Position Summary
Senior Associates are highly valued members of the Spencer Stuart team and are expected to work proactively and effectively on multiple client engagements through taking ownership of the research or assessment/advisory process. This includes having exemplary project management skills, industry and/or functional domain expertise, judgment and assessment skills, and commitment to the highest quality delivery orientation. With excellent communications and assessment skills, Senior Associates will demonstrate consistently their skill and capability in conducting in-depth assessments of business experiences and professional capabilities of top executive talent. The role of Senior Associate requires an individual with strong interpersonal skills who enjoys the challenge of working internally in a team based environment and externally with a variety of candidates and clients, as well as diverse, senior-level executives and board members.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to:
Solutions Director
Consultants (on assignment/engagement basis)
Other key Relationships
Practice Leader
Office Manager
Analysts, Associates, Senior Associates and Consultants Firm-wide
Executive Assistants/LAS Project Managers
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Senior Associate will be recognized as an expert in an industry, functional or geographically based candidate pool. They may be sought out for advice and input during the business development stage, based on his/her depth of experience in a specific industry, function or geography. They will:
- Contribute to the Firm’s knowledge management activities by owning and working a defined candidate pool both proactively and during the course of normal search work.
- Contribute to qualifications packages by providing market information and potential profiles to demonstrate capability and knowledge of industry or functional area.
Deliver Quality
With strong assessment skills, Senior Associates will regularly draft position specifications and/or proposals following the initial client briefing, interview pre-qualified candidates/assessment participants along with the Consultant, create [long list] progress reports and draft candidate presentations or assessment/development reports including third party views (or references in the case of LAS reports). If the search Senior Associate has met the candidate, he/she may participate in taking selected references under the guidance of a Consultant. They will:
- Demonstrate ownership of the assignment/LAS engagement, define the search/assessment strategy, coordinate resources and meet all timelines.
- Assist in drafting the position specification/proposal on designated assignments/engagements following the client briefing.
- Develop and present outstanding prospects by routinely conducting third-party source/pre-reference calls (search only) and thoroughly assess experiences and critical capabilities for success.
- Co-interview candidates/participants with the Consultant and draft candidate presentations or assessment and development reports with evidence of assessment against experience and capabilities.
- In conjunction with the Consultant, take formal references on the final candidate, where the Senior Associate has had a significant level of interaction with that individual (search only).
Communication and Impact
Senior Associates often participate in client meetings and candidate interviews and, during the course of a search or advisory engagement, will be responsive to client enquiries in the absence, or under the direction, of a Consultant. They will:
- Actively participate in client briefing meetings with the Consultant and contribute to the development of the search/engagement strategy, providing insightful advice in client meetings based on market or subject matter expertise and demonstrating outstanding relationship building and communications skills.
- As appropriate, liaise directly with the client and maintain dialogue with prospects/candidates/participants regarding the search/advisory engagement, ensuring that clients and candidates/participants experience a seamless model when working with the Consultant and Senior Associate.
- Prepare information for the client progress report and other meetings by teaming with the Consultant and Executive Assistant, anticipating the information needs of others and providing an informed perspective on the market and the prospects/candidates/participants.
Role Model
Senior Associates are expected to be role models and good citizens to strengthen our People and Culture and make a broader contribution to the Firm. Senior Associates are viewed as go-to individuals and willing volunteers and they will have actively participated in contributing to the local office, practice or Firm development. They will:
- Ensure up-to-date assignment/engagement, company and candidate/participant information during the course of an assignment/engagement is available for colleagues through appropriate use of Quest.
- Actively contribute to practice/office/region/Firm with a global mindset (eg business development, knowledge building and sharing, best practice sharing, intellectual capital, marketing events, social activities etc.)
- Develop self and others (eg being involved in or leading learning and development initiatives, mentoring, regional/global projects or other relevant activities for the Firm)
- Adhere diligently to Firm policies and standards for candidate validation, documentation and assessment as well as demonstrating professional behavior and living our values (including adherence to Red Book, Quest policies etc.)
IDEAL EXPERIENCE
University Graduate
Undergraduate degree required, postgraduate degree preferred
3-5 years of experience
3-5 years’ Associate level or relevant project/talent management experience in executive search or recruitment firms or similar professional services firms (eg strategy consulting, law firms, events management) or industry
Will have a minimum of one year with Spencer Stuart, along with meeting the criteria for promotion to Senior Associate.
Domain or Subject Matter Expertise
Domain expertise/candidate pool or subject-matter expert; recognized as a go-to person with developed prospect/source/candidate relationships (search) or content knowledge (LAS)
Quality Execution and Documentation
Consistently high volume of assignments/engagements as measured against practice/market average with successful outcomes.
