Executive Search Senior Associate, Industrial

Heidrick & Struggles is the world’s foremost advisor on executive leadership, driving superior client performance through premier human capital leadership advisory services. For more than 70 years, we’ve delivered value for our clients by leveraging unrivaled expertise to help organizations discover and enable outstanding leaders and teams. Learn more at

What We Do

Executive Search Senior Associates play a critical role in the execution of all facets of the executive recruiting lifecycle, from candidate identification to placement. Working closely with our expert Search Partners & Principals (Consultants), Senior Associates build upon their existing professional skills in a hands‑on environment and receive world‑class mentorship and professional development in an apprenticeship‑style method. Our Senior Associates drive most aspects of the recruitment process, from developing the search strategy with the Consultant through managing its execution. Senior Associates also get exposure to business development activities. The search process includes working with clients to develop position specifications; interviewing and assessing prospective candidates and building a pipeline of qualified candidates for active searches meeting the client’s requirements; developing the candidate relationship; and candidate referencing.

An integral part of a Senior Associate’s role is assisting with client relationship management, sustaining relationships with senior executives and guiding candidates through their recruitment journey. Senior Associates invest significant time researching and learning about various industries, executive roles and functions, in collaboration with colleagues across the globe. The role provides a great degree of visibility, significant responsibility and the opportunity for high impact with an excellent career track on a well‑defined path.

Role Responsibilities

• Research & Writing: Developing position specifications and creating an effective search strategy in tandem with the Consultant.
• Conducting industry‑specific and client‑company research, mapping the executive talent landscape to bring market insights to the Consultant/Client.
• Assisting Consultants in preparing business development materials to present to prospective and current clients.
• Contacting prospective candidates to elicit interest in client opportunities, obtaining referrals, and collecting market intelligence and feedback.
• Conducting in‑depth interviews to assess candidate qualifications and fit to position specifications.
• Writing candidate assessments and presenting candidates to clients.
• Managing candidate relationships throughout the entire life cycle of the search and keeping the Consultant abreast of candidate updates.
• Contributing to client relationship management with the Consultant.
• Partnering well across stakeholders to develop productive and trusting relationships; fostering collaboration; being a team player.
• Acting as a culture carrier, contributing to firm, practice, and office initiatives, and demonstrating self‑awareness, humility, empathy, and open‑mindedness.
• Maintaining the accuracy, quality, and integrity of all Search information in internal and external research tools.
• Maintaining status reports and client‑ready reports for both internal and external presentation(s) to Consultant and Client.
• Managing multiple concurrent projects and completing high‑quality deliverables on time.
• Acting with the highest regard for professionalism, confidentiality, and ethics.
• Succeeding through challenges, motivated to do the right thing.

Basic Role Qualifications

• 4–6 years professional experience or a minimum of 3+ years of transferable recruiting experience.
• Undergraduate BA/BS degree required.
• Strong professional communication skills, including adept writing, articulating, and delivering information with confidence and impact.
• Proven ability to collaborate with external clients and candidates, influence and foster productive partnerships.

Preferred Role Qualifications

• Prior experience in full life‑cycle recruiting in Executive Search, Contingent Search or In‑House Talent Acquisition, or other industry requiring applied sales and research skills.
• Proven success managing multiple projects and working across teams.
• Experience targeting potential candidates and developing pitch materials.
• Experience identifying market trends and researching information effectively through various channels.
• Ability to analyze, organize and synthesize large volumes of information into insights.
• Demonstrated skill in building and maintaining relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Experience working with Salesforce or other CRM.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Heidrick & Struggles is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring qualified protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, veteran or military status, or citizenship status. Heidrick & Struggles is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and/or adjustments during our recruitment process. If you are selected for an interview and require an accommodation and/or adjustment, please inform your Talent Acquisition professional.