Senior Associate

Korn Ferry; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Job summary

Korn Ferry seeks an Associate/Senior/Managing Associate to identify and develop candidates for executive search projects across multiple industries. You will support market intelligence, develop presentations, and contribute to business development efforts.

Growth often comes from internal promotion, with strong emphasis on client engagement. Three to seven years of experience and excellent communication are required; an undergraduate degree is essential, an MBA is advantageous.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to identify and develop candidates for executive search projects.
• Strong market intelligence and client-facing presentation skills.
• Excellent communication and project management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide engagement execution support to the client and team.
• Manage search stages to ensure high-quality execution.
• Lead candidate identification, outreach, and communications with the partner.
• Capture market, client, and candidate data in KF systems.
• Identify and pursue business development opportunities during the search.

Skills

Executive search

Candidate development

Market intelligence

Presentations

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA preferred

Job description

Application Deadline

13 October 2026

About Us

Korn Ferry is a global consulting firm that powers performance. We unlock the potential in your people and unleash transformation across your business - synchronizing strategy, operations, and talent to accelerate performance, fuel growth, and inspire a legacy of change. That’s why the world’s most forward-thinking companies across every major industry turn to us - for a shared commitment to lasting impact and the bold ambition to Be More Than.

Headquartered In Los Angeles, Our Over 17,000 Colleagues Globally Serve Clients From More Than 130 Offices Across The Globe. We Offer Five Core Capabilities That Span The Full Talent Lifecycle.

• Organizational Strategy
• Assessment and Succession
• Talent Acquisition
• Leadership and Professional Development
• Total Rewards

Job Description

Currently we have developed deeper functional and industry-based expertise, particularly in Technology & Digital, Supply Chain, Energy & Utilities, Consumer & Retail, Life Sciences, Financial Services, Technology Officers, HR Officers, Financial Officers, Marketing Officers and Risk and Compliance. These specializations allow us to better solve the diverse talent needs of our marketplace.

The role of Associate/Senior/Managing Associate is critical for the identification and development of candidates for executive search projects, as well as assisting with market intelligence and development of presentations and documents for business development purposes.

We strongly believe in developing our own talent and often a vacant role is due to one of our talented Senior Associate’s promotion to Principal.

Key Responsibilities Of The Role

• Provide engagement execution support to the client and the team.
• Manage the various stages of the search process to always ensure the highest quality execution of client engagement.
• Lead the identification, qualification, and communication with candidates during the search engagement and informing the partner of progress and issues.
• Capture and maintain accurate market, client, and candidate information in the company’s systems so as to both facilitate the search process and help convert business development opportunities.
• Inform the engagement team of any potential business development opportunities identified through the execution of the search process and support the appropriate partner in its conversion.

Role Competencies And Success Factors

The Associate/Senior/Managing Associate position at Korn Ferry is viewed as a critical position in identifying, qualifying, attracting, and managing candidates through the search process with the Government Affairs Practice. Successful Associates/Senior/Managing Associates could advance within the firm to the Principal/Partner level, where they will be responsible for generating new business and revenue. Associates/Senior Associates/Managing Associates will develop skills and competencies through three “levels” before being ready to progress within the firm.

LEVEL ONE CRITICAL COMPETENCIES AND SUCCESS FACTORS

A “level one” Associate/Senior Associate has exposure to various parts of the search process, principally focusing on:

• Research: Participate in the creation of the source list/research strategy.
• Candidate Development: Mapping the market; calling/recruiting appropriate candidates; relevant market sourcing; preparing reports.
• Referencing: Limited exposure/input in referencing as directed by the Partner.
• Data Capture: Collecting and entering appropriate information for the database; ensuring highest quality standards.
• Report Preparation: Assisting Partner/Project Coordinator in creation of client facing documentation (candidate appraisals, reference reports, search progress reports).

