Spencer Stuart is seeking to recruit an Associate for the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Product Officer sub-practices within the Technology Officer Practice. This position offers the opportunity to partner with a close team on senior-level searches, including Chief Product Officer, Chief Technology Officer, SVP/EVP Engineering and Product, General Manager, President, and CEO assignments. As a core member of the search team, the Associate will engage with clients and candidates throughout the search process, with primary responsibility for identifying, assessing, and developing diverse, high-caliber candidate slates. The role combines research, candidate and client advisory, strategic thinking, and relationship management to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients.
Successful candidates will demonstrate strong problem-solving and project management skills, excellent work ethic, intellectual curiosity, attention to detail, and a results-oriented mindset. Working with internal and external senior-level stakeholders, Associates are expected to develop deep expertise in the product and engineering leadership landscape and become trusted advisors throughout the search process.
The Associate must be based in San Francisco. The firm values an apprenticeship culture, so being present in the office at least two days per week is expected for close collaboration with the core team. Particularly during the early stages, it’s helpful to spend extra time in the office to learn effective execution, build relationships, interact with colleagues, and take part in the local office community.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to:
Technology Officer Practice Leader
Consultants (on an assignment basis)
Primary team:
Muthiah Venkateswaran - North America Technology, Media & Telecommunications Practice Leader, Product Sub-Practice Leader, Core member of Engineering and Product Practices
Christian Daniels – Engineering Sub-Practice Leader for Technology, Media & Telecommunications Industry, Co-Founder of Product Sub-Practice, Core member of Engineering and Product Practices
Samuel Feinberg – Core member of Engineering and Product Practices
Other key relationships:
Associate Practice Leader
Market Leader
Analysts, Associates, Senior Associates, and Consultants
EEA’s
Talent Partner
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Be a key part of the client leadership team and own the research for each project end to end.
- Take ownership for identifying, developing, assessing candidates and keeping an active pulse for candidates in the market including proactively collecting back channels to identify best talent for every role.
- Partner with Consultant to deliver excellent outcomes. Help to manage the entire search process – including pitching potential assignments, helping executive teams and boards define the ideal candidate profile, market research and interviewing, candidate presentation, candidate experience, and assignment close – for a broad range of clients across the technology and non-technology landscape.
- Help to manage and continue to develop multiple key client relationships at once for tier-one venture backed and private equity backed organizations as well as Fortune 500 companies.
- Prepare organized information for client updates/meetings by teaming with the Consultant and the EEA. Provide an informed perspective on prospects/candidates and how they match against the key selection criteria.
- Contribute actively to the start-up phase of each search by participating in client kick-off meetings with the Consultant and assisting in the development of the position specification, search strategy and target list of companies.
- Gather relevant information regarding the appropriate industries and target companies. Identify potential prospects and sources and represent the client effectively in the marketplace, discussing the opportunity with relevant executives.
- Validate, and further assess, potential candidates through reference and source calls.
- Partner with the Consultant to develop and present a slate of qualified candidates to each client. Anticipate what needs to drive the search to closure, stay ahead of deliverables, and be prepared to supply additional information, such as related industry/segment trends, market findings, reaction to the opportunity, compensation data, etc., gained during the course of a search.
- Contribute to the preparation of position specifications, candidate presentations and reference reports adhering to the Firm’s assessment methodology.
- Communicate effectively with the Consultant and EEA, and remain fully abreast of search developments, in order to communicate accurately and credibly regarding the assignment.
- Be aware of activities and management changes in the engineering and product functions; keep team members apprised of relevant developments in the marketplace.
- Add to the firm’s candidate pool expertise by continually identifying and introducing new talent to the firm. Ensure that up to date assignment, company and candidate information during the course of an assignment is always available for colleagues, by leveraging technology and information from the firm’s state-of-the-art, proprietary database.
- Contribute to responses to inquiries for new business, as well as business development initiatives.
- Be willing and proactive about contributing to local, practice or firm-wide initiatives. Coordinate and share practice related information with colleagues for potentially broader distribution.
IDEAL EXPERIENCE
- 3+ years of progressive experience in technology-focused executive search or technology recruiting experience within a top-tier professional services environment.
