Principal Consultant - #2167042

Principal Consultant

Executive Search

Leeds - office-based four days a week

Salary, up to £100,000 depending on experience

This is a rare opportunity to work directly alongside the founder of an established executive search business, as their genuine number two. You will see how the business is won, delivered and run, first-hand, from the person who built it, and step by step take ownership of search delivery and business development.

The business sits within a wider multi-office recruitment group with clear plans for growth over the next year, including expanding its Leeds practice. Whoever takes this role will be central to that growth, not watching it from the side-lines.

They specialize in filling C-suite, Chair, and Non-Executive Director roles, typically operating in the £130k+ search market alongside handling high-level interim management solutions across multiple key sectors.

The company

An established executive search firm led by an entrepreneurial founder with offices across the UK.

• Established executive search business, with the founder still hands-on in the day to day running of the division.
• Part of a wider group with multiple brands and offices.
• A boutique, supportive culture.
• Performance judged on billings, not micro-managed activity KPIs.
• Defined growth plans for the next year, including additional hires in Leeds and across the wider business.

The role

You will start by working shoulder to shoulder with the founder, shadowing how searches are pitched, run and closed. As you establish yourself, you will take on more of the delivery, and over time move into driving new business.

• Shadow and assist the founder across live search assignments.
• Support the delivery of executive search work from brief through to appointment.
• Progressively take ownership of business development.
• Play a central part as the Leeds practice grows.
• Based in the Leeds office four days a week.

Who this would suit

An experienced professional who wants to be close to decision-making, with a clear route to more responsibility.

• A minimum of five years’ relevant experience.
• Dynamic, credible and comfortable working closely with a senior founder.
• Ambitious to grow into business development as well as delivery.
• Motivated by billings and results rather than activity targets.
• Able to commit to the Leeds office four days a week.

What’s on offer

A role with real proximity to the top of the business and the room to grow with it.

• Flexible salary, with previous appointments at this level reaching up to £100,000.
• Direct, day-to-day exposure to the founder and how the business is run.
• A clear route from delivery into business development.
• A boutique, supportive culture where billings matter more than KPIs.
• The chance to grow with a business that has defined expansion plans.

All applications are handled in strict confidence. Contact Rec2Rec Search for a confidential conversation.

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