Executive Recruiter

Cold Start; Toronto; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A venture capital firm in Toronto seeks an experienced Executive Recruiter to lead talent strategy for startups in healthcare and AI. This senior role includes owning the executive talent pipeline, engaging high-level candidates, and shaping the leadership teams of future ventures. Candidates should have over 7 years of experience in executive recruitment, particularly in fast-growth environments. The position offers competitive compensation and a high-autonomy work culture.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

High autonomy environment

Impact on startup leadership

Qualifications

• 7+ years in executive search or senior talent acquisition, especially in early-stage startups.
• Proven track record in placing founders and C-suite executives.
• Capable of working independently in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Own the executive talent pipeline for the organization and portfolio companies.
• Lead recruitment for seasoned founders and C-suite candidates.
• Define candidate profiles with leadership and founders.

Skills

Sourcing high-level talent

Relationship management

Closing skills

Executive assessment

Job description

About Cold Start Ventures

Cold Start Ventures partners with world‑class founders to launch and scale category‑defining startups at the intersection of healthcare and AI. Each company we incubate is backed by tier‑1 VCs with $1.5M+ in committed day‑one capital. Our ventures benefit from a tested playbook that drives a 6× higher survival rate to Series B than the industry average — creating over $2B in portfolio value, including breakout successes such as 3Y Health and Berry Street.

The Role

We are seeking an accomplished Executive Recruiter to join Cold Start Ventures, based in Montreal. This is a mission‑critical, senior role responsible for architecting and leading our executive and founder‑level talent strategy—across both our internal team and portfolio of high‑growth startups. As our executive recruiting leader, you will fully own sourcing, engaging, and closing exceptional founders and executive talent to power our next generation of ventures.

You will independently run end‑to‑end executive searches, design and evolve recruiting best practices, and directly influence talent strategy at the highest levels of our organization. This is a rare opportunity for an experienced executive recruiter to shape the leadership of future world‑class startups.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the executive and founder‑level talent pipeline for Cold Start and portfolio companies, from sourcing to closing


• Lead proactive identification, engagement, and recruitment of seasoned founders and C‑suite candidates across core focus areas (healthcare, AI, B2B SaaS)


• Partner closely with Cold Start’s leadership and founders to define ideal candidate profiles and drive recruitment for mission‑critical roles


• Build and maintain strong executive networks and talent communities to ensure ongoing access to top‑tier, often passive, talent


• Oversee the candidate experience, ensuring a white‑glove approach for senior and founder‑level talent


• Refine and implement advanced sourcing strategies, talent assessment methodologies, and recruiting analytics for executive search


• Contribute to the long‑term evolution of Cold Start’s employer brand, founder community, and talent platform

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in executive search, founder recruiting, or senior talent acquisition, ideally in early‑stage startups, venture capital, or fast‑growth technology sectors


• Deep experience running independent, full‑cycle executive searches and a strong track record placing founders, CEOs, and senior leaders


• Exceptional sourcing, relationship management, and closing skills with high‑level talent


• Credibility and maturity to engage senior leaders, founders, and high‑caliber investors as a trusted partner


• Highly autonomous, resourceful, and process‑driven—capable of operating without oversight in a fast‑paced, unstructured environment


• Strong understanding of modern recruiting tools, sourcing methods, and executive assessment techniques

Bonus Points

• Significant experience hiring founders, C‑level executives, or highly specialized leaders in healthcare, AI, or B2B SaaS


• Background in venture capital or founder networks


• Expertise in building employer brands or executive/founder talent communities

Why Join Us?

• Foundational opportunity to define and elevate the executive recruiting function at a high‑growth venture studio


• Direct impact building the leadership teams of tomorrow’s most promising startups


• Work at the intersection of world‑class founders, visionary operators, and tier‑1 investors


• High trust, high autonomy environment


• Competitive compensation

Ready to shape the future of startups through world‑class executive talent? Apply now.