For years, contract staffing firms sold the idea of a “bench”—a roster of pre-vetted professionals supposedly ready to jump into any assignment. But here’s the problem: most of those benches are either outdated, overpromised, or painfully generic.
If you’ve ever waited weeks for a firm to send you someone “bench-ready,” only to get a resume that feels templated and a candidate who isn’t aligned with your needs, you’ve seen the flaw in the system.
That’s why ACE doesn’t rely on benches. We run a real search—every time. And the result isn’t just faster. It’s sharper, more relevant, and dramatically more effective for fast-moving CPG brands.
The Myth of the Contractor Bench
The bench model is built on the idea that contract staffing firms can pull from a preloaded database to save time. But speed isn’t the only metric that matters. What good is a fast placement if it’s the wrong person?
Most contractor benches are filled with:
- People who haven’t been contacted in months
- Candidates looking for full-time roles, not contract
- Generalists who don’t align with CPG workflows or culture
Founders don’t need a name—they need the right name. And when you rely on a bench, you’re more likely to get “close enough” than truly qualified. The stakes are too high—especially when contractors are often responsible for launching a market, filling a leadership gap, or delivering a critical piece of work on a tight timeline.
Why Ace Built a Search-First Model for Contract Talent
At Ace, we approach every contract or interim role with the same rigor as an executive search. Because that’s what the work deserves.
When a founder comes to us with a need—whether it’s fractional sales leadership, a contract VP of Ops, or market-by-market retail support—we don’t look to see who’s on the bench. We build a custom search based on the function, outcome, geography, and timeline.
As Andres Rodriguez often points out, Ace isn’t a plug-and-play contract staffing agency. We don’t pitch placeholders—we deliver solutions. That means engaging real candidates, running real interviews, and delivering people who are aligned to the business, not just the job description.
And here’s the kicker: we can do this in under 10 business days.
What Makes the Search Model Faster—Not Slower
At first glance, it might sound counterintuitive. How can a full search be faster than grabbing someone off a list?
The answer is infrastructure.
We’ve already built the systems that make speed possible:
- Streamlined intake to define the role and scope fast
- Specialized recruiter alignment for key CPG functions
- Candidate network primed for contract and fractional work
- Compliance + co-employment handled in-house
So when we run a search, it’s not a blank slate. It’s a targeted sprint. And because we aren’t dragging out timelines with mismatched bench candidates, the entire process moves faster—with fewer back-and-forths and less wasted time.
A Fresh Search Gets You the Right Person—Not Just an Available One
Founders don’t need “close enough.” They need people who can slot into a fast-moving business, own a result, and navigate a complex environment.
That means:
- Someone with relevant category experience
- A candidate who’s aligned to the working style of a lean, under-resourced team
- Someone who’s bought into the mission, not just the paycheck
You don’t get that from a dusty resume pool. You get it by having a recruiter who understands your business run a targeted search, ask the right questions, and deliver real alignment.
It’s not about availability—it’s about fit. And that’s what the bench model gets wrong.
Founders Don’t Want a Database—They Want a Decision
Too often, bench-based firms show up with a spreadsheet of maybe-candidates and leave the hard decision-making to you.
At Ace, we take that weight off your plate. We don’t just send resumes. We send clarity.
You’ll know:
- Why each candidate is right for your specific need
- How what they’ve done that mirrors your challenge
- What it’ll take to get them started within days
The result? You don’t waste cycles debating weak fits. You get moving—with confidence.
Final Thought: The Right Model for the Right Era
The pace of CPG doesn’t allow for stale systems. Your shelf reset is coming. You have a raise already underway. Your product launch window is shrinking.
Waiting on a bench candidate who’s “almost right” is a liability.
That’s why Ace moved past the bench entirely. We built a model for contract staffing that moves fast without sacrificing fit. Whether you need a fractional leader or a regional field team, we’ll find the right people—not just the available ones.
Let’s find who you actually need.
