where does your retainer go?

1. Stability for our Team

We pay our recruiters a base salary—a rarity in construction recruiting. That financial consistency allows them to focus entirely on quality, not quantity. They're not hustling to cover next month’s mortgage. They're locked in on your search, working from a place of stability and clarity.

2. Market Research and Mapping

Before outreach even begins, we do the homework: identifying top talent at competing firms, mapping org structures, and benchmarking compensation. You’re not just hiring a recruiter—you’re hiring a research team that knows where to look.

3. Premium Sourcing Tools

We invest in industry-specific tools and databases that most firms don’t touch. These platforms help us uncover candidates who are flying under the radar—the ones not on job boards, not updating LinkedIn, but still open to the right opportunity.

4. Confidentiality and Discretion

Executive-level hiring often requires a quiet, controlled process. Whether you're replacing a key leader or building a new division, we protect your brand and reputation throughout the search.

5. Full Process Management

From initial outreach to interview coordination, feedback collection, and offer negotiation—we run the entire process. You’re not chasing down recruiters for updates or managing multiple inboxes. We keep it tight and professional from start to finish.

6. Candidate Experience

How a candidate experiences your hiring process matters—especially at the leadership level. We guide them, prep them, and represent your company with the same care you would. Even the ones you don’t hire walk away with a positive impression.

7. Community Impact

We believe business should be rooted in service. Retainers allow us to support causes that matter.

Six months following the impact of Hurricane Helene, we contributed to the restoration of Bearwallow Baptist Church in Gerton, NC, addressing some of the damage. We took great pride in revitalizing the front yard, creek, and baptismal area.

Just as important: our team operates stronger and better when we’re actively giving back, engaging with the community, and being part of something bigger than the work itself. That sense of purpose directly impacts the energy and care we bring to every search.