Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Based in
The Midwest, Great Lakes, and the Upper South
Coverage
Construction & Manufacturing
Specialization
About Jacob,
Your Central and East Region Hiring Partner
Hi, I am Jacob Kaiser, and I lead the Central and East Region for Arena Direct Hire. I partner with construction and manufacturing companies that hire for multistate projects and operations. My focus is to give leaders a single, trusted partner who understands their markets and hiring standards.
Who I Help
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Construction companies hiring across the Midwest and Great Lakes
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Manufacturers with multi-site operations and shift-based leadership needs
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Leaders who want a structured process with clean communication
States & Regions I Support
Serving Projects Across the Midwest
& Mountain West
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Tennessee (TN)
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Kentucky (KY)
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Ohio (OH)
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Indiana (IN)
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Illinois (IL)
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Michigan (MI)
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Wisconsin (WI)
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Minnesota (MN)
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Iowa (IA)
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Arkansas (AR)
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Louisiana (LA)
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West Virginia (WV)
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Virginia (VA)
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Pennsylvania (PA) (as needed)
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Maryland (MD) (as needed)
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Washington DC (DC) (as needed)
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Idaho (ID) (team coverage)
Markets I Support
Construction
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Commercial and industrial construction
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Heavy civil and infrastructure (where applicable)
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Multi-site rollouts and regional programs
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Estimating and preconstruction teams
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Project controls and scheduling
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Safety and quality leadership
Manufacturing
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Aerospace & Defense / Aviation Manufacturing
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Medical Device Manufacturing
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Semiconductor / Electronics Manufacturing
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Food & Beverage Manufacturing
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Packaging (Plastics, Flexible, Paper)
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Automotive (Transportation, EV, Tier Suppliers)
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Industrial Equipment / Heavy Machinery
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Energy Equipment (Oil & Gas / Renewables)
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Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
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Building Materials Manufacturing
Roles I Recruit For
Skilled Trades & Technicians
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CNC Machinist (Manual / Mill / Lathe / Swiss)
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Maintenance Technician
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Tool & Die Maker
Programming & Quality Support
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CNC Programmer (Swiss)
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Quality Inspector / CMM Programmer
Engineering & Technical Specialists
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Manufacturing Engineer / Mechanical Engineer
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Process Engineer / Estimator
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Quality Engineer
Supervisory & Mid-Level Management
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Production Supervisor / Production Manager
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Manufacturing Manager / Maintenance Manager
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Quality Manager
Operations & Continuous
Improvement Leadership
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Operations Manager / Engineering Manager
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Continuous Improvement Manager (Lean / Six Sigma)
Executive Leadership
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Director of Operations / VP of Operations
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Controller
How We Work
What clients can expect from Arena Direct Hire:
Attraction
Top talent is rarely applying. We run targeted passive outreach and market mapping so you reach candidates you will not reach through posting alone.
Consultancy
We pressure-test scope,
advise on must-haves, and share real market feedback
so you stay competitive without lowering the bar.
Education
We align stakeholders on a simple, fast hiring process, refine the profile, and structure interviews so decisions happen faster and offers stick.
Process
You get one dedicated Arena partner backed by a nationwide team. We manage screening, submissions, scheduling, follow-ups, references, and offer coordination end-to-end.
A Proven Search Process that Delivers the Right Hires Fast
Built for Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Manufacturing. We run a structured
search, keep you informed, and help you hire with confidence, often within 2 to 3 weeks.
01
02
03
Kickoff &
Position Packet
Market
Positioning
Targeted Passive
Search (Top 300)
We align on the must-haves, deal breakers, compensation, and timeline, then build a Postition Packet that gives candidates a clear picture of the role and your team.
We calibrate the role to the market and refine the message that gets top passice talent to respond.
We run a refined search and proactively reach out to the top 300 candidates who match your requirements
04
05
Screen, Interview,
Shortlist
Interview Hosting + Close
We interview the strongest candidates and deliver a tight shortlist with clear, comparable summaries.
We coordinate interviews, manage feedback loops, support offer steps, and help you close the right candidate quickly.
Weekly updates. Clear feedback checkpoints. A shortlist you can count on.
What you get working with Jacob
Real-time market insight on compensation and candidate availability
Clear role calibration to reduce misfires and wasted interviews
Shortlists designed for fast decisions, not long resume stacks
Tight communication, weekly updates, clean scheduling, fast feedback loops
Offer and close support to reduce counteroffer risk
Partnership Benefits
Engagement Options
Contingent Direct Hire
Best for: most mid-level to senior roles where speed matters
What you get: passive outreach plus targeted talent mapping
You see: a shortlist of vetted finalists, not just applicants
Executive Search
Best for: VP, Director, GM, Plant Leaders, senior project leadership
What you get: discreet outreach, structured leadership screening, reference validation
You see: partner-led process through finalists selection and close
Retained Search
Best for: confidential, business-critical roles you cannot afford to miss
What you get: dedicated search cadence with weekly reporting and accountability
You see: clear recommendation and full accountability
Hosted Interviews
Discreet option for sensitive hires, with neutral scheduling when confidentiality matters
Your search stays front-of-line, keeping momentum from first interview to offer
Better candidate experience through preparation and clear expectations
We handle scheduling, confirmations, reminders, and debrief coordination
Ideal for multi-location teams, high-volume hiring, or any role where speed and consistency matter
What Clients Say About Jacob
"Arena Direct Hire have become a strategic partner within out business and helps with a lot more
than recruiting. They act more like a consultant providing relevantdata and analytics to help us make informed decisions."
Maria L.
HR, Quality Material Handling
We Use the Best to Find the Best
Frequently Asked Questions
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Texas: (940) 600-5177
Arizona: (480) 900-7793
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Other States: (940) 289-4555
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