ABOUT US - Our Experience and Leadership

 Top-Tier Talent Advisors is a specialized recruiting firm focused exclusively on manufacturing. For more than 24 years, we've helped manufacturers across the food, dairy, packaging, and chemical, sectors hire the leaders who keep operations running safely, efficiently, and profitably. 

From entrepreneurial manufacturers with a single facility to Fortune 1000 organizations with global operations, we've built a reputation for delivering high-impact talent in the industry's most critical functions.

Our primary focus is Engineering and Operations because few areas have a greater impact on a manufacturer's bottom line. The right Engineering and Operations leaders drive capital projects, automation, reliability, continuous improvement, and plant performance. 

We recruit  Engineering Managers, Plant Engineering Managers, Directors of Engineering, and VP of Engineering, Staff Engineers in all diciplines, Plant Managers and Chief Operations Managers. We recruit leaders that execute strategic initiatives, and keep manufacturing performing at its best. 

Our deep understanding of manufacturing engineering, plant operations, capital projects, automation, reliability, and continuous improvement gives us a distinct advantage in identifying leaders who can make an immediate impact.

Through decades of referrals, direct outreach, and relationships built throughout the manufacturing community, we consistently engage the passive candidates who rarely respond to job postings.

WE ARE NOT A TRANSACTIONAL RECRUTING AGENCY  

We operate as a consultative talent partner, integrating deeply with our clients' culture, teams, and business objectives. Acting as an extension of your employer brand, we help you attract the high-performing professionals who are not actively searching but are open to the right opportunity.

More than 85% of our engagements utilize our Priority Search model—a focused, proactive search process dedicated to identifying, qualifying, and securing passive talent from targeted companies. With a 96% success and retention rate and a 12-month replacement guarantee, our clients trust us not just to fill positions, but to build the teams that drive long-term manufacturing performance.

Mike Santiago brings over 35 years of experience in Senior Management Roles in Operations, Engineering, Product Management, Marketing and Sales. 

Mike has built Engineering, Sales, Marketing and Operations teams for major companies. As a former Vice President and General Manager of a $200 million-dollar division of an international publicly held company, he managed the entire operation which included engineering, manufacturing, product management and support. 

Mike has successfully guided Top Tier Talent Advisors to 24 straight profitable years. He has personaly placed over 400 Senior and mid-level manufacturing professionals in multiple dicplines.