What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Recruiter – Direct Hire & Retained Search position at TekPro?
Senior Recruiter – Direct Hire & Retained Search
Location: Oak Brook, IL (onsite preferred), Open to remote candidates with a proven track record in agency recruiting in aerospace components, medical device, consumer goods, or industrial machinery manufacturing
Compensation: $70,000 to $90,000 base salary, plus commission on placements and performance bonus
Company Overview
TekPro is a specialized recruiting firm focused on making key leadership hires for midsized manufacturers across the aerospace, precision components, medical device, consumer goods, specialty chemicals and metal processing industries. We partner closely with ownership groups and senior leadership teams to fill critical engineering, operations management, skilled trades and strategic leadership roles that directly impact business performance.
We achieved 25% year-over-year growth from 2024 to 2025 and are expanding our team heading into 2026. We are looking to add a top-performing senior recruiter who wants to work on high-impact searches for growth minded, modernized organizations.
We are hiring a Senior Recruiter who can run searches end-to-end and operate with urgency and accountability. This role is for someone who has already proven they can win in agency recruiting and wants more ownership,
What You’ll Work On
Direct-hire and retained searches across:
- Engineering and Quality Management
- Skilled Trades within Manufacturing Environments
- Department Managers
- Strategic Executive and Operational Leadership roles
Clients in:
- Precision machined components
- Machinery and industrial manufacturing
- CPG and Food Manufacturing environments
- Advanced materials - chemicals, industrial steel processing etc..
Responsibilities
- Own searches from intake through placement
- Partner directly with hiring managers and executives
- Run high-quality intake calls and manage client expectations
- Source, screen, and close candidates in competitive markets
- Navigate compensation, counteroffers, and close dynamics
- Maintain accurate pipeline visibility and search cadence
- Contribute to account growth through credibility and execution
What We’re Looking For
- Proven agency recruiting experience in direct hire or retained search
- Strong background in technical, manufacturing, or engineering recruiting
- Ability to manage client relationships, not just fill requisitions
- Self-starter who does not need activity policing
- Competitive mindset and bias toward action
- Comfortable working multiple searches simultaneously
- High standards for candidate quality and client communication
What This Role Is Not
- Not high-volume temp or contract recruiting
- Not a scripted, KPI-driven environment - success is defined by outcomes
Why TekPro
- Focused, specialized market with 90% business from repeat clients
- Freedom to prioritize searches based on impact, urgency, client relationship
- High-trust environment with autonomy and accountability
- Clear expectations and performance-based upside
- Opportunity to work on meaningful, high-impact searches
- 3 weeks PTO
- BlueCross Blueshield PPO health plan - silver (base)
- Dental & Vision Insurance
Salary : $70,000 - $100,000