I get the sense that just mentioning the word recruiter on this site leaves a bad taste but is there any somewhat reputable companies out there?

Recruiters in China vary from absolute bottom feeders to those who will do their best to place foreigners in reasonable jobs that pay quite well.
Though they've got a bad name generally speaking, you should be aware that direct employers vary in quality just as much. I can recommend the following recruiter to you.
Contact name: Anne
Email: teachingjobs@163.com