Associate, Life Sciences

We are mission-driven to advance wellbeing across the Quality of Life ecosystem through impactful leadership. Come join us!

THE ROLE

The Associate’s primary role is to manage the initial candidate identification and development process. As a vital member of the search team you will have the ability to network with professionals and assist them in achieving their career objectives in organizations committed to improving the quality of life, assess a candidate’s skills against a client’s needs, and collaborate with colleagues across the firm.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively participate in and/or lead the search process including, but not limited to, working with clients and search committees, sourcing, interviewing, conducting references, negotiating, and closing assignments.

• Build, manage, and/or nurture client and candidate relationships with a goal of repeat business.

• Participate in and/or lead client calls and meetings.

• Prepare materials for client meetings and presentations.

• Ability to build and maintain strong client relationships.

• Support search consultants in the execution of search engagements. This includes creating search engagement strategies necessary to identify outstanding candidates and then executing the candidate identification and profiling processes through a variety of primary and secondary sources.

• In conjunction with the search consultant and client, develop an effective and compelling presentation to market the role and client company to prospective candidates. Communicate position profile to potential candidates.

• Understand the client position needs thoroughly, and execute accordingly, contacting, identifying, and screening candidates for the position "fit," from a content and functional perspective.

• Participate in candidate development. When appropriate, will manage candidates through the search process, including candidate interviews, candidate presentations, and referencing.

• Conduct preliminary phone screen evaluations of candidates and assess a candidate's skills against a client's needs through a telephone interview.

• Proactively network and seek out the candidates in an expeditious and most cost effective manner.

• Work closely with lead consultants as well as Research and Data Management.

The Associate will be expected to accomplish the following in the first 12 months:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the full search process.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the role a WittKieffer Associate plays in the search process.

• Carry a full search load (approximately 10 searches).

• Have the ability to travel, as needed.

• Demonstrate ability to appropriately assess potential candidate eligibility through telephone screening.

• Be seen by others as collaborative.

• Live the WittKieffer values.

• Gain a firm understanding of the industry their practice operates.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree is required; Master’s strongly preferred.

• 3+ years' experience in executive search, research capacity, recruitment, or industry related experience.

• Significant previous experience and skill working with computer systems, databases, email, etc.

• Strong assessment skills.

• Strong communication skills (verbal, written, and listening).

Critical Competencies:

• Strong Work Ethic: Search work activities and project outcomes often are defined by criteria outside of an Associate's span of control.  An Associate's level of effort and thoroughness of process are factors that are proportional to a successful outcome.

• Team-Based and Collaborative: A successful search involves a team comprised of Administrative Staff, Researchers, Data Managers, Associates, Consultants, and other personnel who support operations. It is essential that everyone be aware of the value of each member's role and be quick to award credit.

• Action-/Results-Oriented: Focused on the outcome of personal and teamwork; does not get bogged down in process; enjoys working hard and seizing opportunities; pushes self and others for results.

• Customer-Focused: Concerned for and dedicated to satisfying external and/or internal customers; works hard to understand needs of customers and can adjust work style and products accordingly.

• Priority Setting: Spends own and other's time on what is important; zeroes in on critical few and puts "the many" aside; demonstrates good time management skills.

• Assessment Skills: Has a nose for talent; can articulate strengths and weaknesses of people after short exposure; can separate performance and potential; makes accurate appraisals of others.

• Process Management: Manages multiple activities simultaneously; uses resources effectively and efficiently; creates processes to manage workflow and; gets more out of fewer resources.

• Ethics and Values: Models firm values during both bad and good times and reinforces the right values in others.

• Listening: Attentive and active listener; hears people out; allows others to participate in conversations without dominating; gets the point of what others are saying.

• Results-Orientated: Adherence to identified process is important, but timeliness of work product and search completion within the client's parameters is key.

• Self-Starter: Each senior associate assumes the role of project manager. An individual more comfortable with being given a systematic timetable will not be successful in this environment where initiative is key to success.

Witt/Kieffer Inc. ("Witt/Kieffer") provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. WittKieffer will recruit, employ, train, promote and compensate our employees without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, citizenship, gender, pregnancy, military status, age, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual identify, disability or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law. WittKieffer will endeavor to make reasonable accommodation, as required by law, for qualified individuals with known disabilities or religious practices unless doing so would result in an undue hardship on the operation of our business.