Principal / Senior Associate - Executive Search

This role will support the end-to-end delivery of search mandates by combining market insight, judgment, and project management to deliver excellent outcomes. They build strong pipelines and strengthen client and candidate relationships through insight and initiative. They also drive growth through proactive, high-quality pitch support and market insight.

Accountabilities:

• Significantly contribute to the development and articulation of the search strategy proactively refining it as the search progresses.
• Deliver comprehensive market mapping and candidate research that underpins search strategies.
• Lead screening calls and interviews, using critical judgement to assess whether candidates are suitable for the role.
• Prepare candidates for Level 2 / 3 searches for the interview stage, ensuring they understand the role, process, and expectations.
• Produce high-quality candidate briefs, scorecards, job descriptions, and supporting documentation.
• Share insights from candidate interactions and market research to help shape search strategies and inform the wider team.
• Join client calls throughout the search process and, when appropriate, share candidate insights or research findings.
• Able to present candidates on client calls, articulating candidate rationale, strengths, risks, and market context with credibility and clarity.
• Consistently maintain healthy candidate pipelines, flagging risks early and proposing solutions to lead consultants.
• Role model in best practice in research and search delivery, supporting consistency across projects.
• Support the onboarding, training and development of junior team members, role modelling best practice in research and delivery.
• Deliver accurate mapping of VC/PE funds
• Proactively identify funds of interest for the team
• Support with CFO-1 outreach and tracking of BD lead gen campaign if required
• Support Growth and Delivery leads with pitch materials for L1 searches, including CFO profile summaries, archetype notes, search strategy outlines and relevant market insights.
• Flag potential BD opportunities observed during research or candidate interactions.

The role is measured by: Search delivery pace and quality, quality of candidate assessment and screening, search strategy input, and pipeline health across mandates.

Requirements

Technical Skills:

• Proficient in CRM and research platforms (e.g. LinkedIn, Pitchbook, market intelligence tools).
• Identify and articulate current market trends and news.
• Skilled in data handling, analysis, and report creation.
• Ability to craft clear, compelling written outputs (scorecards, reports, outreach).
• Comfortable working with both qualitative and quantitative data.

Human Skills:

• Strong communicator - able to engage confidently with colleagues, candidates, and clients.
• Analytical curiosity, with the ability to spot patterns and generate insights.
• High attention to detail without losing sight of the bigger picture.
• Collaborative mindset, fostering trust and open knowledge sharing.
• Problem-solving and innovative thinking in a fast-paced environment.
• Resilient, adaptable, and proactive.

Benefits

• Work with market-leading CFO search specialists in the start-up tech ecosystem
• Develop research and candidate management skills
• Join a collaborative team that values knowledge and humility
• Clear development pathways
• Competitive benefits including 28 days' annual leave + bank holidays, private health insurance, L&D budget, gym membership, and more