Principal Talent Acquisition Specialist - Executive Search

Placements24; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 260,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical + retirement benefits

Professional development programs

Industry conferences access

Prestigious client base

Job summary

Placements24 in Pretoria, Gauteng, is seeking a Principal Talent Acquisition Specialist to lead executive search initiatives from the Pretoria office. You will identify, engage, and place C-suite and senior-level executives across industries, developing bespoke search strategies and managing stakeholder relationships to ensure top-tier service delivery.

The role is office-based in Pretoria to enable close collaboration with clients and the internal team, providing access to Gauteng's vibrant

Qualifications

• 7+ years in executive search or senior talent acquisition.
• End-to-end searches for C-suite and board roles.
• Excellent market knowledge across industries.
• Strong communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Consultative client engagement and business acumen.
• Proven ability to build rapport with senior executives.
• Experience with advanced sourcing tools and databases.
• Willingness to work full-time in Pretoria.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute complex executive search assignments for senior leadership.
• Develop sophisticated sourcing strategies to identify passive candidates.
• Conduct in-depth interviews and reference checks.
• Build long-term relationships with senior executives and decision-makers.
• Provide expert market intelligence throughout the search process.
• Collaborate with clients to define role specifications and search parameters.
• Prepare candidate profiles and present shortlisted candidates.
• Contribute to strategic development of the executive search practice.
• Mentor junior talent acquisition team members.

Skills

Executive search

Stakeholder management

Sourcing strategies

Candidate assessment

Negotiation

Client engagement

Leadership mentoring

Relationship building

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

Tools

Advanced sourcing tools

Databases

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a premier recruitment consultancy, is actively searching for a Principal Talent Acquisition Specialist to lead executive search initiatives from their Pretoria, Gauteng office. This senior position requires a strategic thinker with extensive experience in identifying, engaging, and placing C-suite and senior-level executives across various industries. You will be instrumental in developing bespoke search strategies, managing complex stakeholder relationships, and ensuring the highest standards of service delivery. The role is office-based in Pretoria to facilitate close collaboration with clients and the internal team, providing unparalleled access to the vibrant business community in Gauteng.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute complex executive search assignments for senior leadership positions.
• Develop sophisticated sourcing strategies to identify passive candidates and key influencers.
• Conduct thorough candidate assessments, including in-depth interviews and reference checks.
• Build and nurture long-term relationships with senior executives and key decision-makers.
• Manage client expectations and provide expert market intelligence throughout the search process.
• Collaborate with clients to define role specifications, competency frameworks, and optimal search parameters.
• Prepare detailed candidate profiles and present shortlisted candidates to clients.
• Contribute to the strategic development of the executive search practice.
• Mentor junior members of the talent acquisition team.

Requirements

• A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in executive search or high-level talent acquisition.
• Demonstrated success in conducting end-to-end searches for C-suite and board-level positions.
• Exceptional market knowledge across multiple industry sectors.
• Superior communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage effectively at the highest levels.
• Strong business acumen and a consultative approach to client engagement.
• Proven ability to build rapport and trust with senior executives.
• Proficiency in leveraging advanced sourcing tools and databases.
• Commitment to a full-time, office-based role in Pretoria to maximize client and team interaction.
• Master's degree or equivalent in Business, Psychology, or a related field is highly preferred.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and a significant performance-based commission structure.
• Comprehensive medical and retirement benefits package.
• Access to exclusive professional development programs and industry conferences.
• Opportunity to work with a prestigious client base and shape senior leadership appointments.
• A professional and intellectually stimulating work environment in Pretoria, Gauteng.
• Supportive leadership and a collaborative team of experienced search professionals.