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Toronto Executive Search Recruiters

Your Toronto Recruitment Agency & Headhunters

Lock Search Group is a leading recruiter connecting Toronto’s businesses with job seekers eager to bring their talents to the team. Our Toronto headhunters have extensive experience navigating the dynamic talent market in this vibrant city, and the employers we work with benefit from this expertise.

With a population of nearly 3 million, the city of Toronto is the financial capital of Canada, as well as one of its most diverse, multi-cultural centers. It’s the fastest growing area, not just in Canada, but across North America. This is particularly true when it comes to the technology industry. Over the past five years, Toronto has consistently produced more graduates than jobs, making it a “brain gain” destination for companies who are looking to recruit the best talent.

Of course, just because there are highly-skilled candidates in Toronto doesn’t mean they’re easy to find and hire. Partnering with a well-connected executive search and recruiting firm like Lock Search Group helps organizations find people who are a perfect fit for the culture and have the right experience and skills for the role. Our relationship-based recruitment approach and in-depth screening process gives us the edge in identifying top candidates in Toronto. If you’re facing a recruitment challenge, contact Lock Search Group today to find out how we can provide a solution.

  • map-marker161 Bay St. Suite 2435
    Toronto, ON M5J 2S1

Our success stories

Lock offers a range of services to meet your business needs

Lock Search Group’s distinctive “contained” executive search model combines the thoroughness of traditional retained search with performance-based accountability to deliver exceptional C-suite and senior leadership talent. Our proven three-phase methodology, led by experienced Senior Consultants and backed by dedicated industry-specific recruitment teams, ensures comprehensive coverage of the executive talent market. We leverage our national network and extensive research capabilities to track industry movements, mergers, acquisitions, and leadership changes, providing clients with real-time market intelligence. Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles ensures we source the absolute best available talent without bias, maintaining a fair and equitable search process. Our track record speaks for itself, with successful placements including Board Members, CEOs, CFOs, Presidents, and numerous Vice Presidents across multiple functions and industries.

Our Retained Search service establishes an exclusive partnership with organizations seeking to fill critical senior and mid-level positions through a comprehensive, priority-based approach. By dedicating our full resources and attention to your search, we conduct extensive market mapping and develop robust talent pipelines that ensure access to the highest caliber candidates. Our team provides regular progress updates and detailed market intelligence reports, keeping you informed throughout the entire search process. We manage everything from initial candidate assessment through final offer negotiation, ensuring a smooth and professional experience for both clients and candidates. This service includes post-placement integration support to ensure successful onboarding and long-term success of placed candidates.

Our Contingency Search service offers a flexible, success-based recruiting solution designed to efficiently fill professional and technical positions with qualified talent. Organizations benefit from immediate access to our extensive candidate database and network, with payment required only upon successful placement. Our streamlined recruitment process focuses on quick response times and efficient candidate presentation, making it ideal for time-sensitive placements and organizations with variable hiring needs. We handle all aspects of the recruitment process, from initial screening through offer negotiation, while maintaining the flexibility to work alongside other agencies if desired. This results-driven approach ensures we remain highly motivated to identify and secure the right talent for your organization while minimizing your upfront investment.

Recruiting Toronto’s finest across our practice areas

At our Toronto office, we connect exceptional talent with opportunities across a broad range of industries. Our experienced recruiters navigate everything from emerging tech and digital innovation to established sectors like manufacturing and finance. By leveraging deep local expertise and a national network, we drive growth and transformation throughout Toronto’s dynamic business landscape.

  • Life Sciences

    Life Sciences

    Recruiting in life sciences demands expertise in rapidly evolving fields like genomics, precision medicine, and biotechnology, where sourcing candidates with advanced scientific credentials and niche technical skills—such as regulatory compliance or clinical trial management—is critical. Success hinges on understanding specialized terminology, tracking innovations in areas like cell therapy and AI-driven drug discovery, and navigating a competitive talent pool for roles spanning executive leadership to highly technical positions in regulated environments.

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  • Consumer Packaged Goods

    Consumer Packaged Goods

    Recruiting in the consumer packaged goods sector demands expertise in navigating digital transformation, including e-commerce and data-driven omnichannel strategies, while balancing traditional sales and marketing roles with emerging needs in sustainability, supply chain innovation, and private label development. Success requires targeting professionals adept at adapting to shifting consumer behaviors, direct-to-consumer models, and cross-functional collaboration across diverse sub-sectors like food tech, beverage, and retail.

