The Role

The Associate Director leads core components of retained executive searches within our Technology Practice.

This is a research-led role including candidate first-round interviews. You are responsible for defining the target market, executing rigorous market mapping, building accurate and high-quality pipelines, and engaging candidates directly through structured first-stage interviews. You contribute to candidate assessment discussions and slate development.

Associate Directors typically manage ~5 concurrent retained searches.

Team Structure

Searches are typically staffed with a three-person team. Most often, this includes a Senior Partner, a Managing Director (or Senior Director), and an Associate Director. In some cases, the team may consist of a Partner, a Senior Director, and an Associate Director.

As the Associate Director, you lead research and market mapping and conduct first-round candidate interviews and early-stage candidate development. You work directly with senior leadership on search strategy, target identification, and candidate evaluation.

Because teams are small and accountability is clear, scope and responsibility are visible. Progression from Associate Director to Director is based on demonstrated capability and readiness rather than tenure, and can occur more quickly than in larger, more layered search firms where advancement is often tied to structure or time in seat.

Scope of Responsibility

• Lead research strategy, including systematic market mapping and target company identification
• Build and maintain high-quality candidate pipelines
• Achieve 80%+ mapping accuracy through disciplined and creative sourcing methods
• Conduct first-round candidate interviews
• Contribute to structured candidate assessment and slate construction
• Produce client-ready candidate summaries and search materials
• Maintain disciplined search workflow and data integrity

Your work directly impacts market coverage, pipeline strength, and candidate quality.

Experience / At-Level Expectations

• Demonstrated ability to manage ~5 concurrent retained searches with consistent quality and pace (approximately 12+ searches annually)
• Proven strength in research strategy and systematic market mapping
• Track record of building accurate target company lists and candidate pipelines, achieving 80%+ mapping accuracy
• Experience conducting first-round candidate interviews and contributing to structured candidate assessment
• Ability to independently draft client-ready materials with minimal edits
• Strong discipline in maintaining accurate search workflow within an ATS
• Experience supporting VP, SVP, or C-suite searches

Technology search experience is helpful but not required. We are open to outstanding researchers from retained executive search firms with a strong interest in building depth within technology leadership markets.

We will also selectively consider executive search researchers or executive recruiters from in-house executive recruiting teams supporting VP, SVP, or C-suite hiring within technology companies or large, complex enterprises (e.g., Fortune 500 organizations). This may include executive-level technical recruiters who have experience engaging senior technology leaders.

Candidates should demonstrate rigor in market mapping, structured candidate assessment, and executive-level engagement.

Why Modern?
• Purpose-Driven Work: Join a team that is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and gives back to the community by donating 10% of annual profits to support underserved youth and educational opportunities.
• Impactful Projects: Contribute to meaningful projects that positively impact clients' organizations, communities, and the development of diverse leaders.
• Professional Growth: Gain exposure to various aspects of the business, with opportunities for mentorship, leadership development, and career advancement.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy a robust benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, along with a 401(k) match.
• Flexibility & Balance: Benefit from a flexible remote work environment, paid parental leave, and an office setup stipend to support your work-from-home needs.

Our Values
• Be Bold: Think strategically, seeing implications and creative paths. Innovates commercially - seeks to understand client perspective to drive impact. Innovates internally - seeks to improve processes, procedures, and technology used within and across their teams.
• Be Excellent: Deliver client ready work, with attention to detail, raising the bar of expectations within team and with data integrity to include the use of all company tools and systems. Motivated by excellence to the benefit of clients and our firm.
• Be United: Be an inclusive 'team player,' willing to support, develop and 'go the extra mile' to deliver impact with others. Proactively develops trusting relationships both within and outside our firm.
• Be Authentic: Demonstrate awareness, coachability and a desire to grow with continuous improvement. Motivated by a personal purpose aligned with our firm's mission and values. Is accountable for delivery of client ready work.

The pay range for this role is: 90,000 - 100,000 USD per year with a 10% annual target bonus (Remote)