Direct Hire Full Exclusivity vs. Partial Retained What's the Difference?

Factor-by-Factor Comparison

 

Fee Structure

Full Exclusivity charges 18% of the median wage for the role, invoiced at the start of the search. If the controls engineer position carries a median base salary of $90,000, the Full Exclusivity fee is $16,200, due when the engagement begins — not when a hire is made.

Partial Retained charges 20% total, split into two payments. A 1.5% upfront retainer is invoiced at engagement (on a $90,000 role, that is $1,350). The remaining balance — approximately 18.5% — is invoiced when the new hire starts. Total fee: $18,000 on a $90,000 role.

Counterintuitively, Full Exclusivity carries a lower total fee percentage than Partial Retained (18% vs. 20%). The difference is timing and risk allocation: Full Exclusivity transfers more cost to the employer upfront; Partial Retained keeps most of the fee contingent on a successful hire.

 

Exclusivity Commitment

Under Full Exclusivity, the employer formally agrees to work only with Black-Peak for the search duration — no other agencies, no public job postings unless mutually agreed. This is the core structural difference between the two models and the reason Full Exclusivity produces qualitatively different sourcing behavior.

Under Partial Retained, there is no contractual exclusivity requirement. The employer can technically work with other agencies, though Black-Peak recommends against it for the same practical reasons that apply to Full Exclusivity: parallel searches reduce shortlist quality and create passive-candidate fatigue.

 

Sourcing Approach

Under Full Exclusivity, Black-Peak's primary sourcing method is direct outreach to passive candidates — currently employed controls engineers not visible on job boards. Because there is no competing agency rushing to submit resumes first, the incentive shifts entirely to quality. Black-Peak's team, composed of former controls and automation professionals, invests in mapping the relevant passive candidate pool before presenting a single resume.

Under Partial Retained, sourcing combines active candidate outreach with passive candidate development. The priority service commitment — enabled by the upfront retainer — means Partial Retained searches receive more dedicated attention than pure contingency searches, but the sourcing depth may be somewhat less intensive than a Full Exclusivity engagement.

 

When Each Model Is the Better Choice

 

Full Exclusivity is the better choice when:

• The role is senior — Controls Engineering Manager, Principal Automation Engineer, Lead Systems Integrator.
• The platform or application requirement is highly specific — a rare PLC combination, pharmaceutical S88 batch automation expertise, or complex multi-axis motion controls background.
• The search is confidential — a backfill before departure is announced, or a strategic hire before a product or facility launch.
• A previous contingency or multi-agency search failed to produce qualified candidates after months of effort.
• The employer's operations cannot absorb a prolonged vacancy — a plant shutdown, a project milestone, or a production constraint makes time-to-fill a genuine business risk.

 

Partial Retained is the better choice when:

• The role is a direct-hire controls engineering position at the engineer or senior engineer level — PLC programmer, automation engineer, SCADA developer, I&C engineer.
• The employer wants priority service and a professional recruiting engagement without the full upfront fee commitment of Full Exclusivity.
• The search is not confidential and public posting is acceptable alongside Black-Peak's recruiting effort.
• The employer is placing their first search with Black-Peak and wants to evaluate the relationship before committing to Full Exclusivity on future searches.

 

Employer FAQ: Full Exclusivity vs. Partial Retained

 

What is the difference between Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained for controls engineer hiring?

Both are direct-hire arrangements where the placed controls engineer becomes a permanent employee of the hiring company. The differences are fee structure, timing, and exclusivity. Full Exclusivity: the employer pays an 18% fee based on the median wage for the role at the start of the search, and agrees not to work with other recruiting agencies or post the role publicly during the exclusivity window. Partial Retained: the employer pays a 1.5% upfront retainer at engagement, with the remaining balance of a 20% total fee invoiced when the new hire starts. There is no formal exclusivity requirement under Partial Retained. Both include a 90-day replacement guarantee and multi-hire discounts.

 

Which service level is right for my controls engineering search — Full Exclusivity or Partial Retained?

Partial Retained is the most commonly selected engagement model and works well for the majority of direct-hire controls engineering searches — automation engineers, PLC programmers, SCADA developers, and similar roles across most industry environments. Full Exclusivity is the better choice when: the role is senior or highly specialized (Controls Engineering Manager, Lead Systems Integrator, rare PLC platform or application background); the search is confidential; the employer has had poor results from contingency or multi-agency searches; or dedicated recruiter resources from day one are operationally important. If you are unsure, Black-Peak can advise on which model is better suited to the specific role and market.

