Lock Search Group is a leading recruitment agency for businesses in Vancouver seeking top talent. Our expert headhunter services are rooted in our in-depth knowledge of Vancouver’s dynamic employment landscape. We help businesses across various sectors, from manufacturing and construction to technology, find the professionals they need to thrive.
Vancouver has long been regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful and desirable places to live and work. Its booming job market, sometimes called “Silicon Valley North,” attracts professionals from across Canada and beyond. However, this competitive landscape can make finding qualified candidates a challenge.
Lock Search Group’s Vancouver headhunters have extensive experience connecting clients with high-skilled talent to drive business growth. We understand that every employer’s needs are unique, and we tailor our executive search approach to match your company’s industry, culture, and specific requirements.
Whether you’re looking for experienced executives, specialized professionals, or entry-level talent, our team is dedicated to finding the perfect fit for your organization. We combine our extensive network with a deep understanding of the Vancouver market to deliver exceptional results.
#620 - 1155 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC V6E 2P4
Vancouver’s economy is diverse and thriving, with technology being just one of its many successful sectors. The city’s abundant natural resources have fostered a long tradition of mining, forestry, and agriculture. As home to one of North America’s busiest ports, Vancouver serves as a crucial gateway for international trade, particularly with Asia and the Pacific Rim.
The city is also a center for finance, banking, and manufacturing, as well as a cultural hub with a robust tourism industry and a prominent role in film and television production. This range of growing industries contributes to Vancouver’s economic strength but also creates challenges for businesses seeking to attract and retain top talent.
The increased prevalence of remote work and virtual hiring processes further complicates the search for the perfect candidate. Lock Search Group’s client-centric recruiting and headhunting approach, combined with advanced technology, helps you overcome these challenges. We’re committed to understanding your unique needs and providing customized solutions that deliver the results you need.
Our Vancouver success stories
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International Insurance Firm Successfully Secures First Canadian Hire with Rare Cross-Border Expertise
Our recruitment services meet a range of business needs
Executive Search
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.
Retained Search
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.
Contingency Search
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 Vancouver’s finest across our practice areas
At our Vancouver office, we connect top-tier talent with leading opportunities across the industries driving the Lower Mainland economy. From cleantech in Burnaby to biotech in Mount Pleasant and digital media in Yaletown, our recruiters bring deep local insight and proven expertise. Backed by a national network, we navigate Vancouver’s unique hiring landscape to place talent that powers growth and innovation across the region.
Talent found, teams built: Testimonials from satisfied employers
Looking for technical sales reps who sell into channels can be a tough task, but the group at Lock have successfully placed multiple employees in our business. Their approach is professional, and they maintain regular and open communication. While turnover can be hard to manage, the team at Lock makes filling our roles a priority every time.
Jerry Walker
National Sales Manager, UCAN FASTENING PRODUCTS
I have used Lock Search Group on two occasions in finding sales and business development positions. They were very helpful and extremely responsive and resourceful in helping us identify some great candidates both in Montreal and Toronto.
Dominique Mailloux
Vice President Human Resources, GardaWorld
Lock Search Group has consistently delivered top talent for our organization. They are a true business partner that digs deeper to effectively qualify required experience and qualifications, as well as assess fit and potential.
Linus Desouza
Associate Director Human Resources, Kellogg Canada Inc.
We have worked with Lock for a number of roles. Each time they have quickly provided excellent candidates and were a true partner throughout the hiring process.
Sara Hamelin
Head of HR, Live to Play Sports Group Inc
I’ve had positive experiences working with Jay Pinniger and the team at Lock Search Group – initially as a candidate, advancing my own career, and then as a client, assembling my management team. Lock’s team worked in depth to understand Vital Metals’ needs and developed a strong collaborative and interactive partnership. They know their markets intimately.
Vincent Laniece
VP Refinery, Vital Metals
We have worked with other executive search groups and found that LockSearch group was able to find the best professionals for the position. Attention to detail, professionalism, understanding our team were critical parts of the selection process. We would use their services for all of our medtech executive hires. Steve Bews has a real acumen for finding the right people and is a pleasure to work with.
Dr. Karen M. Cross MD PhD FRCSC
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, St. Michael’s Hospital, CEO, co-founder MIMOSA Diagnostics
When I work with the Lock team, it is always a productive, professional and successful experience. Their ability to listen, understand and provide options and alternatives ensures a high quality conclusion to my mandate!
Dave Rylett
Sr Director, CV Marketing and Sales, HLS Therapeutics
We have been using the Locke Group for the past few years to fill some key positions within our company. They have been professional and easy to work with throughout each of the processes and have delivered each and every time.
Murray Driediger
President and CEO, BC Fresh
Why choose Lock Search Group
Track record of success in Vancouver
Since day one, our formula for success in Vancouver has been simple: care deeply, and deliver. We know your next hire—whether for a fintech firm in Gastown or a cleantech startup in Mount Pleasant—could be the one who reshapes your entire team, and we take pride in helping you land the talent that drives real impact.
Rooted in Vancouver’s entrepreneurial spirit, we bring a delivery-driven, results-obsessed approach shaped by years of working across the city’s evolving business landscape. With long-tenured consultants deeply connected to the local market, we’re not just here to fill a role—we’re here to make the match that moves your business forward.
