Finding the People Building What Comes Next.
AI recruitment requires a different approach to finding talent. As organizations race to build new capabilities, many of the people with the experience to turn AI into results are already in demand. Lead Search Group identifies and recruits specialized AI talent through targeted research, proactive outreach and relationships that reach beyond the active candidate market.
Let's Talk About Your AI HiringSpecialized Talent Across the AI Landscape.
AI teams require a mix of technical expertise, product thinking and leadership. Lead Search Group recruits across the AI talent landscape, helping organizations find the specialized people they need to build, deploy and scale new capabilities.
AI & Machine Learning
Engineering
AI engineers, machine learning engineers and technical talent building, training and deploying intelligent systems.
Generative AI &
LLM Talent
Professionals working with generative AI, large language models, RAG, AI agents and emerging AI applications.
Data Science &
Applied AI
Data scientists and applied AI professionals turning data, models and experimentation into practical business solutions.
AI Product &
Strategy
Product leaders and strategists connecting AI capabilities with customer needs, operations and commercial opportunities.
AI Infrastructure &
MLOps
Talent supporting model deployment, AI platforms, infrastructure, production environments and responsible scaling.
AI Leadership &
Executive Talent
Heads of AI, senior technology leaders and executives responsible for building teams and shaping AI strategy.
The People Shaping AI Are Not Waiting for Job Postings.
The AI talent market is global, highly competitive and evolving at extraordinary speed. The people building models, deploying AI into real businesses and leading AI transformation are often already doing important work. Lead Search Group maps where that talent is being developed, proven and applied, then goes after it.
We Know Where AI Talent Is Being Built.
Great AI talent does not come from one place. Our searches look across leading computer science and engineering programs, AI research communities, frontier technology companies, high growth startups and organizations building sophisticated AI capabilities internally.
We map the companies, teams, research environments and adjacent talent pools where the right expertise is likely to exist, then build a targeted search around the capabilities your organization actually needs.
From AI Builders to AI Operators.
Some organizations need engineers developing models, applications and AI infrastructure. Others need operators who can integrate AI into workflows, products and complex businesses. And some need the CTO, Head of AI or transformational leader who can connect technology, people and strategy.
Lead Search Group searches across that spectrum, identifying and headhunting the people who can build the technology, deploy it, integrate it and lead what comes next.
Where Does Your AI Strategy Start?
AI is creating enormous opportunity, but the talent decisions behind it are rarely straightforward. Organizations may be building new capabilities, integrating AI into existing operations, transforming how work gets done or establishing the leadership required to bring it all together.
Create the Capability
Technical talent that can develop AI products, models, applications and infrastructure around the problems your organization is trying to solve.
Make AI Work in the Business
People who can connect AI with existing systems, data, workflows and operations so the technology becomes usable inside the organization.
Turn Capability Into Impact
Leaders and operators who can rethink processes, drive adoption and translate AI capability into meaningful changes in how the business performs.
Set the Direction
Executives and leaders who understand the technology, the business and the organizational change required to build lasting AI capability.
There Is No Universal Starting Point.
Your organization may need an AI leader before hiring a development team. You may already have technical capability but lack the people who can integrate it into the business. Or the technology may already exist while the real challenge is transforming workflows, teams and decision making around it. Understanding the gap comes before defining the search.
Let's Talk About Your AI Strategy.
Start with where your organization is today, where you want to go and the talent it will take to get there.
Let's Talk About Your AI StrategyBuild. Integrate. Transform. Lead.
A practical guide to understanding the people and capabilities your organization needs to turn AI ambition into action.
Practical guidance for defining the talent behind your AI strategy.
AI Talent Search With More Intelligence Behind It.
Finding AI talent is only part of the challenge. The real value comes from understanding where the talent is emerging, who is building meaningful AI capability and which combination of technical expertise, business judgment and leadership your organization actually needs.
Experienced
Judgment
AI titles and resumes do not always tell the whole story. We look deeper at what candidates have actually built, implemented, led and accomplished.
