Business Details
25 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Recruitment Solutions
Founded in 2001, Locke and KEY has established itself as a flexible, value-driven alternative to traditional retained and contingency recruitment firms. Our founder, Lisa Locke, brings decades of experience from roles at Korn Ferry International, boutique executive search firms, and in-house hiring leadership positions. We specialize in customizing recruitment solutions for businesses across industries, from high-tech to nonprofit sectors, offering an unbundled service menu that allows clients to select only the support they need. Our hourly billing model eliminates minimum fees, providing cost control while maintaining the quality and comprehensiveness of retained firm services. We differentiate ourselves through personalized approaches like real-time interview transcriptions and market intelligence, ensuring clients access top-tier candidates aligned with their organizational culture.Headquartered in Alameda, California, we serve clients globally, combining deep industry knowledge with a commitment to transparency and client-centric service. Our process emphasizes collaboration, from defining position requirements to post-placement follow-up, ensuring seamless transitions for both employers and new hires. With no cookie-cutter solutions, we tailor research and candidate evaluation to each client's unique needs, whether augmenting internal teams or managing full-scale executive searches. Our track record of successful placements and client testimonials underscores our dedication to delivering measurable value and reducing the complexity of hiring. We position ourselves as trusted advisors, prioritizing long-term relationships over transactional engagements.
Services
Executive Search
Contract Recruiting
Position Analysis
Candidate Screening
Compensation Negotiation
Details
- Year established: 2001
Highlights and features
- We offer a customizable menu of recruitment services to match specific hiring needs
- Our founder has 20+ years of experience in executive search and talent acquisition
- Hourly billing model provides cost control with no minimum fees
- Real-time interview transcriptions enhance candidate evaluation accuracy
- Global reach with personalized service for local and international clients
What people say
Excellent communication
Successful placements
Market intelligence
Personalized approach
Stress-free process
Services
Executive Search
Our retained executive search service identifies C-suite and senior-level candidates through targeted market research and networking. We conduct in-depth interviews, reference checks, and cultural assessments to match organizations with strategic leaders. Clients receive detailed candidate profiles and negotiation support for executive-level placements.
Contract Recruiting
We provide interim recruitment support for companies needing short-term hiring assistance. This service includes job description development, candidate sourcing, and initial screening while clients maintain final selection authority. Ideal for managing workload surges or specialized project hiring needs.
Candidate Screening
Our comprehensive screening process evaluates candidates through structured interviews, skill assessments, and reference verification. We deliver detailed evaluation reports with real-time interview transcriptions to enhance decision-making confidence. Available as a standalone service or part of broader recruitment engagements.
Position Analysis
We collaborate with clients to define critical position requirements through organizational assessments and stakeholder interviews. This service produces customized job descriptions highlighting technical qualifications, cultural fit criteria, and performance expectations to guide effective candidate evaluation.
Compensation Negotiation
Our market intelligence informs competitive compensation package development for selected candidates. We facilitate offer presentations, negotiate terms, and provide guidance on industry-standard benefits to ensure successful candidate onboarding while protecting client interests.
People
Lisa Locke
President and Founder
Lisa Locke founded Locke and KEY in 2001 after extensive recruiting experience at Korn Ferry International and boutique firms. She specializes in executive search strategy, market intelligence, and customized recruitment solutions across multiple industries.
Questions
What industries does Locke and KEY specialize in?
We serve clients across diverse sectors including technology, healthcare, professional services, food and beverage, and nonprofit organizations.
How does your unbundled service model work?
Our menu-based approach lets clients select specific recruitment services they need, from position analysis to candidate screening, without mandatory full-service packages.
Do you offer international recruitment capabilities?
Yes, while headquartered in Alameda, we work with clients and candidates globally through our established international networks and research capabilities.
What differentiates your candidate screening process?
We provide real-time, nearly verbatim interview transcriptions and detailed evaluation reports to enhance candidate assessment accuracy and decision-making confidence.
Can you assist with urgent hiring needs?
Our flexible service model accommodates time-sensitive searches through prioritized candidate sourcing and accelerated screening processes while maintaining quality standards.
What post-placement support do you provide?
We conduct follow-up consultations to ensure successful candidate integration and organizational alignment during the critical transition period after placement.
