Executive Search

VWA Ltd; West End; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Year-end bonus

Commission

Pension 5%

25 days holiday

Performance review

Job summary

VWA Ltd in London seeks a results-driven Consultant to drive senior/exec level business development and build a dedicated executive/retained search capability. You will manage relationships with private equity, hedge funds and other senior clients, while leading on contingency recruitment and candidate vetting.

The role offers a competitive salary up to £45k with discretionary bonus and commission, plus a company pension after 3 months and 25 days holiday.

Qualifications

• Executive search/retained search experience desirable; BD experience essential.
• 2:1 degree or equivalent required.
• Strong networking and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent communication and deadline-driven mindset.
• Willingness to perform BD/CRM work.
• Core hours 9:00–17:30; optional 2 days/week WFH.
• 6 months probation.
• Salary plus commission; discretionary year-end bonus; pension after 3 months.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop new business at senior/exec level aligned with growth strategy.
• Build relationships with board-level clients to establish executive search offerings.
• Conduct contingency recruitment for permanent, fixed-term, and temp-to-perm roles.
• Resourcing, interviewing and vetting candidates to high standards.
• Foster long-term relationships with clients and candidates based on trust and engagement.
• Assist with occasional operational/administrative overflow as needed.

Skills

Business development

Executive search experience

Education

2:1 degree

Tools

LinkedIn

Instagram

Outlook

Access CRM

Job description

Up to £45k depending on experience

Discretionary bonus + Commission eligible

West End

5-VWAS/NCW

VWA is hiring! We are looking for a Consultant to join our Permanent team. The successful candidate will be joining a high performing and fun company, with the responsibilities of a 360 Consultant, and is expected to understand their responsibility is to seek and retain new business — with a particular focus on senior and executive-level appointments.

About Us:

VWA is a boutique recruitment consultancy and has been established for over 37 years – there is a true family feel in our culture and approach. We partner with a number of London and internationally based firms; primarily, private equity firms, hedge funds, venture capital firms, management consultants, executive search to public relations, renewable energy, digital advertising, brand management, new media and property.

In recent years VWA has taken on a growing number of senior, leadership and board-level mandates from our existing client base, and this is now a deliberate area of growth for the business. We are looking for someone who can proactively develop new business in this space and build our profile at the senior end of the market, with the long-term objective of establishing a dedicated executive search / retained search division within VWA.

About the Consultant Role:

The Consultant is a personality-driven role, combining positive mindset, professional communication and account management skills with proactivity, energy, and strong attention to detail. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Proactively identifying and developing new business at senior, leadership and executive level, in line with VWA’s strategy to grow this part of the business.
• Building relationships with clients around board-level and other senior/executive appointments, with a view to establishing a track record that supports the long-term development of a dedicated executive search / retained search offering within VWA.
• Contingency recruitment - taking briefings on permanent, fixed-term contract and temporary-to-permanent roles from clients.
• Resourcing, interviewing and vetting candidates to a high standard.
• Building long-term relationships with clients and candidates based on honesty, trust, respect and consistent engagement.
• As part of a lean team, occasional willingness to assist with operational/administrative overflow work is valued, although day-to-day responsibility for this sits primarily with the Candidate Manager and Project Co-ordinator.

About You:

• Prior experience in executive search or retained search is highly desirable, and candidates from this background are considered ideal for this role. Business development experience is essential.
• Experience or familiarity with LinkedIn, Instagram, Reed, Microsoft Outlook and Access CRM desirable but optional.
• Holding a 2:1 university degree (or equivalent).
• A natural networker and relationship builder with an approachable, confident yet friendly manner.
• Clear and professional communication skills with an ability to work to deadlines and spontaneously (temp assignments are unpredictable and must be filled quickly).
• Ability to assess candidates accurately and without bias.
• Willingness and confidence to perform disciplined and sustained BD and CRM work.
• Commercial mindset with flexibility, diplomacy, and self-starter qualities.
• Core hours are 9am - 5.30pm with up to 1 hour for lunch. Please note, communication outside of core hours is expected.
• Optional 2 days per week working from home (Tuesdays and Thursdays not included and subject to a professional home office setup).
• 6 months probationary period.
• Competitive salary dependent on experience, with commission under the terms of the prevailing commission scheme.
• Discretionary year-end bonus.
• Pension after 3 months with 5% company contribution.
• 25 days holiday, accruing 1 day per year for first 3 years of service.
• Annual performance review.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to be a driving force in VWA's growth.