 

Why does Full Exclusivity cost more than Partial Retained?

Full Exclusivity requires an 18% fee invoiced upfront at search commencement, versus a 1.5% retainer upfront and 20% total on hire under Partial Retained. The upfront fee reflects the dedicated recruiting resources Black-Peak commits exclusively to the search — no competing agencies, deep passive-candidate outreach, and a curated shortlist rather than a volume approach. Employers pay more upfront under Full Exclusivity because they receive more: sole access to Black-Peak's controls and automation network, a formal commitment of exclusive recruiting focus, and the elimination of the multi-agency race dynamic that reduces shortlist quality. The 90-day replacement guarantee is included at both service levels.

 

Is the 90-day replacement guarantee the same for both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained?

Yes. Black-Peak's 90-day replacement guarantee applies equally to both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained direct-hire placements. If a placed controls engineer voluntarily leaves or is terminated without cause within 90 days of their start date, Black-Peak will conduct a replacement search per the terms of the original agreement. The guarantee does not differ based on service level — it reflects Black-Peak's confidence in the quality of candidates presented through either engagement model.

 

Under Partial Retained, can the employer use other recruiting agencies simultaneously?

Partial Retained does not include a formal exclusivity commitment, so there is no contractual prohibition on working with other agencies simultaneously. However, Black-Peak recommends against running parallel searches during a Partial Retained engagement for the same practical reasons that apply to Full Exclusivity: multiple agencies competing for the same role reduce shortlist quality, create candidate fatigue when the same engineers are approached by multiple recruiters for the same position, and undercut Black-Peak's ability to approach passive candidates credibly. The 1.5% retainer in Partial Retained reflects a prioritized engagement — employers get the best results when the search is focused.

What happens to the upfront retainer if Black-Peak doesn't fill the role under Partial Retained?

The 1.5% upfront retainer under Partial Retained is non-refundable if the search is unsuccessful, as it covers the recruiting resources invested in the search regardless of outcome. This is standard in retained recruiting arrangements and is the reason the retainer is set at 1.5% rather than the full fee — it allocates a proportionate share of risk to the employer, reflecting the priority service commitment, without requiring the full placement fee upfront. Under Full Exclusivity, the 18% fee is invoiced at commencement with the understanding that Black-Peak's full resources are committed until the role is filled or the engagement is formally concluded.

How does multi-hire pricing work for Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained?

Both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained engagements are eligible for multi-hire discounts when multiple searches are initiated simultaneously. Employers running parallel searches for two or more controls engineering roles — a common situation during facility expansions, automation project ramp-ups, or systems integrator growth periods — can discuss multi-hire pricing with Black-Peak at the time of engagement. Each role is treated as a distinct search with dedicated sourcing, coordinated through a single point of contact.

 

Can an employer switch from Partial Retained to Full Exclusivity mid-search?

Yes, in practice. If a Partial Retained search encounters difficulty — the passive candidate pool is shallower than anticipated, the role has confidentiality requirements that emerged after engagement, or the employer wants to accelerate the search — the engagement can be converted to Full Exclusivity with an adjustment to the fee structure. Black-Peak will advise when an upgrade to Full Exclusivity is likely to materially improve search outcomes versus continuing under Partial Retained. Not every search benefits from Full Exclusivity, and Black-Peak will say so clearly when Partial Retained is the better fit.

 

Do controls engineer candidates know which service level was used to place them?

Candidates are not typically informed of the specific service level under which they are being placed — Full Exclusivity or Partial Retained. From the candidate's perspective, Black-Peak is the recruiter presenting an opportunity, and the engagement model is a commercial arrangement between Black-Peak and the employer. What candidates do know is that Black-Peak placed them through a direct-hire arrangement, that they join the employer's payroll as a permanent employee, and that there is no cost to them regardless of service level.

 

Is Partial Retained the same as a contingency search?

