At the beginning of every year I ask myself what is it that I do well, what value do I bring to my clients and what really makes Essence different than any other recruitment firms? Although every year brings its new slate of answers, there is one answer that remains...
Professional recruiters bring expertise in the design of the right position to meet operational objectives, the offer of fair rewards for the position, the delivery of pointed interviews to efficiently identify potential recruits, and finally the selection and...
Many clients and human resources professionals often ask me to share the secrets and special tools recruitment firms use to successfully secure new recruits time and time again. Of course, I can’t speak for all the recruitment firms out there but I can share three of...
People often have the misconception that as a recruitment firm we find jobs for people. ACTUALLY, our role is the other way around. We find the right people for specific positions in our client's organizations. HOWEVER, it is true that we do connect with many people,...
In a marketplace where competition for talent is fierce, people and organizations often wonder how to choose a recruitment firm. The obvious selection criteria such as price, location, and job market or industry knowledge are not enough. Too many organizations and...
You’ve realized that you need the expertise of a recruiting firm to ensure you hire the right people, at the right time and within the right budget. Now what? Some would think that it’s just a matter of providing the recruiting firm with the job description and voila!...
So, you’ve decided it’s time to hire. Regardless of the reasons for which you’re recruiting someone new to your organization – whether it is to fill a vacancy, to create a brand new position or to complement your existing team – hiring the right person the first time...
![My organization is […] Can you confidently fill in the blank?](https://essencerecruitment.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/joanne-and-travis-1080x675.jpg)
Recruiting is a perfect time for self-reflection, well, organizational self-reflection that is! To be able to hire the best person for the position, and prepare for the selection and interview process, you need to be able to answer of few questions yourself. How...
When it comes to hiring, many business owners don’t think twice about the process, they get caught up in just filling the position. By the time they zone in on the fact that there is a skill to hiring the right person for the right position at the right price, they...
We don’t treat not-for-profit search like corporate hiring because it isn’t.
Not-for-profit leadership demands more than experience. It requires navigating board governance, funding constraints, community accountability, stakeholder dynamics, and mission alignment all at once. For 15 years, this has been our focus.
We understand the realities of this sector. Limited resources. High expectations. Public accountability. Deep emotional investment. That’s why our searches are structured, disciplined, and intentional, not transactional.
We challenge assumptions. We ask harder questions. We guide clear conversations around compensation, fit, and long-term sustainability before an offer is ever made.
This isn’t about filling a vacancy. It’s about protecting your mission and positioning your organization for what’s next.
We don’t just bring candidates. We bring leaders built for not-for-profits.
Essence works primarily with not-for-profit organizations across Canada, partnering with boards and executive teams to recruit senior leadership. We also support private and growth-oriented organizations seeking executive and senior-level talent. Our work spans sectors; our speciality is leadership.
Great question, and you’re not alone! Many of our clients are working with a search partner for the first time. Typically, organizations come to us when:
Once we understand your situation and what success looks like for your organization, we build a tailored recruitment plan. From role definition and market outreach to interviews and onboarding support, we manage the process from start to finish. Every search is unique, but the goal is always the same: to help you find the right person to join your team and move your organization forward.
Every search begins with a focused strategy tailored to the role, organisation, and sector. While we do post publicly when suitable, our successful placements result from a targeted, deliberate approach. We are continually maintaining a nationwide network. That said, we don’t limit our search to our existing network. We conduct proactive outreach, industry research, and referrals to ensure we’re identifying the best possible candidates for each role, not just the most available ones.
We specialize in recruiting for leadership and executive roles, typically at the manager, senior manager, director, and C-suite levels. Many of our clients are not-for-profit organizations that need strategic support in hiring key members of their leadership teams. We focus on long-term culture and fit, leadership alignment, and values-based hiring.
Absolutely, this is an important differentiator. Many organizations underestimate how critical compensation strategy and offer structuring are. We facilitate clear, candid conversations that align expectations, and long-term strategy before an offer is ever made.
Our work doesn’t end when the contract is signed. We continue to support both you and your new hire through the onboarding process. Your recruitment plan includes onboarding priorities to help ensure a smooth transition, set clear expectations, and position the candidate for long-term success within your organization.
We’re an executive search firm, which means we work on behalf of our clients to seek executives to lead their organizations. While we don’t provide general job placement services, we do connect with individuals with opportunities that align with their experience and career goals. We encourage you to review our current listings and apply directly to any roles that match your qualifications. Not every opportunity is posted publicly, so if you’re interested in being considered for future roles, feel free to send us your resume.