About

Approach

It's time to ride Big Wave's unparalleled approach, and deep-as-Puget-Sound talent bench.

The Widest HR Talent Net

Big Wave = deepest reach in regional HR talent – across race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and culture.

High-Touch

Get customized, highly personal, beyond-the-contract service that fosters “people-first” cultures – even after each search is complete.

Expert Guidance

Team with a seasoned, straightforward, unsalesy recruiter who brings unrivaled knowledge of the Northwest’s HR landscape.

360º Cultural Awareness

Your custom hiring plan considers your entire org. ecosystem: culture (what will grow it, and what won’t), business needs, DEIB, WFH, pay, benefits, growth goals, HR trends, and more.

Save Time and Bad Hires

Avoid costly, time-consuming mistakes in trying to hire people yourself, or via recruiters whose efforts stalled.

Brand Alignment, Internally and Externally

Align your external brand with your internal brand via optimized HR teams and practices – so candidates and the broader community see you at your best.

Slash Stress and Burnout

Smartly fill long-open positions that have caused stress, burnout, and attrition.

Our 5-Step Process Moves You Forward — Fast

01 Discovery Call.

Understanding strategy, culture, mission, vision, goals. Send proposal.

02 Review.

Dive into client documents. Write inclusive and unbiased position description, interview questions, employee profile, role scope. Establish search strategy and interview process.

03 Recruit.

Engage the universe of HR talent to identify, screen, present, and advocate for qualified candidates.

04 Finalize.

Support hiring decisions, salary/benefit negotiations, reference checks, and offer for client and candidate.

05 Post-hire.

Check in with client and new hire over time.

Stop wasting time with old-school recruiting methods.

And catch our Big Wave to connect with humans who’ll transform and advance your organization better than anyone you may find on your own.

“We’ve worked with Chris Englin and Big Wave on a few occasions. At one point, I was rebuilding my executive team at Seattle CU, so having Chris as a partner in that effort was critical. She took a lot of time to understand our needs—it was a true partnership, not a transactional experience focused only on recruiting. I appreciate her honest and direct communication, and how well Chris builds rapport. I felt like I was her only customer, though I knew I wasn’t. We ended up with a really great Chief People Officer.”

Richard Romero

President/CEO at Seattle Credit Union

"Chris has the best employer and talent network in the entire Pacific Northwest. Her understanding of market conditions and ability to match opportunity with talent is unparalleled. Personally she has placed me with two leading organizations to whom I might never have been exposed. Both of which were tremendous growth experiences for me as an HR practitioner. On the provider side, she has helped hire a strong HR leader within my current organization. I would highly recommend working with Chris Englin to any local HR leader."

Michael Walters

Executive VP, Human Resources / CHRO at Lyten

Big Wave’s Commitment to Clients & Candidates:

Whether you’re a hiring manager searching for new talent, or a candidate looking for your next professional opportunity, Big Wave will:

Deliver the best service possible.

Ensure everyone is treated equally.

Invest time to understand each individual and each business—so everyone can make the best decision for their future.

Continue to learn, grow, and evolve, so we keep pace with the ever-changing world of HR.

Continually collaborate with clients, advocate for candidates, and make perfect matches.

At every turn, you’ll get a trusted partner, honest feedback, and a lot of humor (because sometimes we just need to laugh!).

The Big Wave Ripple Effect

We’re dedicated to supporting our community:

of every full-time placement fee is invested back into our community to help fund housing, food insecurity, education, and youth programs

Pro-bono

Pro-bono and reduced-fee searches for nonprofits