Level Two Critical Competencies And Success Factors

A “level two” Senior Associate has more exposure throughout the search and is expected to lead elements of the process, supporting the consultant. The role broadens out to focus on:

• Research: Create the source list/research strategy, for agreement with the Partner/Client.
• Candidate Outreach and Development: Full responsibility for the generation of relevant candidates for the project.
• Candidate Management: Support the Partner with communication and coordination with candidates (with the aid of PC logistical support).
• Participation in interviews and referencing.
• Use of KF Assessment products to devise competencies for a role and learn to benchmark candidates against them.
• Report Preparation: Assist/lead the creation of client facing documentation.
• Client Participation: Involvement in project kick off meetings as well as project update/progress calls.

Level Three Critical Competencies And Success Factors

The “level three” Senior/Managing Associate is viewed as a high performer by the wider firm. They are expected to manage the search process end to end as well as supporting business development. A “level three” Senior/Managing Associate is expected to:

• Research: Lead/coordinate (managing Research Associates) the research process.
• Candidate Outreach and Development: Lead candidate development across multiple projects.
• Teach/Support Research Associates to develop.
• Candidate Management: Support the Partner with communication and coordination with candidates (with the aid of PC logistical support).
• Conducts interviews and referencing.
• Experienced user of KF assessment products and could interpret assessment reports and benchmark against role competencies.
• Report Preparation: Lead and own the creation of reports; including writing the position spec and candidate reports.
• Client Participation: Business development support and participation involvement at kick off meetings; lead/support on progress calls and meetings.
• By "Level three" Senior Associates will have the awareness and the proven ability to lead and complete a commercial transaction; this will involve the identification of the opportunity and an understanding of how to convert it into beneficial commercial terms.

Professional Experience/Qualifications

• The successful candidate will have three to seven years of professional experience and ideally, will have had exposure to one or more industries.
• In addition to having excellent communication skills, (oral, written and listening), the candidate must possess the ability to make presentations at the executive levels of client companies.
• The ability to manage multiple projects effectively and efficiently is most important.
• The ideal candidate must be self-confident and self-motivated, dynamic, accomplished, and viewed as an individual who can advance within Korn Ferry.
• Successful candidates will have good judgment and possess superior interpersonal and evaluative skills.
• They will take direction well, be detail oriented and able to work well to tight deadlines.
• They will have a relentless sense of ownership and urgency.
• The Associate/Senior Associate/Managing Associate will be as comfortable working independently as they are part of a team.

Education & Skills

An undergraduate degree or equivalent is required; an MBA or other advanced degree or equivalent is advantageous.

Salary Range

$80,000.00 - $100,000.00

Salary range represents the compensation Korn Ferry expects to pay to a candidate with the requirements for the job posted. Korn Ferry offers competitive compensation and benefits commensurate with experience.

Korn Ferry may use AI as part of its recruitment process, but all hiring decisions are made by humans.

Korn Ferry Benefits

• Health benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment)
• Critical Illness
• Accident Injury
• Hospital Indemnity
• Legal Insurance
• Employees are eligible to enroll in Korn Ferry's Tax Deferred Savings plan 401(k).
• Employee Stock Purchase Program is available to all permanent employees who work 20 hours or more after 6 months of service.
• Employees are eligible to receive a total of 15 days vacation annually plus paid time off for 16 company holidays.
• Full time eligible employees accrue sick time commencing on the first date of employment at the rate of 3.33 hours per pay period for an annualized maximum of 80 hours.

Internal Mobility at Korn Ferry

If you currently work for Korn Ferry or one of our affiliates, you must be eligible to apply for a different position within Korn Ferry to use the Careers Site. If you accept such a position, your benefits programs and Human Resources policies may change. Please consult with your HR contact for the new position concerning application eligibility, including any immigration/visa needs, benefit programs, and HR policies applicable to that position.

Korn Ferry is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Background Check Disclaimer

The successful candidate will need to complete background checks as part of our recruitment process, this may include criminal, education credentials, employment history, and other background information relevant to your employment qualifications