Principal Search Consultant

Oaklands Global; England; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist recruitment firm in the UK seeks a Principal Search Consultant for their Tunbridge Wells office. In this role, you'll have the unique opportunity to engage with top-tier investment banking candidates and contribute to a high-performing team. Responsibilities include market mapping, candidate engagement, and supporting business development. The position offers a competitive salary, commission from day one, and a hybrid working model catering to professional and personal growth. If you are driven and disciplined, this is the opportunity for you.

Benefits

Competitive base salary

Uncapped commission

Exposure to senior leadership

Work from home options

Qualifications

• Experience in a fast-paced recruitment or executive search role.
• Proven track record in client delivery across recruitment projects.
• Strong understanding of the recruitment lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed market mapping for investment banking.
• Identify and engage high-caliber candidates.
• Support business development by identifying new opportunities.

Skills

360 recruitment experience

Candidate sourcing

Relationship management

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Tools

CRM systems

LinkedIn Recruiter

Job description

We are a specialist boutique executive search and recruitment business operating within the US Investment Banking (M&A) market. We are trusted by several leading advisory firms including Middle-Market and Elite Boutiques, delivering senior, high-impact hires in a fast‑moving and highly competitive sector.

Due to another exceptional year, we are now looking to appoint a Principal Search Consultant to join our high‑performing team based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

This is not a reactive or administrative role. It is a demanding, hands‑on position suited to someone who is highly disciplined, commercially aware, and motivated by performance. You will play a critical role in the delivery of retained and exclusive mandates and the ongoing growth of the business.

Why Join Us?

• Immediate Commercial Upside: Earn commission from day one on every deal closed by the Director you support. In this role your contribution directly impacts your earnings. Deal sizes range from $30,000 - $300,000.
• Competitive Base Salary + Uncapped Commission: Up to 25% for fully delivered searches. No thresholds.
• Exposure to Top‑Tier Investment Banking Mandates: Work exclusively on high‑level roles within the US M&A market.
• High‑Performance, Low‑Ego Environment
• Direct Access to Senior Leadership: Partner closely with the Head of Investment Banking, gaining first‑hand exposure to senior‑level search execution and client strategy.
• Meaningful, High‑Impact Work: You will influence careers and advisory firms at the highest level, while building a long‑term career in executive search.
• Hybrid Working Model: WFH Wednesday and half‑day Friday

Key Responsibilities:

• Market Mapping & Intelligence: Conduct detailed market mapping across the US Investment Banking landscape, identifying firms, teams, individuals, and emerging trends.
• Candidate Identification & Engagement: Take ownership of live mandates by identifying, approaching, and engaging high‑calibre investment banking professionals.
• Business Development Support: Proactively identify new opportunities, talent pools, and client prospects to support the firm’s continued growth.
• Candidate Management: Manage candidates throughout the full search process, ensuring a professional, well‑structured, and consultative experience.
• Partner Support: Provide high‑level support to the partners across search delivery, research, coordination, and ad‑hoc strategic tasks.

Operational Responsibilities:

• Consistently meet or exceed personal monthly sales and delivery targets
• Maintain accurate use of CRM for tracking vacancies, candidates, and client activity
• Ensure data quality across the system and generate accurate performance reports
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of account management and delivery best practices
• Actively participate in training initiatives to enhance sourcing and client service skills

Desired Experience & Attributes

• Experience in 360 recruitment, resourcing, or delivery‑based roles within a fast‑paced environment
• Proven track record in candidate sourcing and client delivery across multiple roles
• Effective relationship management skills, with experience dealing with senior stakeholders
• Strong understanding of the recruitment lifecycle and candidate experience best practices
• Excellent organisational and communication skills
• Proficient with CRM systems, job boards, and sourcing tools (e.g., LinkedIn Recruiter)
• Full UK driving licence
• Additional language skills beneficial

Team & Culture

Support the recruitment and onboarding of new consultants as needed

Participate in employer brand and retention strategy development

Promote a collaborative and knowledge‑sharing culture within the team

Help define clear market segmentation and ensure coverage across consultants and accounts

Qualities:

Tenacity a no excuses mindset focused on accountability for results and determined pursuit of overachievement

Problem‑solving a creative, pro‑active approach to removing obstacles and building solutions

Anticipation a quickness to react to potential or emerging issues before they develop

Positivity a contagious enthusiasm and energy to deliver great work

Discipline & Self‑Motivation - You are organised, detail‑oriented, and comfortable working autonomously.

Collaboration a desire to bring people and teams together, sharing ideas and expertise

Excellence an insistence on the highest quality and resistance to corner‑cutting or sub‑par standards

Structure a focus on development of scalable, repeatable processes and supporting documentation

Curiosity a desire to explore new ways of doing things, innovate and challenge the status quo

Who Should Apply?

This role is ideal for someone with strong experience in recruitment, executive search, talent acquisition, or Investment Banking, who wants to elevate their career in a highly professional, international, and specialist environment.

US East Coast working hours required as a minimum. US West Coast working hours desirable.

Be willing to work in our Tunbridge Wells, Kent office a minimum of three days per week. Moving to two days per week after successful passing of probation (six months).

Interested?

If you are interested in joining a boutique team of ambitious professionals that value excellence and execution and you are exceptionally organised, driven, detail‑focused, and motivated by performance, we would like to hear from you.

Apply today to start your journey with us.