Chemical Recruiters for Engineers, Leaders & Specialists
Who Keep Operations Strong

We recruit for highly specialized chemical roles by mapping the market around the outcomes your position must deliver, then targeting proven professionals in that niche.

Specialized chemical roles demand more than checking boxes on a résumé. We start with the outcomes the role must deliver — whether that’s scaling a new product, solving corrosion challenges in water treatment, or driving specialty chemical formulations. From there, we map the market, identify professionals with proven impact in similar environments, and approach them with context that resonates. This allows us to engage specialists most recruiters can’t reach and secure the right hire for your critical role.

Our chemical recruiting process combines 40+ years of experience with an executive-search methodology to identify specialists others overlook and engage them through context-driven outreach.

Hiring in chemicals is high-stakes: safety, precision, and measurable business results depend on getting it right. At TLR Search, we go beyond surface-level searches. With more than 40 years of combined experience, we apply an executive-search methodology to uncover specialists most recruiters never reach. Then, through outreach grounded in context and credibility, we engage even selective chemical professionals. The result? Candidates who not only accept offers but stay — driving lasting impact for your business.

Yes. We help chemical companies hire engineers, operations leaders, and commercial talent during product launches, acquisitions, and expansions so growth stays on track.

When chemical companies take on major change — adding a new product line, scaling after an acquisition, or entering a new market — the right people make or break the effort. We help secure the engineers, operations leaders, technical specialists, and commercial talent who keep projects moving forward with safety, precision, and measurable results. Our process makes sure growth doesn’t stall for lack of critical hires.

Diversity is built into our process — 40% of placements are from underrepresented groups and 45% of slates include women.

At TLR Search, diversity isn’t a checkbox; it’s embedded in how we recruit. Roughly 40% of our placements are from underrepresented groups, and 45% of our candidate slates include women — far above chemical industry norms. More importantly, our focus is on building slates that make a difference. Diverse teams drive stronger innovation, safer operations, and better long-term business results.

We recruit chemical engineers, plant and operations managers, project managers, technical sales leaders, and senior commercial executives.

Our focus is on critical chemical industry hires just below the C-suite — the people who directly impact safety, operations, and growth. That includes chemical engineers across process, product, and applications; plant and operations managers; project managers; technical sales leaders; and senior commercial executives. We’ve placed talent across specialty chemicals, water treatment, polymers, and other segments where technical depth and leadership strength are equally vital. Every search is tailored to your business needs, so you get people who make a measurable impact.

We are Houston chemical recruiters with nationwide reach, helping companies secure engineers, leaders, and technical specialists wherever they operate.

We’re based in Houston, but our work spans the U.S. We combine local chemical industry networks with national pipelines, allowing us to recruit engineers, plant managers, and commercial leaders wherever you need them. Whether you’re scaling operations in Houston or building teams across the country, we deliver aligned hires who make an impact.

We specialize in executive search for chemical companies filling critical roles just below the C-suite — the hires that drive safety, innovation, and profitability.

Our focus is on the pivotal roles where chemical companies feel the most pressure: engineering leaders, plant managers, technical specialists, and commercial executives just below the C-suite. These roles directly shape operations and results, which is why we use a retained search process built to secure long-term hires that deliver.

Our chemical engineering recruitment approach targets niche specialties like polymers, water treatment, and specialty chemicals — engaging the experts most recruiters can’t reach.

Niche chemical roles demand precision. We begin by mapping the market around the outcomes your role must deliver — whether that’s corrosion expertise in water treatment, polymer R&D, or specialty chemical formulation. Then, through targeted outreach, we connect with specialists who bring the expertise and impact your business requires.

TLR Search is a woman-owned, Houston-based executive search firm specializing in hard-to-find engineers, leaders, and specialists across the chemical industry — including specialty chemicals, petrochemicals, and polymers.

Many companies search for a “chemical recruitment agency,” but when the role is critical and the talent is hard to reach, staffing models fall short. At TLR Search, we apply an executive search approach for high-stakes hires — the people who drive innovation, ensure safe operations, and accelerate growth. That’s why hiring managers call us when they can’t afford another delay or another mis-hire.

If you’d like to compare firms, we’ve also created a resource: Top Chemical Recruiters in Houston