Sr. Director, Executive Recruiting

UNKNOWN; New York (NY); On-site; USD 215,000 - 358,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Pfizer is seeking a seasoned executive recruiter to establish and lead global executive search for VP and above roles. You will drive end-to-end searches, build targeted strategies, and manage both internal and external partners.

The role demands strong assessment, market insight, and the ability to navigate complex leadership decisions in a regulated, multinational environment. Reporting to senior HR leadership, you will shape succession planning and partner with Total Rewards and Legal on

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required with 12+ years in talent acquisition, including executive search.
• Deep understanding of executive hiring, labor markets and compensation globally.
• Experience managing external search firm relationships, including contracts.
• People leadership experience.
• Experience operating inside a large, matrixed enterprise, ideally regulated or pharma/biotech.

Responsibilities

• Run end-to-end executive searches for VP-and-above roles.
• Build a search strategy for each role — target companies, likely candidate profiles, and where to look beyond the obvious names.
• Source directly and manage internal identification and external search partners.
• Run structured selection process for senior candidates, including panel design & interview calibration.
• Own candidate experience at the executive level: the pace, the communication, and the judgment calls.
• Manage Pfizer's relationships with executive search firms, negotiate and manage search firm contracts and fees, and hold firms accountable for slate quality.
• Partner with Total Rewards on executive offer structuring and with Legal on non-competes.
• Develops and governs a proactive executive talent mapping strategy, building and nurturing relationships with external leadership talent pools to address long-term succession planning and capability needs across all functions and geographies.
• Identifies and monitors competitor talent movements, emerging leadership trends, and global compensation benchmarks to inform proactive pipeline development.

Skills

Executive recruitment

Stakeholder management

Executive assessment

Market mapping

Leadership at ELT level

Education

Bachelor's degree

12+ years in talent acquisition

Job description

Position Summary

This role will establish executive recruiting for Pfizer globally — typically VP and above levels and / or any role senior or sensitive enough as determined by the business. Leads end-to-end executive search engagements across enterprise while serving as a trusted advisor to business leaders and HR partners on executive talent decisions and manages partnerships with executive search firms. Brings judgment and presence to partner at ELT level as well as strong external market perspective, sourcing expertise, and executive assessment capabilities to strengthen hiring decisions and leadership bench strength.

Key Responsibilities

• Run end-to-end searches for VP-and-above roles, from intake with the hiring executive through offer and close.
• Build a search strategy for each role — target companies, likely candidate profiles, and where to look beyond the obvious names.
• Source directly and manage a mix of internal identification and external search partners, depending on the role.
• Run structured selection process for senior candidates, including panel design & interview calibration.
• Own candidate experience at the executive level: the pace, the communication, and the judgment calls that come with recruiting people who have a lot of other options.
• Manage Pfizer's relationships with executive search firms, negotiate and manage search firm contracts and fees, and hold firms accountable for slate quality.
• Partner with Total Rewards on executive offer structuring and with Legal on non-competes.
• Develops and governs a proactive executive talent mapping strategy, building and nurturing relationships with external leadership talent pools to address long-term succession planning and capability needs across all functions and geographies.
• Identifies and monitors competitor talent movements, emerging leadership trends, and global compensation benchmarks to inform proactive pipeline development.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required, with 12+ years in talent acquisition, with a meaningful part of that in executive search — in-house or retained search firm.
• Deep understanding of executive hiring, labor markets and executive compensation frameworks globally.
• Experience managing external search firm relationships, including contract negotiation and performance accountability.
• People leadership experience.
• Experience operating inside a large, matrixed enterprise, ideally regulated or pharma/biotech.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree a plus, not a requirement.

Skills & Attributes

• Trusted partner to senior executives, with strong communication skills and the ability to influence and navigate complex decision-making
• Adept at executive assessment, market mapping, and proactive pipeline development
• High integrity with experience managing confidential and sensitive searches

Additional Details

Candidate demonstrates a breadth of diverse leadership experiences and capabilities including: the ability to influence and collaborate with peers, develop and coach others, oversee and guide the work of other colleagues to achieve meaningful outcomes and create business impact.

Direct Reports: 3-5: Executive Recruiters/Sourcer/Coordinator

Office Based Role

Last Date to Apply: September 18, 2026

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $214,900.00 to $358,100.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 22.5% of the base salary and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life’s moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site – U.S. Benefits | (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States.

Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Candidates must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. by any employer.

U.S. work visa sponsorship (such as TN, O-1, H-1B, etc.) is not available for this role now or in the future.

Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.

EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer. This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.

Pfizer endeavors to make www.pfizer.com/careers accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process and/or interviewing, please email [e-mail]. This is to be used solely for accommodation requests with respect to the accessibility of our website, online application process and/or interviewing. Requests for any other reason will not be returned.

To learn more about acceptable and prohibited uses of AI during the recruitment process, please review our candidate AI-use guidelines available at Pfizer Careers.

People Experience