Executive Search Supply Chain | Retained Search Sydney & Melbourne

Signing a retained agreement - executive search supply chain leaders trust for senior hires

Why retained search delivers better outcomes for senior supply chain hires.

When you're hiring a VP Supply Chain, a Head of Procurement, or a CEO in Sydney, Melbourne or anywhere across ANZ — you need more than a stack of CVs. You need a partner who commits fully to the search from day one, with the depth of network and market knowledge to find candidates that contingent agencies simply can't reach.

Retained search means exclusivity, accountability, and a rigorous methodology. It's how the best executive hires are made — and it's how Sigma Search delivers its strongest results for clients across both markets.

100% of our placements above $200K are retained engagements. 5 for 5 in our most recent retained mandates, across Sydney and Melbourne.

Jon-Paul's retained process was night and day compared to working with agencies on contingent. We saw higher-calibre candidates, deeper market intelligence, and a hire that's still thriving two years later.

— COO, National Healthcare Distributor

How our retained search works

Discovery & Briefing

Deep dive into the role, team dynamics, culture, and what success looks like. We define the candidate profile together.

Week 1

Market Mapping

Comprehensive identification of every relevant candidate across the Sydney and Melbourne markets. You see the full talent landscape before we approach anyone.

Week 2–3

Approach & Assessment

Confidential, targeted outreach. Multi-stage assessment including technical evaluation and cultural alignment.

Week 3–5

Shortlist & Close

Detailed candidate presentations with market context. Full offer management including counter-offer mitigation.

Week 5–8

This is executive search supply chain leaders can rely on precisely because it isn't rushed: every stage above is designed to protect your investment in a senior hire, from the initial briefing through to the offer being accepted and honoured. It's the same rigour reflected in standards set by bodies like the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, and the same depth of process detailed on our How We Work page and demonstrated in our Search Showcase case studies.

Retained vs. contingent — what you actually get

Feature	Contingent	Sigma Retained
Exclusivity	Multiple agencies competing	✓ Single dedicated partner
Market mapping report	Not included	✓ Full talent landscape delivered
Passive candidate reach	Limited — speed prioritised	✓ Every relevant candidate identified
Weekly progress updates	Sporadic at best	✓ Structured weekly reporting
Salary benchmarking	Not included	✓ Detailed market data provided
Assessment depth	CV + interview	✓ Multi-stage inc. technical evaluation
Replacement guarantee	3 months typical	✓ 12-month guarantee
Principal-led delivery	Often delegated to juniors	✓ Jon-Paul leads every search

Ready to discuss a retained engagement?

We'll walk you through our executive search supply chain process, the timeline, and the investment for your Sydney or Melbourne search — no obligation.

Book a Conversation →Call +61 423 929 471