No. Partial Retained and contingency are distinct arrangements. In a contingency search, the recruiter earns nothing unless their specific candidate is hired — there is no upfront payment, no priority commitment, and no exclusivity. Multiple agencies typically work the same role simultaneously. In a Partial Retained engagement, the 1.5% upfront retainer creates a formal commitment from both sides: Black-Peak prioritizes the search above pure contingency roles, and the employer has a financial stake in the engagement. Partial Retained produces better outcomes than contingency for controls engineering roles because it changes Black-Peak's sourcing behavior — passive candidate outreach and technical pre-screening are economically justified in a way they are not in a pure contingency race.

 

Which states does Black-Peak offer Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained controls engineer recruiting in?

Black-Peak offers both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained direct-hire controls engineer recruiting across 31 states in six regions: New England (Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine), Mid-Atlantic (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia), Southeast (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi), Midwest (Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kentucky), South-Central (Texas, Louisiana), and Northern Plains / Mountain (North Dakota, Wyoming).

 

State-Specific: Full Exclusivity vs. Partial Retained Questions

 

What is the difference between Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained for controls engineer hiring in Ohio?

Black-Peak offers both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained direct-hire controls engineer recruiting in Ohio's automotive and large-scale industrial automation sectors. The choice between service levels depends on role seniority, search sensitivity, and timeline. For most controls engineering direct-hire searches in Ohio — PLC programmers, automation engineers, SCADA developers — Partial Retained is the most commonly selected model. Full Exclusivity is recommended for senior or specialized roles, confidential searches, or situations where dedicated passive-candidate sourcing is essential in a competitive market. Both service levels include a 90-day replacement guarantee. Black-Peak can advise on which model is better suited to a specific role at no cost before engagement.

 

What is the difference between Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained for controls engineer hiring in Texas?

Black-Peak offers both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained direct-hire controls engineer recruiting in Texas's oil and gas, petrochemical, and process controls sectors. The choice between service levels depends on role seniority, search sensitivity, and timeline. For most controls engineering direct-hire searches in Texas — PLC programmers, automation engineers, SCADA developers — Partial Retained is the most commonly selected model. Full Exclusivity is recommended for senior or specialized roles, confidential searches, or situations where dedicated passive-candidate sourcing is essential in a competitive market. Both service levels include a 90-day replacement guarantee. Black-Peak can advise on which model is better suited to a specific role at no cost before engagement.

 

What is the difference between Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained for controls engineer hiring in Michigan?

Black-Peak offers both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained direct-hire controls engineer recruiting in Michigan's automotive, robotics, and machine automation sectors. The choice between service levels depends on role seniority, search sensitivity, and timeline. For most controls engineering direct-hire searches in Michigan — PLC programmers, automation engineers, SCADA developers — Partial Retained is the most commonly selected model. Full Exclusivity is recommended for senior or specialized roles, confidential searches, or situations where dedicated passive-candidate sourcing is essential in a competitive market. Both service levels include a 90-day replacement guarantee. Black-Peak can advise on which model is better suited to a specific role at no cost before engagement.

What is the difference between Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained for controls engineer hiring in Pennsylvania?

Black-Peak offers both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained direct-hire controls engineer recruiting in Pennsylvania's pharmaceutical batch automation and chemical process controls sectors. The choice between service levels depends on role seniority, search sensitivity, and timeline. For most controls engineering direct-hire searches in Pennsylvania — PLC programmers, automation engineers, SCADA developers — Partial Retained is the most commonly selected model. Full Exclusivity is recommended for senior or specialized roles, confidential searches, or situations where dedicated passive-candidate sourcing is essential in a competitive market. Both service levels include a 90-day replacement guarantee. Black-Peak can advise on which model is better suited to a specific role at no cost before engagement.

 

What is the difference between Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained for controls engineer hiring in Massachusetts?

Black-Peak offers both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained direct-hire controls engineer recruiting in Massachusetts's biotech, pharmaceutical, and defense automation sectors. The choice between service levels depends on role seniority, search sensitivity, and timeline. For most controls engineering direct-hire searches in Massachusetts — PLC programmers, automation engineers, SCADA developers — Partial Retained is the most commonly selected model. Full Exclusivity is recommended for senior or specialized roles, confidential searches, or situations where dedicated passive-candidate sourcing is essential in a competitive market. Both service levels include a 90-day replacement guarantee. Black-Peak can advise on which model is better suited to a specific role at no cost before engagement.

