Principal Recruitment Consultant

WestPoint Search; Tonbridge; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Strong commission / bonus upside

Flexibility and autonomy

Job summary

A leading recruitment consultancy in the United Kingdom is seeking a Principal Recruitment Consultant to enhance senior recruitment services. This client-facing role emphasizes the management of high-value recruitment assignments and building long-term relationships. The ideal candidate will possess proven experience in delivering senior-level hires and will be comfortable working with C-suite stakeholders. Competitive salary and strong commission potential are included in this position, alongside opportunities for meaningful influence and growth.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Principal Consultant / Senior Consultant / Account Director in recruitment.
• Strong track record of winning and managing client relationships.
• Experience delivering senior-level hires, ideally executive search.

Responsibilities

• Winning new business through intelligent, relationship-led conversations.
• Managing and growing existing client accounts at a senior level.
• Leading executive search and headhunting assignments.

Skills

Winning and managing client relationships

Delivering senior-level hires

Operating with senior stakeholders

Self-starting and disciplined

High standards around quality

Job description

Executive Search & Interim – Technology & Transformation

We’re looking for a Principal Recruitment Consultant to operate as a true senior contributor within our business. This is a hands-on, client-facing role for someone who knows how to win, manage, and deliver high-value recruitment assignments at a senior level.

This role suits someone who enjoys autonomy, accountability, and working with senior stakeholders rather than volume or transactional recruitment.

The role

You’ll act as a trusted partner to clients, owning relationships end-to-end and delivering senior appointments across permanent and interim mandates.

Key responsibilities include:

• Winning new business through intelligent, relationship-led conversations
• Managing and growing existing client accounts at a senior level
• Leading executive search and headhunting assignments (C-suite, C-1, senior leadership)
• Delivering complex, high-quality searches with discretion and pace
• Advising clients on market conditions, talent availability, and hiring strategy
• Acting as an Account Director on key accounts, owning delivery and commercial outcomes
• Managing senior candidates through structured, high-touch processes

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience as a Principal Consultant / Senior Consultant / Account Director in recruitment
• Strong track record of winning and managing client relationships
• Experience delivering senior-level hires (ideally executive search or senior contingent)
• Comfortable operating with CIOs, CTOs, Transformation Leaders, and Board-level stakeholders
• Commercially minded, credible, and confident in senior conversations
• High standards around quality, delivery, and client experience
• Self-starting, disciplined, and able to operate with autonomy

What’s on offer

• Senior role with genuine ownership and influence
• Competitive base salary with strong commission / bonus upside
• Flexibility and autonomy in how you operate
• Opportunity to help shape accounts, clients, and long-term growth

If you’re operating at principal level already – or doing the job without the title – this is a role where your experience and judgement genuinely matter