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  • Industrial

    Industrial

    Recruiting in the industrial sector requires navigating a broad spectrum of technical and operational roles, from skilled trades and supply chain specialists to engineers and data-driven innovators, while addressing the rapid integration of automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing technologies. Success hinges on understanding niche industry demands, cross-functional collaboration needs, and the evolving balance between traditional industrial expertise and emerging digital competencies in a resource-driven global market.

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  • B2B

    B2B

    B2B recruitment requires identifying professionals with specialized technical expertise and refined soft skills like negotiation and strategic communication, while navigating a competitive talent pool where candidates must understand both client industries and evolving technological demands. Success in this sector hinges on accessing niche skill sets across diverse verticals—from AdTech to insurance technology—and matching candidates who combine sector-specific knowledge with the ability to bridge complex business-to-business relationships.

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  • Technology

    Technology

    Recruiting in technology requires navigating a highly competitive landscape where demand for specialized skills in areas like AI, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure spans industries beyond traditional tech sectors, intensifying talent scarcity. Effective recruitment hinges on understanding evolving technical expertise, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the ability to assess niche capabilities in fast-paced environments where innovation outpaces candidate supply.

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  • Accounting

    Accounting

    Recruiting in accounting requires balancing technical expertise in areas like regulatory compliance and financial reporting with cultural alignment, as candidates must adapt to evolving technologies and industry-specific challenges such as tax law complexity and audit transparency demands. Success hinges on sourcing both active and passive talent who demonstrate not only proficiency in specialized roles—from controllers to financial analysts—but also the soft skills to navigate organizational dynamics and drive long-term strategic financial health.

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  • Automotive

    Automotive

    The automotive sector’s rapid evolution driven by autonomous systems, electrification, and advanced safety technologies necessitates recruitment strategies that prioritize candidates with expertise in ICT, AI, and interdisciplinary mechatronics integration. Recruiters must navigate a dynamic landscape of OEMs, tiered suppliers, and dealership networks, focusing on roles bridging technical innovation with operational leadership to meet demands for next-generation vehicle development and digital transformation.

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  • Beverage/Alcohol

    Beverage/Alcohol

    Recruiting in the beverage and alcohol industry requires expertise in navigating evolving consumer trends like plant-based innovations, premiumization, and sustainability-driven packaging, while targeting talent skilled in data-driven marketing, supply chain optimization, and cross-functional leadership. Success hinges on understanding niche demands such as non-alcoholic product development, regulatory compliance, and global market expansion strategies tied to shifting consumption patterns.

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  • Biotechnology

    Biotechnology

    Biotechnology recruiting requires deep expertise in rapidly evolving scientific disciplines such as genetic engineering, bioinformatics, and pharmaceutical development, where demand for niche technical skills like digital drug discovery and medical robotics often outpaces available talent. Success hinges on balancing rigorous technical vetting with cultural alignment, as roles demand both specialized expertise—from DNA sequencing to regulatory compliance—and adaptability to innovations in sustainability, automation, and personalized medicine.

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  • Construction

    Construction

    Recruiting in construction increasingly prioritizes expertise in sustainable practices, green technologies, and advanced digital tools like AI and robotics, driven by climate-conscious projects and smart infrastructure demands. The sector faces acute shortages in skilled trades and specialized roles, requiring recruiters to balance technical proficiency with adaptability to evolving compliance standards and cross-functional collaboration needs in large-scale projects.

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  • Digital and Artificial Intelligence

    Digital and Artificial Intelligence

    Recruiting in digital and artificial intelligence demands expertise in emerging interdisciplinary technologies like machine learning, robotics, and big data analytics, requiring recruiters to identify candidates who can innovate in complex fields such as medical robotics, neurotechnology, and autonomous systems. This specialization involves sourcing talent for roles ranging from AI ethics compliance and quantum computing research to human-centered UX design, while anticipating how evolving tools like generative AI might reshape industry needs.