 

What is the difference between Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained for controls engineer hiring in Illinois?

Black-Peak offers both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained direct-hire controls engineer recruiting in Illinois's food and beverage automation and industrial systems sectors. The choice between service levels depends on role seniority, search sensitivity, and timeline. For most controls engineering direct-hire searches in Illinois — PLC programmers, automation engineers, SCADA developers — Partial Retained is the most commonly selected model. Full Exclusivity is recommended for senior or specialized roles, confidential searches, or situations where dedicated passive-candidate sourcing is essential in a competitive market. Both service levels include a 90-day replacement guarantee. Black-Peak can advise on which model is better suited to a specific role at no cost before engagement.

 

What is the difference between Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained for controls engineer hiring in North Carolina?

Black-Peak offers both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained direct-hire controls engineer recruiting in North Carolina's pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and advanced manufacturing automation sectors. The choice between service levels depends on role seniority, search sensitivity, and timeline. For most controls engineering direct-hire searches in North Carolina — PLC programmers, automation engineers, SCADA developers — Partial Retained is the most commonly selected model. Full Exclusivity is recommended for senior or specialized roles, confidential searches, or situations where dedicated passive-candidate sourcing is essential in a competitive market. Both service levels include a 90-day replacement guarantee. Black-Peak can advise on which model is better suited to a specific role at no cost before engagement.

What is the difference between Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained for controls engineer hiring in Georgia?

Black-Peak offers both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained direct-hire controls engineer recruiting in Georgia's automotive, food and beverage, and distribution automation sectors. The choice between service levels depends on role seniority, search sensitivity, and timeline. For most controls engineering direct-hire searches in Georgia — PLC programmers, automation engineers, SCADA developers — Partial Retained is the most commonly selected model. Full Exclusivity is recommended for senior or specialized roles, confidential searches, or situations where dedicated passive-candidate sourcing is essential in a competitive market. Both service levels include a 90-day replacement guarantee. Black-Peak can advise on which model is better suited to a specific role at no cost before engagement.

 

What is the difference between Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained for controls engineer hiring in Tennessee?

Black-Peak offers both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained direct-hire controls engineer recruiting in Tennessee's automotive assembly and manufacturing automation sectors. The choice between service levels depends on role seniority, search sensitivity, and timeline. For most controls engineering direct-hire searches in Tennessee — PLC programmers, automation engineers, SCADA developers — Partial Retained is the most commonly selected model. Full Exclusivity is recommended for senior or specialized roles, confidential searches, or situations where dedicated passive-candidate sourcing is essential in a competitive market. Both service levels include a 90-day replacement guarantee. Black-Peak can advise on which model is better suited to a specific role at no cost before engagement.

 

What is the difference between Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained for controls engineer hiring in New Jersey?

Black-Peak offers both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained direct-hire controls engineer recruiting in New Jersey's pharmaceutical batch automation and chemical process controls sectors. The choice between service levels depends on role seniority, search sensitivity, and timeline. For most controls engineering direct-hire searches in New Jersey — PLC programmers, automation engineers, SCADA developers — Partial Retained is the most commonly selected model. Full Exclusivity is recommended for senior or specialized roles, confidential searches, or situations where dedicated passive-candidate sourcing is essential in a competitive market. Both service levels include a 90-day replacement guarantee. Black-Peak can advise on which model is better suited to a specific role at no cost before engagement.

 

Does Black-Peak offer both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained controls engineer recruiting nationwide?

Yes. Black-Peak offers both Full Exclusivity and Partial Retained direct-hire controls engineer recruiting across 31 states: Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Texas, Louisiana, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

 

For Controls Engineers: Does the Service Level Affect You?

 

As a controls engineer, does the service level my employer used affect my employment or compensation?

No. Whether the employer engaged Black-Peak under Full Exclusivity or Partial Retained has no effect on your employment terms, compensation, benefits, or status. Both arrangements are direct-hire placements — you join the employer's payroll as a permanent employee from your first day. The service level is a commercial arrangement between Black-Peak and the employer and has no bearing on the candidate relationship. There is no cost to you regardless of which service level was used.

 

 

Not Sure Which Service Level Is Right for Your Search?

Black-Peak can advise on which engagement model is better suited to your specific role, market, and timeline at no cost before you commit to anything. Most employers decide within a single conversation.