French Speaking Research Associate

Preferred Location: London W1 (Hybrid) (or France with regular travel to London office)

Adamson & Partners has a long-standing history of serving the French market. As we continue to grow this strategic practice, we are seeking an experienced, fluent French-speaking Research Associate to support our France-based assignments (and French speaking assignments) as well as our European/global mandates.

This is a key and critical role where you would be supporting partners/consultants with some aspects of business development relating to the French speaking business and more globally. You would help partners/consultants identify opportunities, map markets and client organisations, and support the full life cycle of executive search assignments, developing a deep understanding of both the market and the client's strategic needs.

This role offers bespoke and curated internal career development and progression to consultancy if desired, alongside the opportunity to play a key part in the continued growth of our substantial French business.

Reporting: Senior Director, Head of Global Research

Responsibilities

• Research & Assignment Delivery
  • Support the delivery of executive search assignments by identifying and engaging with target candidates across France, the French speaking and broader European markets.
  • Collaborate with partners/consultants to refine search strategy.
  • Using your emotional intelligence and ability to conduct screening conversations that establish a ‘safe space’ and assess a candidate’s suitability through trust-based screening conversations.
  • Carry out candidate screening, qualifying, curation, interview preparation and draft supporting analyses and search documentation.
• Business Development Support
  • Work in partnership with partners/consultants to identify and qualify potential new clients and potential business leads in France and in the French speaking markets.
  • Support pitch preparation and attend occasional client meetings in France and in French speaking markets.
• Client & Market Engagement
  • Attend client meetings and industry events in France and Europe where appropriate.
  • Develop and maintain a network of market contacts across the legal, intellectual property, compliance and privacy sectors.
  • Act as an ambassador for A&P representing our values and commitment to quality.
• Knowledge Sharing & Collaboration
  • Contribute to internal briefings, newsletters and team development sessions.
  • Support Research needs in other European markets as required.

Essential Qualifications & Skills:

• Fluent in both French and English (written and spoken); able to conduct candidate calls and write reports in both languages.
• 2–3 years’ experience in executive search or recruitment, ideally with exposure to the French market.
• Strong commercial mindset with a desire to support business development initiatives.
• Excellent phone manner; confident and professional in making first approaches.
• Strong research, analytical and communication skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Experience using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
• Self-motivated, proactive and capable of working independently while collaborating with a wider team.
• Comfortable attending occasional in-person meetings in London and across France and French speaking markets.

Remuneration and benefits:

• Basic salary negotiable according to experience.
• Hybrid working.
• Annual discretionary bonus.
• Pension, healthcare and life insurance.
• Holidays - 25 working days, plus birthday and statutory holidays.