Senior Associate - Executive Search
6 days ago
London
Role: Senior Associate or Principal - Life Sciences/STEM Executive Search Start date: ASAP Location: City of London (3 days in office, 2 days WFH) About us: Skills Alliance is a PE-backed, global workforce solutions partner specialising in Life Sciences, Medical Technology, and broader STEM markets. Since 2005, we’ve supported some of the most innovative businesses in the world. From venture-backed start-ups to global pharma, we partner with organisations building therapies, technologies, and products that genuinely improve lives. Our model is built across three core offerings: Executive Search, Staffing, and Enterprise Solutions. This gives our teams access to deep market insight, established client relationships, and a genuinely global platform. We operate internationally, with offices across Europe and the US, and a strong track record of delivering high-value, retained search mandates at C-suite and VP level. The role: We’re hiring a Senior Associate or Principal (open on level) to join our Executive Search function. This is a senior delivery role with significant ownership of retained search mandates. You’ll work closely with founders, investors, and senior leadership teams, taking responsibility for driving searches forward and delivering high-quality outcomes. What You’ll Be Doing: • Support and lead retained executive searches from brief through to placement, • Design and execute search strategies, including market mapping and target identification, • Identify, engage, and assess senior-level candidates, • Define and prioritise high-calibre (“tier 1”) talent at the outset of searches, • Oversee and lead candidate qualification and contribute to shortlist recommendations, • Manage candidate processes end-to-end, including interview prep, feedback, and offer negotiation, • Contribute to client interactions, including briefings, updates, and shortlist discussions, • Present candidates with clear rationale and market insight, • Maintain high-quality search documentation and reporting, • Work closely with Client Partners and leadership to drive successful outcomes, • Mentor and support junior team members, with options for line management if wanted What we are looking for: • Experience delivering senior-level or retained searches, or operating at a high level in a 360 recruitment role, • Experience building and maintaining candidate networks, with clear examples of successful placements and delivery outcomes, • Comfortable working in a highly detail-oriented environment, managing search documentation, mapping data, and process tracking to a high standard, • Experience working on complex or senior hires (VP level or niche technical roles), • Ability to manage multiple, concurrent vacancies or search assignments, • High level of drive, resilience, and ambition, with a clear motivation to succeed in a high-performance environment, • Confident engaging with senior stakeholders (C-suite, VP level), with the ability to influence, challenge, and build credibility, • Exposure to technical markets (Life Sciences, Medical Technology, or broader STEM) is highly advantageous. What we can offer: • Access to high-value, retained search work from day one, • Clear progression pathways into Delivery Lead / Client Partner roles, • A range of benefits from Private Healthcare, monthly wellness budget, wellness days, birthday off, • Performance incentives including annual holiday incentives and quarterly lunch clubs, • A very competitive package including bonus per placement up to £8,000 per Search delivered at Principal level, • Strong leadership support and a collaborative, high-performance team and direct support/management from a seasoned leader in Executive Search, with 25+ years experience both in industry at large multinational Pharma companies and in Search, • Investment in tech, data, and training to support high-quality delivery If that sounds like you, apply below or email for a confidential chat.