Recruiting Services International

What Recruiting Services International does

Recruiting Services International (RSI) is a privately held executive search firm founded circa 1970 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company provides retained and contingency executive and technical recruiting services, specializing in regulated industries including manufacturing and processing, analytical testing and clinical services, engineering services, and medical instruments, IVD, and biotech. RSI places candidates across C-suite, management, engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, and technical sales functions, with particular depth in hard-to-fill roles such as controls engineering, automation, food safety, and life sciences.

The firm's business model is professional services fee-based, charging clients typically 20-35% of placed candidate salary on both retained and contingency engagements. Its go-to-market is consultative and sales-led, leveraging long-tenured recruiter relationships (including a 15+ year senior recruiter) and an extensive passive candidate database built over 55+ years. RSI is family-owned, led by CEO/Owner Elsa Duty (with the firm since 2007, owner since 2012) and President Roman Duty, supported by a small team of executive recruiters and an office administrator. The company is a member of the NPAWorldwide recruitment network, which provides international reach and industry recognition.

RSI serves a concentrated base of large enterprise clients in regulated sectors, with named customers including Eurofins, Danaher, Ecolab, Emergent Biosolutions, Stonyfield, and Purolite, and reports long-standing engagements averaging 15+ years and approximately 75 hires per top client. The firm places over $9 million in candidate salary annually and maintains a content-driven marketing presence through its blog, LinkedIn, and downloadable candidate resources. There are no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, or AI/technology platform products; operations are centered on recruiter expertise, relationship depth, and specialized domain knowledge.

Name

Recruiting Services International

Legal name

Recruiting Services International

Website

https://rsijobs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Recruiting Services International is a Cincinnati-based, family-owned executive search firm founded circa 1970 that provides retained and contingency technical recruiting for enterprise clients in regulated industries including manufacturing, analytical testing, biotech, and engineering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Technical Direct Hire (IT, Engineering, Finance, Healthcare) (BPACAFAC)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Technical recruiting
• Retained search
• Contingency search
• Talent acquisition

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retained Search: Full-service executive search engagements where clients pay retainers for dedicated recruiting services, typically for senior-level and C-suite placements
2. Contingency Search: Placement-based fee structure where clients pay only upon successful candidate placement

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Recruiting Services International is a retained and contingency executive search firm that runs full-cycle recruitment for C-suite, management, and specialized technical roles in regulated industries. The firm places candidates across manufacturing, analytical testing, engineering services, and medical instruments/IVD/biotech sectors, with deep expertise in controls engineering, automation, food safety, and life sciences. The NPAWorldwide network membership extends its reach to national and global client engagements.

Product overview

Recruiting Services International (RSI) operates as a retained and contingency executive search firm offering a portfolio of talent acquisition services. The core offering consists of full-cycle recruitment across C-suite, management, and professional levels, supplemented by interview preparation resources (PDF guides) for candidates in regulated industries. RSI's specializations span Manufacturing/Processing/Distribution, Analytical Testing & Clinical Services, Engineering Services/Procurement/Construction, and Medical Instruments/IVD/Biotech sectors. The company positions itself as a client-centric recruitment partner with deep expertise in controls engineering, food safety, life sciences, and quality assurance roles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retained & Contingency Executive Search Full-cycle executive and technical recruitment services, including retained search for senior and specialized roles and contingency search for mid-level positions, covering C-suite, management, and professional placements across multiple industries.
• Industry Specialization Services Specialized recruitment expertise across regulated industries including Manufacturing/Processing/Distribution, Analytical Testing & Clinical Services, Engineering Services/Procurement/Construction, and Medical Instruments/IVD/Biotech.

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NPAWorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSI is a member of the NPAWorldwide network, which provides access to global recruitment resources, enables international search capabilities, and provides industry recognition as a national and global award-winning recruitment firm

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sterling Engineering: A Midwest-based engineering and technical staffing firm providing direct-hire and contract placements in controls, automation, and manufacturing — directly comparable to RSI's engineering vertical and regional footprint.
• Direct Recruiters: An Ohio-based search firm specializing in technical, engineering, and regulated-industry placements, overlapping with RSI's niche in controls, biotech, and manufacturing talent.
• Scientific Search: A boutique executive search firm focused on scientific, clinical, and regulatory placements in life sciences and analytical testing — a closely aligned niche to RSI's regulated-industry verticals.
• WISE Technical Search: A specialized technical recruiting firm for engineering, controls, and automation professionals, comparable to RSI's engineering and manufacturing search practice.
• The Connors Group: An executive search firm focused on industrial, EHS, and regulated-industry talent, overlapping with RSI's EHS, manufacturing, and food safety verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Heidrick & Struggles: A global executive search incumbent covering C-suite and senior functional roles across industries, including life sciences and industrial — competes with RSI for executive-level mandates at larger clients.
• Korn Ferry: A large diversified organizational consulting and executive search firm whose industrial and life sciences practices overlap with RSI's regulated-industry focus.
• Spencer Stuart: A leading global executive search firm with deep industrial and life sciences practices, competing for senior leadership searches at the same enterprise client base as RSI.
• Aerotek: A large technical and engineering staffing provider that overlaps with RSI's engineering and manufacturing placement offerings at the mid-market and enterprise level.

Emerging players

• DHR Global: A fast-growing global executive search firm that, like RSI, operates with a network-based model to deliver senior placements across industrial and life sciences verticals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/recruiting-international
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Recruiting Services International