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Aerospace · US · Retained · Q4 2025

Cleared-talent build-out for a Tier-1 defence prime in northern Virginia

6
Cleared hires
42d
Cycle
100%
Pre-cleared

Every candidate they sent us was already cleared. That alone saved us months against a deadline we didn't control.

The challenge

A Tier-1 defence prime needed six roles filled requiring active TS/SCI clearance for a program with a fixed government milestone date. The clearance requirement alone eliminates the vast majority of the available talent pool, and a candidate whose clearance lapses mid-process can stall a search by months.

The client had run a previous search through a generalist staffing vendor that surfaced candidates who claimed clearance eligibility but weren't actually pre-cleared — a costly discovery late in the process.

What we did

Rivago sourced exclusively through its cleared-talent program, verifying active clearance status before any candidate was submitted rather than after an offer was extended. Average verification cycle across the six roles ran 12 days from first contact.

The aerospace practice partner coordinated directly with the client's facility security officer to confirm clearance transfer timelines before offers went out, avoiding the gap-in-coverage risk that stalls cleared-talent placements industry-wide.

Every candidate they sent us was already cleared. That alone saved us months against a deadline we didn't control.

Program Director, Tier-1 defence prime

The outcome

All six roles were filled with candidates who were 100% pre-cleared at submission, closing the full search in 42 days against a program milestone the client could not move.

At a glance
Client typeDefence prime contractor
IndustryAerospace & Defense
EngagementRetained, cleared-talent program
Clearance levelActive TS/SCI, verified pre-submission

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