Executive Search Recruiter

Duke Careers; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Duke Health is seeking a dynamic Executive Recruiter to lead full-cycle recruitment for executive and senior leadership positions, including Director-level roles and above—across our system. You will deliver market intelligence, competitive insights, and an exceptional candidate and stakeholder experience throughout the recruitment process.

Proven ability to recruit senior leadership in competitive markets is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in HR, Business, Healthcare Admin, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years of recruitment experience; at least 3 years in executive/leadership search.
• Healthcare/academic medicine experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end executive and senior leadership recruitment; manage search from kickoff to onboarding.
• Partner with senior leaders to define role requirements and leadership attributes.
• Design and execute targeted search strategies to identify active and passive candidates.
• Assess and present top candidates, ensuring strong alignment and cultural fit.
• Promote Duke Health as an employer of choice and build diverse leadership pipelines.
• Provide reporting on recruitment activity, market trends, and insights.
• Manage external search partners as needed and ensure compliance.
• Lead salary negotiations and coordinate with stakeholders.

Skills

Executive search

Stakeholder management

Diversity & inclusion

LinkedIn Recruiter

Candidate assessment

Market research

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/Healthcare Administration

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

LinkedIn Recruiter

ATS (e.g., Workday/PeopleSoft)

Job description

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At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

Duke Health is seeking a dynamic and experienced Executive Recruiter to lead full-cycle recruitment for executive and senior leadership positions, including Director-level roles and above—across our system. As a trusted advisor to senior leaders and HR partners, you will deliver market intelligence, competitive insights, and an exceptional candidate and stakeholder experience throughout the recruitment process.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end recruitment efforts for executive and senior leadership positions, managing the process from search kick-off through closure and onboarding.
• Partner with senior executives and hiring leaders to define role requirements, success profiles, and desired leadership attributes.
• Design and execute targeted search strategies to identify both active and passive candidates, leveraging networks, sourcing platforms, and industry partnerships.
• Assess, present, and guide highly qualified candidates through the interview and selection process, ensuring strong alignment and cultural fit.
• Act as a brand ambassador, promoting Duke Health as an employer of choice while cultivating diverse leadership talent pipelines.
• Provide regular reporting and analytics on executive search activity, market trends, and competitive insights.
• Manage relationships with external search partners as needed, ensuring alignment with organizational standards and priorities.
• Uphold the highest standards of confidentiality, equity, compliance, and candidate care throughout the recruitment process.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of executive hiring strategies, processes, and tools.
• Lead salary negotiations, collaborating with hiring executives, candidates, HR leaders, and compensation teams.
• Coordinate with key stakeholders to ensure seamless executive recruiting processes.
• Inspire, lead, and develop team members to achieve recruitment goals and pursue excellence.

Knowledge & Skills

• Proven ability to recruit and influence senior leadership candidates in competitive markets.
• Expertise in executive search strategies, candidate assessment, and market research.
• Strong credibility with executives, supported by excellent business acumen, sound judgment, and consultative skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex searches with discretion and professionalism.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in leadership recruitment.
• Proficiency in applicant tracking systems and sourcing platforms such as LinkedIn Recruiter.
• Ability to travel occasionally for networking, conferences, and candidate engagement.
• Consultative mindset and ability to anticipate client and candidate needs.
• Ability to conduct in-depth interviews and evaluate candidate profiles.
• Exceptional customer service focus and attention to producing quality results.
• Outstanding teamwork, organizational skills, and ability to interact effectively at all levels and across diverse cultures.
• Ability to multi-task and manage various recruitment projects simultaneously.
• Self-initiative and ability to respond quickly to client requests.
• Adaptability to new processes and effective management of change.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Healthcare Administration, or a related field (required). Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive recruitment experience, with at least 3 years in executive or leadership-level search required.
• Experience recruiting in healthcare, academic medicine, higher education, or similarly complex, mission-driven organizations strongly preferred.

Job Code: 00005688 EXECUTIVE SEARCH RECRUITER
Job Level: H2

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences fl…urishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions:

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Nearest Major Market: Durham
Nearest Secondary Market: Raleigh

Read more about Duke’s commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination at hr.duke.edu/eeo.