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  • Engineering

    Engineering

    Engineering recruitment requires navigating a complex landscape of specialized disciplines from mechatronics to nanotechnology, where demand for technical expertise often outpaces supply due to rapid technological advancements and industry-specific regulatory requirements. Success hinges on understanding niche skill sets across sectors like robotics, nuclear systems, and biomedical innovation while addressing candidates’ priorities for cutting-edge projects and cross-disciplinary collaboration in a competitive talent market.

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  • Finance

    Finance

    Recruiting in finance requires balancing technical expertise in areas like regulatory compliance and financial analysis with cultural alignment, particularly for private equity and venture capital firms managing portfolio companies. The sector demands adaptability to emerging technologies and diversity initiatives while navigating competitive talent pipelines for specialized roles ranging from risk management to C-suite leadership.

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  • Food Service

    Food Service

    Recruiting in the food service sector requires identifying candidates who can navigate evolving consumer demands around health and sustainability while driving innovation in areas like supply chain optimization, data-driven product development, and digital customer engagement strategies. Specialized roles demand expertise in balancing operational efficiency with technological adoption across manufacturing, hospitality, and distribution landscapes to maintain competitive advantage in a rapidly transforming industry.

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  • Hard Goods

    Hard Goods

    The hard goods sector faces rapid technological transformation across retail AI, manufacturing robotics, and digital marketing, requiring recruiters to identify candidates adept at navigating innovation while maintaining strict compliance, safety standards, and cost-effective production in durable goods markets. Success hinges on sourcing professionals with hybrid expertise in builder channel development, supply chain optimization, and data-driven analytics to balance sustainability demands with the pressures of global competition in hardware and durable consumer goods industries.

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  • HR

    HR

    Recruiting in the Human Resources sector requires a nuanced understanding of evolving roles that blend strategic business alignment with administrative expertise, including compensation structures, diversity initiatives, and employee relations. Success hinges on identifying professionals adept at leveraging data-driven workforce planning, navigating complex labor regulations, and designing competitive benefits packages to attract top talent in a dynamic employment landscape.

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  • Information Technology

    Information Technology

    Recruiting in information technology requires deep expertise in rapidly evolving technical domains like cybersecurity, AI, and data science, necessitating recruiters to balance niche technical proficiency with an understanding of cross-industry applications. Success hinges on identifying candidates who blend specialized skills in areas like cloud infrastructure or UX design with adaptability to emerging technologies, while navigating a competitive landscape that spans multinational enterprises, agile startups, and transformative digital initiatives.

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  • Manufacturing

    Manufacturing

    Canadian manufacturing recruitment faces evolving challenges from sustainability demands and global competition, requiring expertise in both traditional operational roles and emerging fields like automation and AI-driven supply chain optimization. Success in this sector demands deep understanding of industry-specific technological advancements and access to professionals who balance quality production with environmental stewardship and cost efficiency.

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  • Medical Device

    Medical Device

    Recruiting in the medical device sector demands expertise in emerging technologies like AI-driven diagnostics, robotics, and software-as-a-medical-device (SaMD), while navigating a competitive landscape for candidates skilled in regulatory compliance and commercialization. Success hinges on identifying professionals who bridge technical innovation with commercial acumen, particularly in specialized areas such as personalized medicine and supply chain optimization, where industry advancements outpace talent availability.

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  • Insurance

    Insurance

    Recruiting in the insurance sector requires balancing traditional industry expertise with emerging technological fluency, as InsurTech innovations, AI integration, and predictive analytics reshape roles like underwriting and claims management. Success hinges on identifying candidates with hybrid skills in risk assessment and digital tools while navigating a competitive market for specialized professionals who understand evolving regulatory frameworks and global operational demands.

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  • Legal

    Legal

    Recruiting in the legal sector demands expertise in navigating specialized fields such as corporate compliance, intellectual property, and environmental law, where candidates must balance deep regulatory knowledge with adaptability to evolving digital tools like AI-driven research platforms. Success hinges on aligning technically proficient candidates with firms undergoing rapid transformation, while addressing competitive talent shortages exacerbated by increased corporate transactions and cross-border legal complexities.

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  • Operations

    Operations

    Operations recruitment has evolved significantly with digital transformation, requiring expertise in emerging technologies like AI, robotics, and data-driven supply chain strategies while maintaining core competencies in production optimization and quality assurance. The field now demands recruiters who can identify candidates adept at balancing traditional operational frameworks with innovative customer experience enhancements and lean manufacturing principles in a rapidly changing industrial landscape.

