Twenty80 LLC is a boutique executive search firm specializing in senior leadership for public-sector, higher education, and nonprofit organizations. With deep expertise across academic, clinical, administrative, and operational leadership, the firm pairs functional knowledge with a disciplined, transparent search process held accountable to outcomes. Twenty80 operates with a small-firm engagement model where senior partners lead every search end to end, backed by a 12-month replacement guarantee.
Nonprofit
Through Twenty80's cooperative contract with OMNIA Partners, public agencies can engage executive and specialty search services without the cost or delay of a competitive bid process. This nationally available contract gives public organizations a direct, compliant path to a trusted search partner.
Executive & Specialty Search for Mission-Driven Institutions.
Who Twenty80 Recruits
Twenty80 conducts executive and specialty searches across the following job categories:
- Faculty & Academic Leadership: chancellors, presidents, provosts, deans, department chairs, center & institute directors
- Healthcare Administration & Clinical Leadership: health system CEOs, hospital administrators, CMOs, CNOs, service-line chiefs, patient-care leadership
- Finance, Accounting & Procurement: CFOs, controllers, treasurers, chief procurement officers
- Human Resources: CHROs, VPs of HR, total rewards, labor relations
- Information Technology: CIOs, CISOs, enterprise architects, IT operations leadership
- Legal: general counsel, deputy general counsel, compliance counsel
- Compliance, Audit & Risk Management: chief compliance officers, chief audit officers, chief risk officers
- Research & Sponsored Programs: VPs for research, research administration leadership, technology transfer
- Development & Advancement: chief development officers, advancement leadership, major gifts
- Equity & Inclusion: chief diversity officers, equity leadership
- Public Affairs & Communications: chief communications officers, government relations
- Student Affairs & Enrollment: VPs of student affairs, deans of students, enrollment management
- Culture & Performing Arts: museum directors, performing arts leadership
- Center & Institute Leadership: research center directors, institute leadership
- Additional Specialties: available upon request with mutual scoping
How Engagements Work
Phase I
Pre-Recruitment
Search strategy, position description development, candidate profile design, market mapping and competitive analysis, diversity sourcing strategy, search committee alignment.
Phase II:
Active Recruitment
Targeted outreach, applicant screening and qualification, diversity reporting, reference verification, interview design and coordination, and full finalist and on-site support.
Phase III:
Post Recruitment
Offer negotiation support, candidate transition assistance, debrief with the search committee, and the 12-month placement guarantee.
Service Levels
Twenty80 offers four engagement models, so agencies can choose the level of support that fits the role:
Full Retained Search
Permanent executive and specialty placements
Partial/Phase-Based Services
Agencies that want help with specific phases (e.g., market mapping, sourcing only, due diligence only)
Expedited Search
Urgent fills with abbreviated scope (excludes reference checks and full longlist)
Interim Placement
Temporary executive leadership during transitions
Discounts & Value-Adds
Flexible pricing built to reward partnership and volume:
- Multi-Search (3+ concurrent): 10% off
- Multi-Hire (same candidate pool): 50% off additional placements
- Internal Hire: 30% fee reduction
- Systemwide Collaboration: 15% off second engagement when a search benefits multiple locations
- Volume Commitment: Additional discounts for agencies committing to 4+ searches annually
Guarantees & Standards
- 12-Month Replacement Guarantee — If a placement is terminated or resigns within 12 months, we conduct a replacement search at no additional professional fee
- Three-Installment Billing — Fees billed in thirds: at engagement, candidate slate presentation, and offer acceptance; final reconciliation at close
- Pause or Cancel Anytime — Agencies may pause or cancel in writing at any time with no fees beyond what's already been invoiced
- Performance Accountability — If a qualified, diverse slate isn't delivered, unearned fees may be withheld or applied to a future engagement
- Off-Limits Policy — Placed candidates and their direct reports are protected from future recruitment by Twenty80 for one year post-placement
- Due Diligence Services — Background checks and verification services available as an additional service, billed as a direct expense
Why Twenty80
- Awarded the UC Systemwide contract. Competitively bid and publicly awarded, giving agencies confidence the pricing and terms have already been vetted.
- Capped fees. Clients know the maximum cost going in, regardless of the placed candidate's salary.
- Senior partners on every search. No junior associates handing off, no bait-and-switch.
- Diversity built into the process. Continuous diversity reporting at every stage, not a one-time deliverable.
- Twelve-month guarantee. Accountability extends past the close.