Shape the search, Influence the future!
We’re looking for an accomplished executive search professional with deep expertise in Human Resources leadership—someone who can build trusted relationships at the highest levels, uncover opportunities, and personally deliver exceptional executive talent.
This is a true 360° opportunity, combining business development, executive-level client advisory, and hands-on retained search. You’ll work directly with CHROs, CEOs, and senior HR leaders to understand their most critical leadership needs, shape sophisticated search strategies, and deliver Director through CHRO-level talent across complex organizations.
If you’re commercially driven, deeply credible in the HR talent market, and ready to own both the business and the search, this is an opportunity to make a significant impact.
MEET THE ROLE: YOUR PURPOSE:
Senior individual contributor role responsible for driving the growth, commercial performance, and delivery of Talento’s HR Executive Search business.
The role combines executive-level business development, strategic customer partnership, deep HR talent market expertise, and hands-on retained search execution. This leader owns the full 360° lifecycle, from identifying and winning new business to personally leading complex searches and delivering exceptional talent outcomes.
The Managing Director builds trusted relationships with CHROs, CEOs, and senior HR leaders, serving as a strategic advisor throughout the search process. The role is accountable for developing a strong and sustainable book of business, consistently delivering against ambitious commercial expectations, and generating profitable executive search engagements.
This is a highly specialized role for an accomplished executive search professional with deep expertise in Human Resources talent and demonstrated credibility conducting Director through CHRO-level searches.
Success is driven by the individual’s ability to generate business, lead sophisticated searches, build executive-level relationships, and translate commercial opportunities into strong Gross Profit performance.
WHERE YOU’LL MAKE YOUR MARK:
-
Drive Business Development: Identify, develop, and convert new business opportunities by building trusted relationships with CHROs, CEOs, and senior HR leaders, understanding their talent priorities, and positioning Talento’s executive search capabilities to win high-value engagements.
-
Build Executive Customer Partnerships: Develop and strengthen long-term relationships by becoming a trusted talent advisor, uncovering current and future leadership needs, expanding relationships across organizations, and creating opportunities for continued search partnerships.
-
Lead End-to-End HR Executive Searches: Personally own retained executive search engagements from intake and profile development through market mapping, candidate identification, assessment, calibration, shortlist delivery, offer negotiation, and successful placement.
-
Shape Search Strategy & Advise Clients: Partner closely with clients throughout each engagement to refine the role profile, challenge assumptions, provide talent market intelligence, calibrate expectations, and adapt the search strategy as new information emerges.
-
Own Gross Profit Performance: Maintain direct accountability for generating profitable search business, with a clear focus on Gross Profit as the primary measure of financial performance. Effectively balance business generation, search execution, pricing, delivery quality, and customer outcomes to maximize the value of each engagement.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE:
You’ll be successful when you’re:
-
Driving Gross Profit: Delivering strong and sustainable GP growth.
-
Generating Business: Building a healthy executive search pipeline.
-
Building Client Trust: Becoming a trusted advisor to senior HR leaders.
-
Leading Searches: Independently delivering complex executive searches.
-
Bringing Market Expertise: Demonstrating deep HR talent market knowledge.
-
Placing Exceptional Talent: Delivering high-impact HR leadership placements.
-
Growing Relationships: Converting searches into repeat and expanded business.
WHAT MAKES YOU THE ONE:
You bring:
EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION
-
6+ years of progressive experience in executive search, recruiting, staffing, talent solutions, or a related professional services environment, with demonstrated ownership of both business development and search execution.
-
Proven track record of developing and converting new business opportunities and consistently delivering against ambitious Gross Profit expectations within an executive search or talent solutions environment.
-
Deep specialization in Human Resources executive search, with demonstrated experience recruiting Director through CHRO-level talent across corporate, manufacturing, healthcare, or similarly complex environments.
-
Proven experience partnering directly with CHROs, CEOs, and senior HR leaders on executive and leadership hiring needs.
-
Demonstrated experience personally leading retained executive search engagements from intake and profile development through market mapping, candidate assessment, calibration, shortlist delivery, offer negotiation, and placement.
-
Demonstrated ability to independently manage the full 360° lifecycle, including prospecting, business development, client relationship management, search execution, candidate engagement, closing, and account expansion.
