How we work HUMANN
We don’t start by searching for candidates. We start by understanding your business.
Any search can generate CVs. The hard part is finding the right person for your company, right now, with this team and these specific goals. HUMANN is a boutique executive search firm specialised in digital, tech and leadership profiles, based in Madrid with over 13 years in the Spanish and European tech and digital ecosystem.
BEFORE WE START
What is headhunting and how does it differ from traditional recruitment?
¿Qué es el headhunting o búsqueda directa de talento?
Headhunting, also known as direct search or executive search, is a recruitment approach in which the firm proactively identifies and contacts candidates who are not actively looking for a job. Unlike traditional recruitment, which posts job ads and waits for applications, headhunting accesses the passive talent market: the most qualified professionals who don’t need to look for work because opportunities come to them. In sectors like fintech, SaaS or e-commerce, this profile represents between 60% and 80% of the most competitive available talent.
What is EVP (Employer Value Proposition) in a recruitment process?
The EVP or employer value proposition is the set of attributes, economic, cultural, professional development and purpose, that make a company attractive to the ideal candidate. In a tech and digital talent market where the best professionals have multiple options, articulating a great EVP makes the difference between attracting the best or settling for whoever is available. At HUMANN we work with the client to define and position their EVP before starting any search.
HOW WE WORK
5-phase methodology: from briefing to onboarding
Every HUMANN search follows a structured methodology designed to minimize the risk of a bad hire and maximize the genuine fit of the candidate within the team and company culture.
STRATEGIC BRIEFING
Before searching, we listen. We meet with the hiring manager, and when necessary the team, to understand the real context of the role: what problem it solves, what the team culture is like, what hasn’t worked before and what profile would succeed. We don’t work with generic job descriptions.
EVP DEFINITION
We work with you to define what makes your offer attractive to the ideal candidate. In the Spanish tech and digital market, where the best professionals receive frequent offers, positioning the opportunity well is just as important as finding the candidate.
ACTIVE SEARCH IN SPAIN AND EUROPE
We access passive candidates, those not actively looking, who represent the most qualified talent in the market. We use our 13-year network in the Spanish digital ecosystem and, through CSA (Continental Search Alliance), we also reach European profiles with relevant experience for the Spanish market.
CANDIDATE EVALUATION AND PRESENTATION
Every candidate is interviewed in depth before being presented. We assess technical skills, genuine motivation, cultural fit and salary expectations. We only present profiles we genuinely believe in. Volume is not our goal: quality of fit is.
POST-HIRE SUPPORT
Our work doesn’t end when the candidate signs the contract. We follow up actively for 6 months to ensure the integration works, detect potential friction early and support both the client and the professional.
OUR GUARANTEE
6-month guarantee: what it covers and how it works
A rigorous recruitment process significantly reduces the risk of a bad hire. But if the candidate still doesn’t pass probation, we take responsibility and restart the process at no additional cost to the client.
What happens if the selected candidate doesn’t work out?
Executive search firms typically offer a replacement guarantee in case the selected candidate does not pass their probationary period or does not fit the project. At HUMANN, this guarantee lasts between 6 and 12 months and covers two aspects: free candidate replacement if they don’t pass their probationary period, and active support during those months to ensure successful integration.
HUMANN Guarantee: 6 months
If the selected candidate doesn’t pass their probationary period, we start a new search at no additional cost. And during the 6 months following the hire, we actively support both the client and the candidate to ensure integration and long-term success.
Because our work doesn’t end when the candidate signs the contract.
OUR CLIENTS
What type of company do we work with?
HUMANN works with companies that need to hire digital and executive talent rigorously and don’t have the time or internal resources to do it well on their own. Our three main client profiles:
STARTUPS Y SCALE-UPS IN A GROWTH PHASE
Companies that need to bring in their first leaders or scale tech and digital teams quickly. No structured HR department, with a lot riding on each hire. We also offer the Phantom Programme for startups that prefer an alternative fee model.
MID-SIZED COMPANIES WITHOUT HR
Mid Sized companies with 50-300 employees looking for a trusted external partner for their most critical processes. We act as their external people department — without the cost of having an internal one.
INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES ENTERING IN SPAIN
European or global groups that need to build their local team in Spain without in-depth knowledge of the Spanish labor market. Through CSA — Continental Search Alliance, we facilitate access to Spanish talent from any European country.
SPECIALISATION
Sectors and profiles we work with in Spain
Specialisation is not a marketing claim: it’s how we work. We focus on sectors where we know the talent market, the key profiles and the reference companies. This allows us to work with real candidate maps and sector references that accelerate every search.
EXECUTIVE AND DIGITAL PROFILES
C-Level and tech leadership
CTO, CIO, CPO, CDO, Head of Engineering, VP of Technology. Executive profiles with a technical component that require accessing networks where they are not visible in the open market. In Madrid and across Spain, these profiles are scarce and highly sought after.
Sales, Digital Marketing and growth
CSO, Head of Sales, BDM, CMO, Head of Growth, E-commerce Director, Head of Performance, Digital Marketing Director. Hybrid strategic-analytical profiles, increasingly in demand in the Spanish digital ecosystem.
Product and data
Head of Product, Senior Product Manager, Chief Data Officer, Head of Analytics. The intersection of business and technology driving digital transformation. In Spain, demand for these profiles has grown steadily over the past three years.
Corporate Positions and Leadership Teams
We have experience building teams from scratch and supporting CEOs in assembling their leadership team from day one. We work across corporate functions including: HR, Legal, CFO, Internal Audit, M&A, Finance, Customer Experience, and more.
INDUSTRIES
- SaaS and enterprise software – Product, technology and B2B sales profiles
- Fintech, Insurtech and digital banking – One of the fastest growing sectors in Spain
- Digital consulting and technology transformation
- Healthtech and medtech – Emerging sector with high demand for executive talent
- E-commerce and digital retail – Operation directions, marketing and growth
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about headhunting and executive search in Spain
How long does a headhunting process take in Spain?
An executive search process in Spain typically takes between 3 and 6 weeks from the initial briefing to the presentation of finalist candidates. The timeline depends on the level of profile specialisation, confidentiality requirements and client availability for interviews. Very specific profiles, such as a CTO with regulated fintech experience or a Head of Product for B2B SaaS, may require 4-5 weeks.
How much does a headhunter in Spain charge?
Executive search firms in Spain typically work on a success fee model: the fee is charged only when the candidate joins. The amount is usually calculated as a percentage of the candidate’s gross annual salary, generally between 20% and 25% depending on the profile level and process complexity. At HUMANN, fees are agreed transparently in the first briefing meeting and we adapt to each client’s situation.
How is headhunting different from traditional recruitment?
Traditional recruitment works with candidates who are actively looking for work — those who are available. Headhunting reaches those who are not looking: the best professionals, who typically don’t publish their CV because they don’t need to. That requires an active search methodology, a well-established sector network and the ability to position the opportunity well so a passive candidate will consider it.
Do you work with companies outside Spain?
Yes. Yes. Through CSA — Continental Search Alliance, our network of headhunting firms across Europe, we work with international companies looking for talent in Spain or wanting to build their local teams. We have worked with European groups in sectors such as fintech, SaaS and digital consulting that needed access to the Spanish talent market without knowing it internally.
What happens if the selected candidate doesn't work out?
HUMANN offers a 6-month guarantee on all its processes: if the candidate doesn’t pass their probationary period, we start a new search at no additional cost to the client. During those 6 months we also actively follow up the candidate’s integration to detect any potential issues early and act before they escalate.
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