Senior Government Search Associate — Public Sector

Korn Ferry; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) match

Employee stock purchase plan

PTO 15 days

Wellness platform

Job summary

Korn Ferry is seeking a Senior Associate – Government Search Associate for Olympia, WA, to support engagement teams in identifying, qualifying, and managing senior-level candidates for government and public sector clients. The role involves coordinating search execution, candidate outreach, and supporting business development opportunities.

You will oversee all stages of the search, lead candidate conversations, and maintain accurate data in the firm’s database, while collaborating across

Qualifications

• 3–7 years of recruiting experience, ideally with exposure to at least one industry.
• Excellent oral, written, and presentation communication skills, including the ability to deliver executive‑level presentations.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or other advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide engagement execution support to the client and the team.
• Oversee all stages of the search process to ensure high‑quality execution.
• Lead candidate qualification and initial conversations, reporting progress and challenges to the consultant.
• Maintain accurate client, market, and candidate information in the firm’s database to facilitate the search and identify business opportunities.
• Communicate identified business development opportunities to the engagement team and support consultant conversion.
• Assist in developing the research and sourcing strategy for the search.
• Map the talent market, contact and recruit suitable candidates, and conduct market sourcing.
• Prepare reference, market intelligence, and search reports.
• Collect and update candidate data for the database, ensuring data quality.
• Support the consultant in creating client‑facing documentation such as candidate value statements, reference reports, and search progress reports.
• Lead the research and sourcing strategy for multiple searches.
• Take ownership of candidate development and coordinate outreach including phone screens.
• Guide consultant through candidate conversations, interviews, and reference requests.
• Assist in finalizing client documentation and referrals.
• Participate in client project kick‑offs and progress calls.
• Engage across the firm’s practice areas and, when required, in international searches.
• Manage the search process for multiple clients and contribute to business development.
• Lead and coach research associates, ensuring high‑performance outcomes.
• Conduct extensive candidate outreach and manage multiple pipelines simultaneously.
• Develop and deliver client documents, placement specifications, and candidate reviews.
• Participate in business development, kickoff meetings, and client calls.
• Engage across the firm and support cross‑border search initiatives.

Skills

Engagement execution

Candidate outreach

Executive communication

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

Korn Ferry is seeking a Senior Associate – Government Search Associate for Olympia, WA, to support engagement teams in identifying, qualifying, and managing senior-level candidates for government and public sector clients. The role involves coordinating search execution, candidate outreach, and supporting business development opportunities.

You will oversee all stages of the search, lead candidate conversations, and maintain accurate data in the firm’s database, while collaborating across