Regularly contributed as part of the consulting team and be recognized as not only meeting, but in most cases, exceeding expectations in areas such as interacting with clients and candidates/participants in a “value added” way and co-interviewing candidates. In the case of executive search, third-party sourcing/pre-referencing must be routinely done and properly documented in Quest.
Flawless writing of (as applicable) position specifications, candidate presentations or assessment/development reports, progress and reference reports. The Senior Associate candidate will have mastered assessment and understand the difference between ideal experience and critical leadership capabilities as evidenced in documents they have produced. In addition, documentation should be free of typos and grammatical errors and be client ready. Note: for the volume and type of required documentation to be presented to the Senior Associate Nominations Committee, please refer to Criteria and Guidelines documents for Senior Associate Promotions.
Role Model Quality Standards
Adherence to all Spencer Stuart policies and practices as outlined in the Red Book. Has mastered and routinely adheres to the Firm’s standards related to candidate/participant assessment and validation, including (as applicable) third party sourcing and pre-referencing and capturing important qualitative information in Quest. Candidates on assignments where the associate served as Primary Associate will be expected to be properly validated and documented in Quest.
Consistently high performance evaluations, CSS reviews, successful search outcomes and quality scores; recognized and supported by core stakeholder group as meeting, if not exceeding, the criteria for Senior Associate.
International
International mind set and ideally will have experience managing cross-border client engagements.
Language
Fluency in English (written and spoken); additional language skills will be an advantage.
Fluency in English (written and spoken); additional language skills will be an advantage.
CRITICAL CAPABILITIES
Project Management
Takes the lead in managing the search/engagement process and oversees collective team efforts to drive cadence and flow of client outcomes. Successful Senior Associates are trusted by consultants and are given and welcome increasing responsibility, with a high level of multiple and complex projects. They will achieve this through:
- Time and Project Management, having capacity, a sense of urgency, anticipating challenges and remaining calm under pressure
- Accountability and Initiative, taking responsibility for certain aspects of client and candidate handling and assuming ownership of projects/deliverables
Candidate Development
Consistently develops qualified and interested candidates for portfolio of searches. Successful Senior Associates will quickly develop excellence in search strategy to build strong contact management lists and do this through their:
- Problem-solving, anticipating complexities and being proactive and creative in addressing them to optimise client success
- Judgment and Insight, drawing on their expertise to provide insight for accurate decision-making
Credibility and Influence
Communicates effectively both in writing and verbally; has "gravitas"(executive presence) and is able to build relationships. Successful Senior Associates make an immediate and long-lasting impression on others and will do this through:
- Influence, as a trusted advisor both internally and externally where their opinion is sought out by clients, candidates and internal teams.
- Communication, able to navigate complex, senior executive interactions with confidence, poise and agility as well as being able to challenge others to change or adapt to new approaches or ideas.
Market and Candidate Knowledge
Obtains and incorporates knowledge to enhance client work in a meaningful way. Knows how to get information, effectively uses resources including Quest. Successful Senior Associates will have deep candidate pool knowledge and the ability to build and share knowledge, which can also help drive Business Development opportunities and intellectual capital initiatives, by having:
- Distinct Industry/Function/local market Expertise, sought out as a subject matter expert with the ability to be creative in identifying new and additional sources.
- Business & Organizational Acumen, able to speak the language of business and understanding the context of businesses and their place in the wider competitive market
Developing Self & Others
Develops self and others; seeks and provides feedback, coaches and mentors to improve team performance and productivity; modifies own performance or behavior based on feedback. Successful Senior Associates are constantly growing, learning and enhancing their skills and capabilities. They will do this by being:
- Receptive and Responsive to Feedback, seeking that feedback and modifying their behaviour accordingly as well as demonstrating their commitment to career growth by looking for coaching and development from a variety of people.
- An active and sought-after Coach and Mentor, collaborating and delegating in such a way that the team feels empowered and engaged, setting an example and creating opportunities for others to develop
Firm Values
Champions the Firm’s values, culture and Code of Conduct; engages, participates and collaborates with others. Successful Senior Associates, who people like working with and who may also have some kind of leadership role, do this through:
- Teamwork and Collaboration, helping to drive the team towards common goals.
- Building Affiliation within a global internal network, seeking opportunities to engage in cross-border work and/or making an “above and beyond” contribution to the Firm’s knowledge of a candidate pool.
- Championing Firm Values, being supportive of Firm initiatives, willing to volunteer and participating in Firm activities.