What IT specialties do you cover?

Kenova recruits across the main IT disciplines in demand in Quebec and Canada: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, software development, cloud infrastructure and DevOps, data and business intelligence, digital transformation, FinTech, and digital health. We also cover technology leadership roles: CIO, CTO, VP of IT, CISO and CDO. Our approach remains consistent across every vertical.

Why work with an IT recruitment agency rather than hire internally?

A specialized agency delivers a shortlist of qualified candidates in a fraction of the time required by an internal process. IT recruitment requires time that few HR or technical teams can dedicate to it: sourcing passive candidates, qualifying profiles, managing counter-offers and negotiating conditions demands dedicated expertise. For rare or strategic profiles, the quality gap justifies the investment.

How long does IT recruitment take?

IT recruitment generally takes between 3 and 16 weeks depending on the profile. For an experienced specialist role, expect 3 to 8 weeks. For an IT executive or a rare technical profile, 8 to 16 weeks. When the profile matches candidates already active in our network, a shortlist can be presented more quickly. Kenova aims for an efficient pace, without compromising the rigour of the assessment.

How much does IT recruitment cost in Canada?

IT recruitment fees are calculated as a percentage of the annual salary for the role to be filled, typically between 20% and 30%. The percentage varies based on the seniority of the role, the scarcity of the profile and the model chosen (retainer, contingency or exclusive mandate). For IT executive roles, fees approach standard executive search rates.

How do you guarantee confidentiality on an IT mandate?

Confidentiality is central to our methodology. For sensitive mandates, we do not use public job postings. Role details are shared only after an initial confidential contact with the candidate. Formal agreements protect the information exchanged throughout the mandate, both for the employer and the candidates approached.

IT Recruitment in Montreal and Quebec

Q: How does Kenova assess an IT candidate?

Our assessment focuses on behavioural and cultural dimensions: structured interviews, work style analysis, reputation checks with targeted references, alignment validation between the candidate’s expectations and the role conditions. Deep technical validation (code reviews, technical case studies, technical tests) remains the domain of your technical team: we facilitate the organization of this step without substituting for your internal expertise.

IT Recruitment in Montreal – Technology Team at Work | Kenova

Results-driven IT recruitment firm, specialized in senior specialists, experts and technology leaders. Permanent placements, contract assignments or fractional recruitment: Kenova adapts the model to your reality.

Hiring in IT requires a dedicated approach. The best candidates are rare, employed, and constantly approached by the competition. As an IT recruitment firm in Quebec specialized in strategic profiles, Kenova partners with organizations across Greater Montreal, Quebec and Canada to search, assess and select their technology talent. Our proven executive search methodology applies with rigour to technology profiles, from experienced specialists to IT executives.

Our IT Recruitment Expertise

Kenova covers the main technology disciplines in demand across Quebec and Canada. For each vertical, our consultants understand the field’s challenges, market trends and sought-after profiles.

IT Executive Search and Technology Leadership

Your technology leaders transform the organization. Our IT executive search practice places senior leaders who align technology with business performance. We recruit CIOs and CTOs in Montreal and across Canada, as well as VP-level technology executives. Our retainer-based approach is dedicated to confidential and strategic mandates for senior leadership.

Chief Information Officers (CIO) and Chief Technology Officers (CTO)
Vice Presidents of IT and Vice Presidents of Engineering
Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) and Chief Data Officers (CDO)
Digital Product Directors and Transformation Directors
Board members with technology profiles

For senior IT leadership mandates and executive search, see also our executive search service.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Quebec is a recognized global hub in artificial intelligence. Our AI recruitment mandates identify the profiles driving your AI strategy forward:

Data scientists and machine learning engineers
AI architects and MLOps engineers
GenAI specialists and large language model experts
Applied researchers and AI team leaders

Cybersecurity and Data Governance

Cybersecurity recruitment in Montreal and Quebec remains one of the major challenges for employers. The shortage of qualified talent is significant. We identify profiles for these specialized roles:

