Summer Intern - Executive Search (Nov 2026)

NWU; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 55,000 - 74,000; Part time

Job summary

Kerridge & Partners, a leading executive search and board advisory firm with offices in Sydney and Auckland, invites university students to join as a summer intern in Australia. You will shadow a senior partner, work on strategic projects and live search assignments, and gain exposure to research, client planning and interviews.

The role is based in our Sydney CBD office with hybrid arrangements. Start as early as the last week of November, with flexible hours and a paid induction and training

Qualifications

• Having a real curiosity about businesses and leadership
• Strong written communication that is not reliant on AI
• The ability to handle a wide range of tasks and move between them easily
• Discretion, because the firm handles highly sensitive information about individuals and clients

Responsibilities

• Researching companies, industries and senior leaders
• Supporting business development, including client relationship planning and meeting preparation
• Supporting active assignments, from candidate research to involvement in interviews

Job description

Our Firm

Kerridge & Partners is an executive search and board advisory firm with offices in Sydney and Auckland. Executive search means finding, assessing and appointing senior leaders on behalf of organisations, from chief executives and their leadership teams through to non-executive directors. Our clients range from the largest ASX and NZX-listed corporates through to private equity-owned businesses and NGOs. The work is a blend of art and science, combining rigorous research with careful judgement about leadership behaviours and drivers. Our firm is a partnership first established in 2005 in Auckland, and in a growth phase as we expand our Australian business from Sydney.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a summer intern to work directly with the Partner who leads our Australian business. The role is a mix of strategic projects and live search work, including:

• Researching companies, industries and senior leaders
• Supporting business development, including client relationship planning and meeting preparation
• Supporting active assignments, from candidate research to involvement in interviews

This is a varied role for a growing business. It is not a structured intern programme, however. The intention is to work one-on-one and shadow a senior partner while also supporting broader initiatives across the New Zealand business, which means you will see closely how search and client work are done at a senior level.

Practical Items

The internship can start as early as the last week of November, with a break over Christmas and New Year. Start and finish dates are flexible. The hours will vary with the intensity of the work: some weeks will be full-time, others lighter. The role therefore suits someone comfortable flexing their commitment up and down. In return, we offer a competitive day rate and a paid induction and training trip to our Auckland office. The role is based in our Sydney CBD office and we are open to discussing hybrid arrangements.

Who This Is For

This role suits current university students, though it could also suit upcoming graduates who are uncertain about a career direction and want broad exposure across industries. We are not precious about your degree or academic background, though evidence of effort is important - whether grades, extra-curriculars or juggling work commitments. What matters most is:

• Having a real curiosity about businesses and leadership
• Strong written communication that is not reliant on AI
• The ability to handle a wide range of tasks and move between them easily
• Discretion, because the firm handles highly sensitive information about individuals and clients