- Demonstrated passion for technology and enthusiasm for building deep expertise in Product and Engineering. Candidates should bring technical fluency or an engineering foundation, coupled with intellectual curiosity, a strong learning orientation, and the drive to quickly develop expertise in the space.
- Superior project management skills demonstrated through experience working in a high-performance environment where multiple projects and competing demands are the norm
- Advancement of skills and knowledge evidenced through promotion or tenure
- Excellent communication skills shown through clear, structured and concise written and verbal presentation
- Undergraduate degree required, postgraduate degree a plus
CRITICAL CAPABILITIES FOR SUCCESS
Credibility and Influence
Communicates effectively both in writing and verbally; has "gravitas" (executive presence) and is able to build relationships. Able to hook candidates and convince consultants to meet them, building a strong internal brand:
- Interacts with a range of internal and external stakeholders and candidates with differing styles and egos, understanding and appreciating what is important to each.
- Becomes a credible and authentic professional by observing colleagues and emulating role models.
- Adapts verbal and written communications according to expectations for role and audience, specifically how to be confident, succinct, concise, prepared and professional.
Candidate Development
Develops qualified and interested candidates for portfolio of searches. A successful Associate will develop excellence in search strategy canvasing the market and identifying the strongest target prospects:
- Observes and asks questions to fully understand the issue; synthesizes information from a variety of internal/external sources, despite possibly having ambiguous or incomplete information.
- Gathers relevant data from a variety of sources, including views gathered through Third Party Sourcing (TPS), to help determine broad capabilities, gaps, qualifications/fit; articulates reasons for fit to spec in a succinct manner.
- Determines priority of which potential candidates to approach.
- Adds meaningful notes into internal systems, diligently uses latest technology tools to track all candidate engagement.
Market and Candidate Knowledge
Obtains and incorporates knowledge to enhance client work in a meaningful way. Knows how to get information, effectively uses the available firm resources, developing and sharing candidate pool knowledge:
- Identifies executive movements in the market and updates internal systems (ideally in real time) and colleagues; asks questions and shows interest in networking.
- Has a genuine interest in/curiosity about people and businesses; and has an understanding of businesses and their interrelationships.
- Understands how to identify and navigate the various relevant sources available (internal/proprietary and external such as LinkedIn, ZoomInfo, Pitchbook, etc.).
Project Management
Plans, manages and drives own efforts to identify and develop a slate of quality candidates as measured by consultant, client and candidate feedback. The successful Associate will do this while handling multiple projects with competing deadlines, working with individuals who have differing styles, and managing challenging expectations:
- Takes an end-to-end view of each project and the required resources; works at pace and with attention to detail while managing competing deadlines and priorities; has a sense of urgency.
- Understands the search process (from internal kick-off to referencing); asks questions to understand; and is proactive.
- Works on multiple projects; meets deadlines and is resilient under pressure; delivers on commitments on time or notifies as early as possible if deadlines will slip.
- Demonstrates enthusiasm, tenacity and intellectual curiosity; action-oriented; deals with problems immediately.
- Is results focused and flexible; demonstrates a strong work ethic and resiliency.
Developing Self and Others
Develops self and others; seeks and provides feedback, modifies own performance or behavior based on feedback. A successful Associate is constantly growing, learning and enhancing his/her skills and capabilities:
- Seeks and is open to feedback from colleagues, placing value on self development efforts; seeks opportunities for growth.
- Invests in learning
- Incorporates new tools and technology; adapts to process changes that increase efficiency and maintain quality.
- Dedicates time to the development of Analysts and actively supports others in reaching their full potential.
Firm Values
Champions the Firm’s values, culture and Code of Conduct; engages, participates and collaborates with others. A successful Associate, who people like working with and who may over time also have a leadership role:
- Accepts others’ opinions and encourages teamwork.
- Brings cultural awareness and sensitivity to each interaction with colleagues.
- Participates actively and contributes to internal activities; engages with office and practice.
- Represents Spencer Stuart well by speaking positively about the Firm and aligning behavior to Firm values.
- Conducts themselves in a way that is consistent with the Firm’s values.
Total compensation for this role includes several components, including a generous performance-based discretionary bonus, excellent healthcare benefits, and a starting base salary range of $100,000-$130,000.