-
Experience managing complex, high-value searches where the client profile may evolve throughout the engagement and requires strong advisory partnership, market expertise, and judgment.
TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE
-
HR Executive Search Expertise: Deep knowledge of Human Resources functions, organizational structures, leadership profiles, talent markets, and compensation dynamics, particularly at Director through CHRO levels.
-
Retained Executive Search: Strong command of retained search methodologies, including intake and calibration, role definition, market mapping, research, candidate identification, assessment, shortlist development, offer negotiation, and closing. Retained search is particularly suited to senior leadership assignments where the process is proactive, consultative, and research led.
-
HR Talent Market Intelligence: Ability to translate market conditions, talent availability, compensation trends, candidate motivations, and competitive intelligence into actionable recommendations for clients.
-
Business Development & Consultative Selling: Strong understanding of consultative business development, including prospecting, executive-level discovery, solution design, proposal development, pricing, negotiation, closing, and account expansion within an executive search environment.
-
Client Advisory & Search Strategy: Ability to challenge and refine client assumptions, shape search profiles, advise on talent availability, calibrate expectations, and adjust search strategies based on market findings and candidate feedback.
-
Market Mapping & Sourcing: Advanced ability to conduct market mapping, identify target organizations, develop talent landscapes, engage passive candidates, leverage professional networks, and uncover difficult-to-reach HR executives.
-
Recruiting Technology & Analytics: Proficiency with ATS/CRM platforms, LinkedIn Recruiter, sourcing technologies, talent intelligence tools, and recruiting analytics to support both business development and executive search execution.
COMPETENCIES & SKILLS
-
Commercial Drive: Strong entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to generate opportunities, build executive relationships, negotiate effectively, and consistently pursue ambitious commercial and Gross Profit outcomes.
-
Executive Presence & Influence: Credibility, confidence, and communication skills to engage effectively with CHROs, CEOs, senior HR leaders, executives, and highly sought-after candidates.
-
Consultative Partnership: Ability to operate as a trusted advisor, understand complex business needs, challenge constructively, and translate talent challenges into effective search strategies.
-
Search Ownership & Execution: High level of ownership, discipline, and attention to detail, with the ability to personally drive complex searches from beginning to end.
-
Strategic Thinking & Judgment: Ability to interpret market intelligence, navigate ambiguity, make sound decisions, and continuously adapt search and business development strategies.
-
Relationship Building: Strong ability to develop and maintain long-term relationships with senior clients, candidates, and professional networks.
-
Results Orientation: Demonstrated accountability, resilience, persistence, and ability to perform successfully in a high-performance, commercially driven environment.
-
Independent Leadership: Ability to operate autonomously, manage competing priorities, take ownership of outcomes, and maintain a high level of execution without direct people-management responsibility.
YOUR WELL-BEING MATTERS!
We believe great work starts with feeling supported at work and beyond. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, peace of mind, and everyday life with meaningful benefits for you and your family.
-
Comprehensive Health Coverage: Choose from three PPO medical plans through Meritain Aetna, with preventive care covered at 100%.
-
24/7 Virtual Care: Get free, unlimited access to Teladoc for general medical care, mental health support, and more—wherever you are.
-
No-Cost Surgical & Imaging Services: Access eligible surgical procedures and diagnostic imaging with no out-of-pocket costs through Valenz Health.
-
Dental & Vision Coverage: Access Guardian dental and vision plan for you and your family, including orthodontic coverage.
-
Life, AD&D & Disability Insurance: Receive basic life, AD&D, and short- and long-term disability coverage at no cost to you.
-
Retirement Savings: Build toward your financial future with a 401(k) plan and automatic enrollment.
-
HSA & FSA: Take advantage of tax-advantaged Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts to help manage eligible healthcare expenses.
-
Employee Assistance Program: Access confidential counseling and well-being resources 24/7 for you and your family.
-
Pet Benefits: Enjoy veterinary discounts, 24/7 pet telehealth, and additional resources for your furry family members.
-
Legal Support: Get unlimited access to legal advice, document review, and complimentary will preparation.
-
Commuter Benefits: Save with pre-tax benefits on eligible commuting and transit expenses.
