Associate - Bay Area

SPMB Executive Search

San Francisco (CA)

On-site

USD 80,000 - 100,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

A leading executive search firm in San Francisco is seeking an Associate for their Digital Transformation practice. The role involves driving candidate development for VP and C-level searches, crafting outreach materials, and collaborating closely with partners. The ideal candidate will have 2-4 years in executive search or recruiting, an undergraduate degree, and strong analytical and communication skills. The position offers a salary range of $80-100k plus performance bonuses.

Qualifications

2-4 years of progressive experience in executive search or recruiting.
High-performance environment with client service focus.
Market knowledge within key industry segments.

Responsibilities

Gather key information to understand client needs.
Collaborate on search strategy development.
Craft search documentation including outreach messages.
Drive research efforts to identify quality candidates.
Contact candidates to assess fit for positions.
Provide updates on search assignment progress.
Capture candidate and client data within databases.
Assist in business development activities.

Skills

Candidate Development

Project Management

Collaboration & Influence

Analytical

Communication

Education

Undergraduate degree

Job description

Company Overview

SPMB is the #1 executive search firm serving the technology market and one of the country's largest independent retained search firms. In 2024, SPMB was recognized as the Best Technology Executive Search Firm in the U.S. We build high-performing executive teams that shape the future—partnering with industry giants like Google, Amazon, and Disney and tier-one venture capital and private equity-backed companies.

Our firm combines a large global agency's robust experience, clout, and reach with a boutique's personalized care, collaboration, and nimbleness. The Associate role will allow you to learn from the search industry's best and interface with leading innovative companies, thought leaders, and prominent investors. Simultaneously, you can carve out your own path within an organization built over the years through a culture of internal growth and promotions.

The Associate role is critical to the success of our projects, and the impact you can make at this stage of your career is unparalleled. Closing hundreds of C-Level searches annually, SPMB has recruited key leaders into companies that have generated over $1 trillion in market value (IPOs/M&As) for our clients.

To be a successful part of our team, you will support a “We vs. Me” mentality and exemplify our three cultural values daily: Work Right. Work Smart. Work Together.

For more company information, visit our website at spmb.com.

Position Overview

SPMB is looking for a "street-fighting consultant" – a sharp, insightful individual who can blend strategic thinking with in-the-field knowledge to deliver unparalleled results. This Associate will serve as a key member of the client delivery team by driving the candidate development process throughout each VP and C-level executive search. This particular role will work within the Digital Transformation practice under Mike Doonan, Managing Partner and co-owner of the firm, gaining invaluable mentorship and insight from a true expert in the executive search field. This role will involve collaborating closely with the Partner and Analyst to help deliver outstanding outcomes for our clients. Associates are responsible for working directly with our clients, managing the day-to-day details of search engagements, facilitating discussions with candidates, and directing the research activities of internal teams. The core function of the Associate’s role is relationship development and management, including networking and building strong relationships with senior clients and candidates.

Major Responsibilities

Gathers key information from the client to understand the company, culture, and position requirements thoroughly.
Collaborates with the Partner and Analyst to develop and execute the search strategy.
Crafts key search documentation, including compelling outreach messages and job descriptions for candidates and thorough, thoughtful, client-facing search-related documents, such as candidate assessments, search status updates, and reference reports.
Helps drive research efforts and strategy to ensure the identification of high-quality candidates while serving as a mentor and coach to the Analyst.
Contacts potential candidates to elicit interest and to assess the candidate’s fit to the position description.
Teams with the Partner to provide our clients with an informed perspective on candidates and provide updates on the overall progress of the search assignment.
Ensures data capture of candidates, clients, and search records within SPMB's databases. Add to the firm’s candidate pool expertise by identifying new talent.
Assists in business development activities such as tracking leads, building prospect research documents, and joining prospect client meetings to help the Partner win deals.

Ideal Experience

Minimum of 2-4 years of progressive experience in executive search or in an internal recruiting role for a relevant organization.
Tenure working in a high-performance environment with a focus on client service.
Deep market knowledge within one or more of the key industry segments that we serve.
An undergraduate degree is required.

Critical Capabilities for Success

Candidate Development: Develops qualified and interested candidates across a portfolio of searches through targeted company research, industry sources, and relevant prior sources.
Project Management: Plans, manages, and drives own efforts when handling multiple projects with competing deadlines. Comfortable and flexible in working with individuals with differing styles.
Collaboration & Influence: Works with and through others to achieve common goals and desired results. Uses language to gather information and facilitate an exchange of ideas.
Analytical: Synthesizes business research and provides a succinct and accurate point of view. Capable of making inferential leaps in thinking to reach solutions despite incomplete or ambiguous information.
Communication: Speaks and writes with clarity, precision, and purpose to individuals or small groups. Adapts communication style for the audience and situation.

Preferred Attributes