For clients

How engagements work.

One controlled sequence from brief to placed specialist, run the same way every time - with the founder accountable at every step.

Request a shortlist Commercial terms
The process

Nine steps, no improvisation.

Each step protects the same two things: the calibre of the person and the pace of the placement. Most briefs reach a shortlist inside two weeks.

01
Client brief

The role, the environment, and the outcome expected of the first 90 days. Usually a 30-minute call.

02
Founder-led qualification

We confirm it is a role we should fill - senior, data, well-scoped. If it is not, we say so and step back.

03
Curated talent search

The search runs through a vetted network and targeted outreach, not a job-board blast. Nobody is approached without a real role.

04
Technical and commercial assessment

A working technical session with the founder - architecture, modelling, code, decisions - plus alignment on rate and availability.

05
Shortlist of 2-3

Only candidates who clear the assessment, each profile sent with the notes behind it. Never CV volume.

06
Client interview

You meet the shortlist and make the call. We coordinate scheduling and feedback in both directions.

07
Onboarding and payroll

Contracts, onboarding and payroll run through an established national payroll provider, with superannuation and statutory obligations handled end to end - the engagement starts clean and stays compliant.

08
Structured check-ins

30, 60 and 90-day check-ins with you and the specialist - issues surface early, while they are cheap to fix.

09
Extension or replacement

Extensions managed ahead of expiry. If a placement is not right, the 4-week replacement commitment applies.

The model

A deliberately clean split.

Black Ocean runs the placement; you run the work. The line is explicit so nothing falls in between.

What Black Ocean provides
Role calibration and brief definition
Practitioner-led technical screening
Reference checking
Commercial negotiation
Onboarding and payroll coordination
Structured 30/60/90-day check-ins
Direct founder escalation
Extension and replacement management
Not a delivery contract

A placement is contract talent, not consulting delivery. Black Ocean does not sell:

Project management
Fixed deliverables
Delivery warranties
Day-to-day work direction

You direct the work. Black Ocean guarantees the calibre of the person doing it.

Commercial terms

All-inclusive, fixed, in writing.

One rate
one daily rate covers the specialist, payroll, insurances and Black Ocean's management of the placement
Fortnightly
invoicing with per-contractor timesheet detail, aligned to your AP cycle
4 weeks
replacement commitment on every placement
$20M / $5M
public liability and professional indemnity held by Black Ocean, certificates available on request

No placement fees. Margin fixed for the engagement term, with any change to contractor cost disclosed in writing. Detailed rate card by role and seniority, provided on request.

Start with the brief.

Thirty minutes on the role and the environment. You will know the same day whether we should run the search.

Request a shortlist