Principal
Led
Your search stays close to experienced recruitment leadership, from defining what you need through research, candidate assessment and the final hire.
Search Strategy
Built for You
Your AI ambitions, existing capabilities and talent gaps determine where we search and who we approach, not a predetermined recruitment template.
Relationships
Expand the Search
Targeted research, direct headhunting and professional relationships help us reach AI talent that may never enter the active candidate market.
Relationships That Speak for Themselves.
Our reputation has been built one relationship at a time. Clients and candidates trust Lead Search Group with important hiring and career decisions, and their experiences say more about our approach than we ever could.
Jackie Sparking
Leslie Proulx
Magdalena is more than a recruiter – she takes the time to develop a close relationship with her clients. I had the pleasure of working with Magdalena when I was looking for a new HR role. Living in Calgary at the time, I was eager to move back to Ontario. The idea of finding a new job across the country was daunting. Magdalena and I connected and I immediately knew that I had her full support in my job search. She took the time to understand my interests and my career goals, ultimately leading to securing a position in a few weeks. Since that first initial contact with Magdalena more than two years ago, we have maintained a close relationship, both professionally and personally.
Victoria Almeida
It has been an absolute pleasure working with Magdalena. It’s very clear that she has a sincere interest in her clients’ success and she works so hard to ensure that they find the perfect role. She is always in touch every step of the way and makes sure you are confident and comfortable before going into an interview or putting you forth for a position. I love working with her and recommend any contact who is searching for a new role to her as a recruiter but more so as an advisor and confidant. She placed me in my current role (before providing me with quite a few amazing opportunities) and its been a great opportunity for me. I look forward to working with Magdalena in the future.
Questions About Hiring AI Talent?
AI is changing quickly, and so are the roles organizations need to build, integrate and lead it. Here are some of the questions we hear when companies begin thinking about AI talent.
AI recruitment is the search for professionals with the technical, operational, product and leadership capabilities organizations need to build, implement and scale artificial intelligence. Depending on the organization, that can mean recruiting highly specialized engineers and machine learning talent, AI product and implementation professionals, or senior leaders responsible for AI strategy and transformation.
We search across the AI talent landscape, including AI and machine learning engineers, generative AI and LLM specialists, data and MLOps professionals, AI product and implementation leaders, transformation talent, and executive roles such as CTO, Chief AI Officer, Head of AI and other senior technology leadership positions.
That is often the first question. Some organizations need people who can build AI capability. Others need talent who can integrate existing technology, redesign workflows, lead transformation or establish the strategy itself. Before beginning the search, we work to understand what your organization is trying to accomplish, the capabilities already in place and the gaps the hire needs to solve.
Strong AI talent can emerge from technology companies, AI focused organizations, research environments, leading universities, consulting firms and companies successfully applying AI within their operations. Our approach combines market mapping, targeted research, professional relationships, referrals and direct headhunting to identify candidates beyond the people actively applying for jobs.
Titles and keywords alone are not enough. We look at what a candidate has actually built, implemented, scaled or led, the problems they have solved and how their experience connects to the mandate. For leadership and transformation roles, we also consider business judgment, communication, organizational influence and the ability to translate AI capability into meaningful business outcomes.
Yes. Lead Search Group is based in Toronto and conducts searches across Canada and into the United States when the mandate requires a broader talent market. AI talent is highly distributed, so geography should be considered alongside the skills, experience and working model required for the role.
Not Sure Where Your AI Hiring Should Start?
Tell us what your organization is trying to accomplish. We can help you think through the talent, capabilities and search strategy needed to move it forward.
Let's Talk About Your AI Strategy
More Confidence in Every Hire.
Hiring is a significant investment. Lead Search Group provides a six month replacement guarantee on qualifying permanent placements, giving clients added protection and confidence that our commitment continues beyond the placement.
Let's Talk About Your SearchExecutive Search Expertise Beyond the Search
Magdalena Duleba-Lapensee brings more than 25 years of recruitment experience and shares her perspective on personalized recruitment, leadership hiring and building stronger organizations.
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