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  • Pharmaceutical

    Pharmaceutical

    Recruiting in the pharmaceutical industry requires deep expertise across diverse roles, from laboratory-based research and development to clinical trials management, regulatory affairs, drug manufacturing, and pharmaceutical sales[1]. The field is experiencing robust growth with a 14% projected increase in career opportunities, particularly in emerging areas like AI-driven drug discovery, personalized medicine, antibody development, DNA sequencing, and medical robotics, making it essential to identify candidates who can drive innovation while navigating complex regulatory requirements.

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  • Private Equity/Venture Capital

    Private Equity/Venture Capital

    Private equity and venture capital recruiting requires identifying professionals who can navigate both investment strategy and operational leadership, particularly for portfolio companies in specialized sectors where investors may lack direct industry expertise. Successful recruitment hinges on deep financial acumen, cross-industry knowledge, and the ability to source candidates who combine strategic vision with hands-on execution capabilities across diverse business stages.

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  • Renewable Energy

    Renewable Energy

    Recruiting in the renewable energy sector requires expertise in bridging cutting-edge technical innovation with rapidly evolving sustainability demands, as organizations seek professionals skilled in emerging fields like hydrogen energy, carbon capture, and AI-driven energy systems. Success hinges on identifying candidates who combine traditional engineering competencies with adaptability to digital transformation, while navigating a highly competitive market shaped by global decarbonization goals and shifting regulatory landscapes.

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  • Retail

    Retail

    Retail recruiting has become increasingly focused on digital transformation expertise, driven by accelerated shifts to online platforms and omnichannel strategies, requiring candidates skilled in e-commerce, AI-driven analytics, and consumer behavior adaptation. Success demands recruiters with deep industry networks, technological fluency to assess digital capabilities, and the ability to identify leaders who can navigate evolving retail ecosystems spanning physical stores, digital marketplaces, and emerging technologies.

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  • SaaS

    SaaS

    Recruiting in the SaaS sector requires adaptability to rapid technological shifts and remote work dynamics, emphasizing expertise in onboarding distributed teams while ensuring alignment with evolving digital branding and customer experience priorities. The field demands recruiters with deep technical acumen and national networks to identify talent capable of driving subscription-based solutions in competitive, fast-paced markets like e-commerce and telehealth.

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  • Scientific and Clinical Research

    Scientific and Clinical Research

    Recruiting in scientific and clinical research demands expertise in sourcing specialists for AI-integrated drug development, genomic sequencing, and regulatory compliance, where technical precision and cross-disciplinary collaboration are critical. The field requires balancing rapid technological advancements with stringent ethical standards, while addressing shortages in roles requiring hybrid skills in data science, biotechnology, and clinical trial management.

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  • Supply Chain and Logistics

    Supply Chain and Logistics

    Recruiting in supply chain and logistics requires addressing critical talent shortages in a sector driving 750,000+ Canadian jobs, while targeting specialized roles like supply chain analysts and logistics directors with certifications (CSCP, APICS) across manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and tech-driven industries. Success demands balancing technical expertise with adaptability to digital transformations like AI integration while navigating sector-specific challenges in global sourcing, distribution networks, and evolving sustainability requirements.

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Talent found, teams built: Testimonials from satisfied employers

Why Choose Lock Search Group in Toronto

Track record of success in Torotno

In Toronto’s fiercely competitive market, our formula is simple: care deeply, deliver results. We know your next hire in this city driving national innovation can transform your team. We navigate the complex GTA talent landscape to secure your next-level talent.

Our founder’s national entrepreneurial grit fuels our focused Toronto approach. Expect delivery-driven partnership from our team, embedded in the GTA’s business ecosystem. Our Toronto consultants average 10+ years’ tenure, offering deep local market intelligence and established networks (Bay Street, tech corridors, and beyond). We make the match that truly measures up for Toronto’s leading organizations.

Leaders and listeners

What is your story, and what’s the story behind it? Our client-centric focus puts you and your specific goals firmly at the heart of our search process. We’re here to listen.

You’ll receive an individual action plan when you work with Lock, and we’ll be right on the same page every step of the way: what we will do, how you’ll see it happen, and when to expect results will all be clearly defined from the very beginning.

