Kontrast Personalberatung Executive Search recruits executives for management, director, and leadership positions through personal direct contact and psychological aptitude testing. Experienced personnel consultants and headhunters with psychological selection expertise. Strong presence throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in medium-sized businesses, clinics, and the public sector, including municipal enterprises.
Our headhunting approach: clear role profile, market analysis, discreet direct approach; structured interviews/work samples, shortlist with decision-ready candidates, and contract mediation. ISO 9001-certified, legally compliant (AGG/GDPR), committee-approved, and focused on selecting the best candidates in accordance with Art. 33 II GG. The result: leadership with substance.
Executive Search – discreet headhunting for C-level, management, and leadership positions
Kontrast Personalberatung GmbH recruits executives for management, director, and leadership positions through personal direct contact, psychologically sound aptitude testing, and legally compliant, ISO 9001:2015-certified recruitment processes. We work throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with particular strength in medium-sized companies, healthcare institutions, and the public sector, including municipal enterprises.
Why executive search?
Advertisements, portals, and CV databases are not sufficient for key roles. Discretion, in-depth research, and persuasion on an equal footing are crucial—especially when committees, supervisory bodies, or collective bargaining agreements are involved.
This is precisely where our executive search approach comes in: we approach ideal candidates and other target individuals in your industry, at competitors, and in adjacent markets—personally, confidentially, and with commitment.
Kontrast Headhunting: Management × Psychology
Kontrast stands for: Experienced personnel consultants and headhunters with psychological selection expertise –Permanent employees, academically qualified, no freelancers. We combine market and business understanding (industry, products, value creation, competition) with A&O psychological selection practices (fit, leadership behavior, ambition, impact).
A dedicated lead consultant, clear timing, transparent reports, and committee-approved documents ensure speed and decision-making readiness.
Search & Select – our approach to leadership and management
- Clarification of tasks & role model
Joint discussion with management, sponsor, or supervisory body: mandate, area of responsibility, control parameters, culture, framework conditions (e.g., TVöD/TV-L or private sector).
Result: robust requirements profile and evaluation matrix. - Market review & target list
Systematic research in your industry, among competitors, and in comparable organizations (medium-sized companies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, municipal enterprises, clinics, institutions/associations). Off-limits are observed.
Result: well-founded long list and comprehensible search strategy. - Discreet direct approach
Approach by permanent senior consultants – personal, respectful, confidential. Early comparison of reasons for change, responsibilities, framework, and prospects.
Result: documented initial interviews and short profiles with authenticity checks. - Qualification & aptitude testing
Structured competency interviews, case-related tasks (work sample/case study), reference image; optional A&O psychological procedures. Focus on fit, leadership behavior, impact, and risk.
Result: comparative assessment of each candidate along the evaluation matrix. - Shortlist, committees & decision
Presentation of 2–5 leaders with decision-making template (profile, career, strengths/fields, change conditions). Moderation of discussions with management, supervisory board, or selection committee—AGG/GDPR-compliant and designed for best selection in accordance with Article 33(2) of the German Basic Law.
Result: transparent, audit-proof selection process. - Conclusion of contract & transfer
Moderation of interests until agreement is reached (contract, ancillary agreements), preparation for onboarding (90-day onboarding, target agreement). Support with relocation and change of location if required.
Result: signed contract and reliable start plan.
Confidential, compliant, committee-approved
Direct contact is conducted in compliance with GDPR, without discrimination (AGG), and with the utmost discretion—especially in sensitive contexts such as public service, non-profit organizations, or supervisory bodies.
We actively address diversity goals (including FüPoG II); our headhunter team is composed of equal numbers of men and women. Procedures and documentation are geared toward ensuring the transparency of the selection process (Art. 33 II GG).
Our pool of executive candidates
Continuously maintained and curated (m/f/d): managing directors, board members, directors, office and clinic managers; heads of finance/controlling, legal/administration, HR/organization, IT/digital; decision-makers in technology/operations and sales/service/marketing. Many of these individuals are confidentially open to change—not publicly visible. We know them – and we are heard.
Our executive search – your results
No list of candidates, but rather decision-ready solutions: a perfectly matched leader with substance, attitude, and a long-term perspective—identified based on industry expertise, psychologically tested, and legally compliant.
Contact us if you want to fill a strategic management or succession position in your company, clinic, or administration. We deliver—discreetly, purposefully, and precisely.
