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Hi First Last. I’m Greg Ivory.
I’ve spent the last decade helping commercial construction and real estate development firms hire the leaders and doers that lead to project success and repeat business. I’ve partnered with GCs, Real Estate, and Owner Rep firms across the DMV, Baltimore, and Phoenix markets to place Project Executives, Senior PMs, Superintendents, QCMs, Estimators, and Preconstruction leaders who move projects forward.
Every search looks a little different. Sometimes it’s one critical hire that needs extra attention and discretion. Other times, it’s ramping up quickly on multiple roles after landing a major project or expanding into a new market. Essential Search is built to be flexible and tailored to what you need right now.
While we’re known for being easy to work with, we’re also trusted with some of the most competitive hires in commercial construction. We also take on the tough searches and give them the time and attention they deserve. Clients come back not just because we deliver, but because we make the process efficient, transparent, and worth their time.
I founded Essential Search because I wanted to build a firm grounded in high standards, honest communication, and genuine care for the people involved. Your recruiter is often the first impression a candidate has of your company. In a market where the best talent has options, that impression matters.
If you’re growing and thinking carefully about your next key hire, I’d love to connect.
Outside of work, I’m a dad to a house full of energetic kids, a youth baseball coach, and someone who enjoys setting goals and staying active. I’m always happy to talk construction, recruiting, or anything in between.
Would you be open to a no-pressure intro call?
CASE STUDIES
Essential Search is a boutique executive search and recruiting firm partnering with commercial construction and real estate development companies across the DMV, Baltimore, and Phoenix markets. We specialize in placing the senior-level talent that drives projects forward — from Project Executives and Senior PMs to Superintendents, Estimators, and Preconstruction leaders — at the moments when the right hire matters most.
Our work goes beyond traditional search. We combine a structured, consultative recruiting methodology with high-touch, relationship-driven engagement to deliver candidates who are not only qualified on paper, but aligned to your project pipeline, your culture, and your leadership team. The result is talent that integrates quickly, performs under pressure, and stays.
We have supported clients through aggressive growth initiatives, including rapid hiring ramps tied to major project wins, market expansions, and leadership transitions. In these environments, we’ve helped companies map the competitive talent landscape, identify passive candidates who aren’t responding to job boards, and deliver multiple high-impact hires in compressed timeframes — without sacrificing quality or candidate experience
Our clients rely on us during the moments that define their business: landing a large project and needing to staff up fast, rebuilding a leadership team after turnover, entering a new market, or elevating the caliber of talent across their field and preconstruction operations. We operate as an extension of our clients’ leadership teams, bringing market intelligence, trusted counsel, and execution discipline to every search.
At Essential Search, success is measured not just by hires made — but by projects delivered, teams strengthened, and long-term partnerships built.
Let’s talk
Ready to make your next great hire? Let’s talk. Reach out and we’ll handle the rest.