Leaders and listeners
What’s your story—and what’s driving it forward in a city like Vancouver? Whether you’re scaling a team in the Broadway Tech Corridor or navigating rapid growth in False Creek Flats, we start by listening. Your goals, your challenges and your vision are at the center of everything we do.
When you work with Lock, you’ll receive a tailored action plan built around the realities of hiring in Vancouver’s fast-paced market. From day one, you’ll know exactly what we’ll do, how we’ll do it, and when it’s happening. Clear steps, shared expectations, and full alignment—every step of the way.
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.
Matching Vancouver’s pace, our experienced team knows the city’s key industries inside and out—from cleantech and life sciences to finance and tech. They understand what makes Vancouver’s talent market unique and thrive on connecting exceptional people with roles that fuel the region’s growth. Meet the team driving hiring success across the Lower Mainland.
Frequently asked questions about recruiting in Vancouver
Our focus in Vancouver is primarily on executive-level roles, including C-suite and board-level positions, as well as other senior leadership roles such as vice presidents, directors, and other high-level management positions.
We collaborate with clients to create a tailored strategy for sourcing top-tier talent. Our executive search proficiency enables us to pinpoint candidates with the appropriate qualifications and cultural alignment. Our results-oriented model is an effective approach that lowers risk and encourages efficient performance. We call it a “contained” model.
As a leading Vancouver executive search firm and recruitment agency, our practice areas are diverse and comprehensive, covering a wide range of industries and sectors. We specialize in executive search and talent acquisition services for the following industries:
With our extensive expertise and knowledge in these industries, we are able to provide customized solutions to our clients’ executive search and talent acquisition needs. Our team of experienced professionals utilizes a data-driven approach to identify and attract the best talent in the market, ensuring our clients’ continued success and growth.
In Vancouver’s fast-evolving job market, our consultants tailor each search to the client’s specific needs. We start with a focused kickoff meeting to align on expectations and define success. Once engaged, we factor in the unique demands of the local industry and the nature of the role—whether it’s a leadership position in tech, a specialist in life sciences, or a key hire in finance or clean energy.
Working closely with our research associates, we identify and present top-tier candidates, manage interviews, and handle every detail through to final negotiations. We stay hands-on throughout the process, ensuring a smooth experience from start to signed offer. Every search is unique—some roles are filled within days, while others require a more extended and strategic approach based on market complexity.
An executive search firm and a recruitment agency are both involved in sourcing candidates for job openings, but there are some key differences in their approach and focus.
An executive search firm, also known as a headhunting firm, is typically engaged for senior-level and executive positions. They specialize in identifying and recruiting top-level talent for positions that require specialized skills and expertise. Executive search firms use a targeted and strategic approach, leveraging their extensive networks and industry knowledge to identify the best possible candidates for the role. They provide a high level of customization and exclusivity in their search process.
On the other hand, recruitment agencies typically focus on filling a large volume of positions across various levels within an organization. They use a more generalized approach to sourcing candidates, often utilizing online resources to identify potential candidates without customization.
At Lock Search Group, we believe that providing additional services beyond talent acquisition is crucial to delivering a comprehensive and successful recruitment experience for both our clients and candidates.
As a testament to this commitment, we offer interview coaching and onboarding support to further facilitate the success of our clients and their newly appointed executives. Our interview coaching provides guidance on techniques, questions, and effective communication, leading to better outcomes. Additionally, our onboarding support ensures a smooth transition and ongoing communication for success. We believe these services are vital to a comprehensive recruitment experience for clients and candidates.
Candidates working with Lock Search Group don’t need to pay a fee. Rather, they are considered potential candidates for the open positions and are evaluated based on their skills, qualifications, and fit for the role.
Lock Search Group can provide candidates with access to exclusive job opportunities, as well as personalized guidance and support throughout the hiring process. However, it is important to note that the final hiring decision ultimately rests with the hiring organization, and there is no guarantee of employment for candidates who work with executive search firms.
We proudly stand behind every placement we make in Vancouver and offer a replacement guarantee starting from the candidate’s first day. For details specific to your engagement, connect with your dedicated Lock Search Group consultant. Your trust drives us, and we’re here to ensure you have the clarity and confidence you need throughout the hiring process.
Lock Search Group Vancouver stands apart because we’re 100 % rooted in this market:
Entirely local team – every consultant lives and works here, so we know firsthand what attracts top talent to Vancouver’s lifestyle and opportunities.
Deep market insight – we build every search on Metro Vancouver’s 1.83 million–strong workforce, 6.7 % unemployment and some of Canada’s highest average wages, so you get candidates who fit both skill requirements and local pay expectations.
Long-standing networks – years of relationships with leaders across Vancouver’s key sectors (from Richmond’s advanced manufacturing to Yaletown’s tech scene) mean faster access to passive candidates.
Direct, transparent communication – you deal directly with your recruiter at every stage, with just-in-time updates so you always know where the search stands.
Companies that want assistance with hiring new talent can fill in the Looking to hire? section on our website Contact page. Candidates can click on Contact on our website and fill in the Looking for a career opportunity? section or check out our job board.
You will receive an email confirmation. Once your application is submitted, our associates will send your file to the consultant who specializes in the field you are looking for.
Please send us an email at info@locksearchgroup.com and we will be glad to update you. It may take some time to process your application if the type of position you are seeking is not available at the time you apply.
#620 - 1155 West Pender Street 
604-669-5385
