Build Your Career at Direct Recruiters, Inc.
Join a high-performance recruiting firm where relationships matter, growth is intentional, and your impact is felt every day. At DRI, you’ll work alongside driven professionals, develop meaningful expertise, and build a career—not just fill roles.
Overview
Direct Recruiters, Inc. (DRI)—a proud member of the Starfish Partners family of companies—we’re building a team of passionate professionals who are energized by results, relationships, and growth. As part of a dynamic, people-first recruiting firm, you’ll work in an environment where collaboration, continuous learning, and entrepreneurial drive are valued, and where your contributions help shape career success for both our candidates and clients. With best-in-class training, meaningful development opportunities, and the support of the broader Starfish Partners community, a career at DRI offers both professional fulfillment and the chance to make a real impact in the world of talent acquisition.
Why Work at DRI?
DRI was founded in 1983, not long after the launch of our sister company, Kaye/Bassman in 1981. Over the decades, both firms grew through strategic expansion, new service lines, and a shared commitment to building specialized recruiting teams. In 2022, Kaye/Bassman and Direct Recruiters officially merged to form Starfish Partners, creating a unified platform with a clear structure: Starfish Partners focuses on retained, contingent and contract search.
Today, Starfish Partners operates with scale and intention—supporting a ~$45M search business with nearly 200 search professionals across more than 35 industries. Teams are organized into dedicated practice areas, allowing for deep market expertise while benefiting from a highly collaborative national platform. Just as importantly, Starfish Partners is built for long-term careers. With over 16 producing equity partners—most developed internally—the organization offers visible, earned pathways for growth and leadership. Many leaders began as individual contributors, reflecting a culture where performance, development, and impact drive opportunity.
We take the time and effort to add the right people who have a mutual desire to be part of the company, fit into the culture, and have the ability to achieve sustained success.
- CultureWise: At the core of this work are 29 fundamentals known as “The Starfish Way.” These fundamentals represent the DNA of our culture and guide how we lead, collaborate, and show up for one another across brands, practices, and roles.
- EOS: The organization operates on EOS® (Entrepreneurial Operating System) principles, emphasizing clear goals, accountability, transparency, and leadership alignment.
- No Revolving Door: DRI’s retention of employees is backed by outsanding tenures of top employees – over 8 team members have been with DRI for 15+ years, over 20 employees have a 10+ year tenure, and more than 15 have been with us for 5+ years. We have a low turnover rate because we are very careful about who we hire. We look for innovators with high energy, train them well, develop their talents, and promote them rapidly. We empower our people to take risks and make mistakes. New ideas keep us moving forward and top performers get rewarded!
- Passionate & Fun: We are passionate about what we do and that makes it fun to come to work everyday. This passion has helped us become a leading executive search firm; not only by attracting the best candidates for our clients but the best employees for our company. Our team hosts regular happy hours, golf outings, basketball tournaments and company picnics each year. In addition, employees have the opportunity to qualify each year for our Pacesetter trip; an all-expenses paid, all inclusive trip to reward our team in tropical locations like Costa Rica or Cancun.
Starfish Partners’ brands are supported by Next Level Exchange to provide industry-leading recruitment training that equips new recruiters with the skills, tools, and vernacular essential for a career in professional search. NLE is the largest recruiting consulting organization in the industry and has become synonymous with delivering proven best practices, training, coaching, and digital marketing solutions specifically designed for the search and staffing world.
Next Level Exchange (NLE) offers their highly regarded Facilitated Foundation Training (FFT) to employees of Starfish Partners companies. Facilitated Foundation Training (FFT) is an immersive 360 search training program that is Trainer-led via 15 live webinars during a set three-week curriculum. They train new or experienced recruiters, such as those who need a refresher or lack formal training on search fundamentals.
For years, we have participated in various fundraisers, charitable events, and opportunities to give back to the community. When our team bands together, we know that we can make a difference, help drive change, and strengthen our roots in the community. Some organizations we volunteer with:
- Values in Action
- Local Women’s shelters
- Clothes & Shoes for Kids
- Girl Rising
- Cleveland Dress for Success
- Starfish Partners Foundation
Testimonials
“What stands out most at DRI is the support. From leadership to teammates, people genuinely want to see you succeed. You’re given the tools, training, and trust to build your desk and your career.”
“The culture at DRI is relationship-driven in the best way. It’s about doing the right thing for clients, candidates, and each other. That approach makes the work more rewarding and the results stronger.”
“Working in marketing at DRI means being part of a team that’s truly valued. Leadership understands that strong systems and support drive the entire organization, and there’s a real sense of respect, collaboration, and shared purpose across departments.”
“DRI creates an environment where operations professionals can make a real impact. There’s room to improve processes, share ideas, and grow alongside the business, and leadership genuinely listens. It feels collaborative, stable, and purpose-driven.”