Cybersecurity analysts and cloud security engineers
Zero Trust architects and DevSecOps specialists
Compliance and data governance leaders
Incident response specialists and risk management experts

Financial Technology (FinTech)

According to Finance Montreal, Quebec is home to 294 active FinTech companies, and Quebec FinTechs raised a record-breaking $161.3 million in venture capital in 2025. Our deep understanding of the financial sector informs our IT recruitment approach in this vertical:

Developers specialized in payments and banking infrastructure
Blockchain engineers and RegTech platform architects
Anti-money laundering and compliance specialists
Financial technology product managers

Digital Transformation

The manufacturing, industrial and services sectors are accelerating their digital shift. Kenova supports the recruitment of:

IT project managers and systems architects
Automation specialists and ERP integrators
Digital transformation 4.0 leaders
Business analysts and IT portfolio managers

Digital Health

The modernization of healthcare creates demand for profiles combining technology expertise with deep healthcare industry knowledge. We recruit talent advancing digital health:

Clinical solution architects and medical device software engineers
Interoperability specialists (HL7, FHIR)
Digital health product managers
Health data governance specialists

Industries We Serve in IT Recruitment

Our IT recruitment mandates extend across many sectors of activity in Quebec and Canada. This diversity enriches our understanding of transferable skills and sector-specific dynamics.

Financial services and investment (banks, insurance, asset management, FinTech)
Healthcare and life sciences (institutions, medical technologies, pharmaceutical)
Manufacturing and industrial (transformation 4.0, automation, engineering)
Technology and SaaS (start-ups, scale-ups, software publishers)
Retail and consumer goods
Public and parapublic sector (systems modernization, government cybersecurity)
Energy, natural resources and infrastructure

Don’t see your vertical? Kenova also covers custom IT needs. Let’s discuss your specific context.

Our IT Division Led by Maxime Alexandre

With over 15 years of experience in the technology ecosystem, Maxime supports both ambitious SMEs and large organizations in hiring key talent in software development, infrastructure, cybersecurity and data. His strategic vision structures and amplifies our IT offering.

Our IT Recruitment Methodology in Four Steps

Our structured process guarantees a rigorous match between your organization and the selected candidate. Each step is part of a transparent, results-oriented approach.

Step 1: Strategic Needs Analysis

Every mandate begins with an in-depth meeting with your team. We validate the role context, operational challenges, leadership expectations and your organizational culture. This analysis structures the rest of the process.

Step 2: Direct and Confidential Outreach

Our method relies on proactive executive search. We discreetly approach IT professionals currently in position, often inaccessible through traditional channels. Every contact is personalized, grounded in the trust and credibility of our brand.

Step 3: Behavioural and Cultural Assessment

Our assessment focuses on the candidate’s human and cultural dimensions: structured interviews, work style analysis, reputation checks with targeted references, alignment validation between the candidate’s expectations and the role conditions. Deep technical validation remains your team’s domain: we facilitate this step without substituting for your internal expertise.

Step 4: Onboarding Support

Our commitment extends beyond the hire. We support the selected candidate’s resignation phase, anticipate counter-offers and accompany the integration within your organization. A replacement guarantee protects your investment in case of incompatibility during the first months.

Have other questions about our employer services? See our complete FAQ.

Why Trust Kenova for Your IT Recruitment

Proven executive search methodology, applied with rigour to technology profiles
Human and long-term approach, Kenova’s distinctive signature
Deep understanding of the Quebec market and its technology hubs
Rigorous assessment of behavioural competencies and cultural fit
Complete support: from analysis to onboarding, with replacement guarantee
Distinctive sector insight for mandates at the intersection of finance and technology
Coverage of all models: permanent, contract and fractional recruitment under one partner

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Let’s Discuss Your IT Recruitment Needs

Looking to hire strategic technology talent? Our team is ready to support you. A 30-minute exploratory conversation allows us to understand your needs and propose the approach best suited to your context.

Discuss with an IT recruitment expert