Industry-savvy insiders

We’ve been building incredible teams at Lock since 1983. In that time, we’ve crafted a strong network of business leaders, decision makers, and influencers.

But that’s only half of the story. Our recruiters make genuine connections because they’ve lived their industries, and they understand the field’s unique nuances, needs, and subtleties from the inside out. No matter your business, the cutting edge is where you’ll find us.

Partner with Lock Search Group

Talk to a recruiting expert in Toronto

Matching Toronto’s fast pace, our experienced team knows the key players throughout the GTA. They really understand the ins and outs of crucial sectors – think Bay Street, tech hubs like MaRS, and healthcare. Connecting top talent with roles that push Toronto forward globally is what they love to do. Meet the people making the difference in the GTA’s demanding hiring scene.

team member Ben Lamarche

Ben Lamarche

Managing Director
team member Jack Gawen

Jack Gawen

Managing Director
team member Michelle Belzile

Michelle Belzile

Recruitment Consultant
team member Glen Blackwell

Glen Blackwell

Vice President of Finance
team member Abigail Van Riesen

Abigail Van Riesen

Recruitment Consultant
team member Mike Davis

Mike Davis

Recruitment Consultant
team member Dave Dureno

Dave Dureno

Recruitment Consultant
team member Matt Frost

Matt Frost

Recruitment Consultant, Partner
team member Charles Warren

Charles Warren

Recruitment Consultant, Partner
team member Alexandra Ungureanu

Alexandra Ungureanu

Recruitment Associate
team member Martiquea McLean

Martiquea McLean

Hybrid Recruiter
team member Katie McLay

Katie McLay

Recruitment Associate

Frequently asked questions about recruiting in Toronto

We connect top talent with leading companies across Toronto’s financial services, technology and professional services sectors (among others). Our specialty is placing experienced professionals in management and executive roles that drive organizational success. From portfolio managers and compliance directors to product leads and operations executives, we understand what makes Toronto’s businesses tick. Our deep industry knowledge helps us match the right people with the right opportunities, creating partnerships that fuel growth and performance.

As one of the leading executive search firms in the Bay Street area, our practice areas are diverse and comprehensive, covering a wide range of industries and sectors.

We have recruiters who work on filling roles on executive search and talent acquisition projects for the following industries:

Executive Search

Toronto’s vibrant, multicultural business hub drives our “contained” executive search model. We blend the discipline of traditional retained search with performance-based accountability to secure top leadership, from visionary CEOs and CFOs to influential board members. Our proven three-phase methodology is led by Senior Consultants deeply familiar with Toronto’s key sectors, whether finance in the bustling downtown core or tech innovation in emerging corridors. Combining local insight with national resources, we track market shifts and leadership changes in real time.

Retained Search

In a city where boardrooms overlook Lake Ontario and innovation pulses through every street, our Retained Search service builds an exclusive partnership with local organizations intent on growth. We dedicate full resources to fill crucial senior and mid-level roles by mapping the local market and tapping into Toronto’s extensive network of finance, tech, and creative talent. With regular progress updates and detailed market insights, we keep you informed at every step. This tailored process aligns perfectly with Toronto’s competitive commercial pace and strategic vision.

Contingency Search

For Toronto’s fast-paced, results-driven environment, our Contingency Search delivers a flexible, success-based recruiting solution. Ideal for filling professional and technical roles quickly, this service provides immediate access to a diverse candidate network—from downtown business hubs to emerging tech incubators. With payment due only upon successful placement, our agile process covers everything from candidate screening to final negotiations. This flexible approach meets time-sensitive hiring needs while ensuring that the right talent is secured swiftly in one of North America’s most dynamic markets.

We can be found at 161 Bay St. Suite 2435, Toronto, ON M5J 2S1. We are located just a few minutes away from Union Station and there is ample parking in the area should you arrive by car.

Being based in Toronto gives us a unique advantage. We have a deep understanding of the local market and maintain strong connections with businesses and skilled professionals throughout the city. Regular engagement with talent in hubs like the Distillery District and the MaRS building keeps us in tune with emerging trends and niche opportunities. This local involvement enables us to quickly match candidates with the right roles and arrange face-to-face meetings that build trust and understanding. Overall, our grounded approach helps us deliver a recruitment process that is both efficient and personal.