Principal Executive Recruiter

Ladders; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 336,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Collaborative culture

In-person collaboration 3 days/week

Safety as a core value

Professional development

Dynamic and innovative environment

Job summary

Ladders is seeking a Principal Executive Recruiter to lead high-impact executive searches for Director-level and above roles in the Energy & Utilities space.

The role advises senior leaders on market insights, compensation strategy, and search approaches, while mentoring the broader talent acquisition team to raise standards and drive growth.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of recruiting experience with executive search.
• Proven track record in end-to-end Director- to C-level searches.
• Experience as a primary search partner to C-suite and VP-level leaders.
• Hands-on experience structuring and closing executive compensation packages.
• Deep sourcing expertise for niche and senior talent pools.
• Experience using AI for research and sourcing with high-quality output.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end search lifecycle for Director-level and above roles.
• Design and calibrate executive interview processes.
• Advise leaders with talent intelligence and market insights.
• Structure and negotiate executive offers with Finance.
• Partner on succession planning and leadership workforce planning.
• Share market intelligence with the broader TA team.
• Mentor and coach recruiters and sourcers; lead training.

Skills

Executive search

Leadership recruitment

Sourcing expertise

Compensation structuring

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Principal Executive Recruiter to join the team of a leader in the Energy & Utilities space.

This role will own high-impact executive search efforts across Director-level and above positions, helping the organization attract the leadership talent needed to support growth and operational excellence.

You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, bringing market insight, search strategy, and compensation expertise to complex hiring decisions.

In addition, you will help strengthen the broader talent acquisition function through mentorship, process improvement, and knowledge sharing.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Compensation: $210,000 – $336,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end search lifecycle for all Director-level and above roles
• Design and calibrate executive interview processes
• Advise executive leaders with talent intelligence and market insights
• Structure and negotiate executive offers in partnership with Finance
• Partner on succession planning and leadership workforce planning
• Share market intelligence with the broader talent acquisition team
• Mentor and coach recruiters and sourcers, leading training initiatives

Qualifications

• 10+ years of recruiting experience, with a focus on executive search
• Proven track record in end-to-end Director- to C-level searches
• Experience as a primary search partner to C-suite and VP-level leaders
• Hands-on experience structuring and closing executive compensation packages
• Deep sourcing expertise for niche and senior talent pools
• Ability to run effective searches without reliance on specific tools
• Experience using AI for research and sourcing with high-quality output

Benefits

• Collaborative work culture focused on integrity and shared goals
• In-person work expected at least 3 days a week to support collaboration
• Commitment to safety as a core value
• Opportunities for professional development and mentorship
• Access to a dynamic and innovative work environment

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.