Executive Search Senior Associate, Healthcare and Life Sciences

Heidrick & Struggles; California; On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision

Disability leave

Parental leave

Paid time off

401k contribution

Job summary

Heidrick & Struggles is a premier provider of executive search and leadership advisory services globally, partnering with clients across 29 countries. The Senior Associate role sits at the center of the search process, owning workstreams, shaping strategy, and driving execution with senior executives and board‑level talent.

You will apply problem solving to map markets, assess candidates, and synthesize data into insights for client delivery. A fast‑paced, high‑performance environment awaits.

Qualifications

• 4–6 years professional experience or 3+ years transferable recruiting experience.
• Undergraduate BA/BS degree required; life sciences/healthcare background preferred.
• High‑performance environments with structured training and development.
• Exceptional communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute differentiated search strategies with consultants.
• Conduct rigorous interviews to assess capability, trajectory, motivations, and fit.
• Deliver structured, high‑judgment assessments to clients.
• Synthesize large volumes of qualitative and quantitative data into actionable recommendations.
• Build trusted relationships with senior executives and high‑potential candidates.

Skills

Executive search

Candidate assessment

Client delivery

Relationship management

Sourcing

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Heidrick & Struggles is the world’s foremost advisor on executive leadership, driving superior client performance through premier human capital leadership advisory services. For more than 70 years, we’ve delivered value for our clients by leveraging unrivaled expertise to help organizations discover and enable outstanding leaders and teams. Learn more at www.heidrick.com

Job Description:

The Company

Heidrick & Struggles is a premier provider of executive search, leadership advisory, and organization effectiveness services globally. For more than 60 years, the firm has conducted many of the most visible C‑suite and board‑level searches in the world.

We partner with clients across 29 countries to accelerate performance and navigate complex leadership challenges. Our work increasingly integrates data‑driven insight, technology‑enabled platforms, and deep human capital expertise.

We are building a team of exceptional individuals—intellectually curious, performance‑driven, and motivated to operate at the highest levels of professional excellence.

The Opportunity

This role is designed for individuals in the top decile of their peer group who seek a high‑trajectory, apprenticeship‑based career with early responsibility and direct exposure to senior executives and board‑level talent.

Senior Associates operate at the center of the search process—owning workstreams, shaping strategy, and driving execution in fast‑cycle, high‑performance environments. The role requires a bias to action, strong judgment, and the ability to synthesize complex information quickly into insight and impact.

Role Responsibilities

Search Strategy & Execution

• Partner with Consultants to design and execute differentiated search strategies.
• Apply creative problem solving to identify non-obvious talent pools and develop unique approaches to market mapping.
• Build and manage high‑quality candidate pipelines with a focus on precision, speed, and insight.

Candidate Assessment & Client Delivery

• Conduct rigorous, insight‑driven interviews assessing capability, trajectory, motivations, and cultural fit.
• Produce clear, structured, and high‑judgment written assessments for client presentation.
• Synthesize large volumes of qualitative and quantitative data into actionable recommendations.

Market Intelligence & Research

• Develop deep insight into industries, companies, and leadership trends—particularly within life sciences and healthcare.
• Generate differentiated perspectives that elevate client discussions beyond standard search execution.

Relationship Management

• Build trusted relationships with senior executives and high‑potential candidates.
• Demonstrate strong emotional intelligence and the ability to accurately read, assess, and influence people.
• Support client relationship management alongside Consultants.

Performance & Professional Standards

• Operate with urgency, ownership, and accountability across multiple concurrent searches.
• Deliver consistently high‑quality work products under tight timelines.
• Uphold the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and confidentiality.

Basic Role Qualifications

• 4-6 years professional experience or a minimum of 3+ years of transferable recruiting experience.
• Undergraduate BA/BS required, background in science, healthcare, or a related field preferred.
• Early career success in high‑performance environments with structured training and development.
• Demonstrated creative problem solving in ambiguous environments.
• Exceptional communication skills.

Strongly Preferred Backgrounds

• Top‑tier consulting firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain)
• Investment banking or private equity
• High‑growth operating roles (strategy, product, operations)
• Life sciences / healthcare companies

Differentiating Attributes

• Bias to action
• Intellectual curiosity and learning agility
• Personal drive and commitment to excellence
• High emotional intelligence and sound judgment
• Business acumen and financial literacy

What Success Looks Like

• Rapid mastery of search execution
• Trusted judgment with clients and candidates
• Delivery of differentiated insight
• Clear trajectory toward Consultant role

Pay Range Guidelines for this Position:

The salary range for this position is 100000 USD to 125000 USD. Compensation is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience and skills. In addition to your salary, Heidrick & Struggles offers discretionary bonuses (subject to eligibility requirements) and a comprehensive benefits package including: medical, dental, vision, disability leave, parental leave, paid time off and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements).

• medical
• dental
• vision
• disability leave
• parental leave
• paid time off
• 401k contribution

Heidrick & Struggles is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring qualified protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, veteran or military status, or citizenship status.

Qualified consultants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for this opportunity in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Heidrick & Struggles is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and/or adjustments during our recruitment process. If you are selected for an interview and require an accommodation and/or adjustment, please inform your Talent Acquisition professional.