Job title: Executive Search Associate (Research, Delivery & Ops)
Location: Remote (UK), with occasional travel to Bristol, Cheltenham or London
Type: Part-time (3 days a week)
Join Barker Owen as our first hire
After an exciting first year we are excited to be hiring our first Executive Search Associate to support us across a mix of research, delivery and some interesting (if we say so ourselves) business operations - think AI experimentation, creative design and event management (online/offline).
We - Sam Barker and Dave Owen - have spent our careers leading Talent and Executive Search at companies like Dyson, the BBC and Aston Martin Formula One. Today, we run Barker Owen, a boutique executive search and talent advisory company based in the South West. Our clients range from global brands to fast-growing companies across the UK, Europe, the US and South East Asia.
Our mission is to build the hiring company we always wanted when we were hiring leaders ourselves. We are proud to work as trusted partners to our clients applying world-class hiring practices inspired by decades of experience in-house.
The role
This is a broad, hands‑on role at the centre of the business. It combines responsibilities of an Executive Search Researcher, Coordinator and a Chief of Staff. Day to day you’ll work closely with both co‑founders on a range of things from live searches and advisory projects we're delivering to future plans we have for the business.
What you’ll do
- Build market maps and target company lists for nuanced, often global search briefs and/or business development planning
- Source candidates through the very latest sourcing technology, LinkedIn, our CRM and direct research
- Produce a variety of research materials for clients - from compensation benchmarking to talent pool or location analysis
- Be a key point of contact for executive‑level candidates going through our hiring process when we're not available or they need quick support or information
- Always provide exceptional levels of service and communication
- Coordinate interviews with senior stakeholders, often across multiple time zones
Delivery & operations
- Write high‑quality candidate assessment reports for C‑suite stakeholders by utilising our assessment findings and transcripts
- Prepare shortlist packs, progress updates and client‑ready documents
- Act as chief of staff to the co‑founders: managing priorities, helping with meeting prep, confirming follow‑ups
- Own our Google Workspace, CRM and AI tools, and help us to keep improving them so we're always on the bleeding edge and experimenting
- Support business development planning, plus our brand and content work: events, webinars, video and LinkedIn
About you
- In‑house talent acquisition or executive search experience is highly desirable but not essential
- You’ve worked with senior or executive‑level stakeholders and have the judgement and discretion that comes with it. This is essential, but the setting you gained it in doesn't matter so much to us
- You’re an excellent writer, able to produce clear, balanced, well‑evidenced reports for board‑level readers
- You’re ultra‑organised and detail‑focused, comfortable juggling several projects at once
- You’re confident with technology and keen to push what's possible with new tooling
- You care about what you do, set high standards and love to learn new things and teach others new things
- An interest in content creation and design (Canva, Squarespace) is a nice bonus
What we offer
- Remote working, with flexibility in how you structure your week. We tend to work remotely but also have co‑working space in Bristol (opposite Bristol's finest bakery) or will spend an afternoon together onsite somewhere interesting to run a planning session etc.
- 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays and pension contribution
- Development shaped around you, whether that's growing into business operations leadership or running your own searches as an Executive Search Partner
- A genuine commitment to work‑life balance. We believe people do their best work when they're trusted, supported and empowered, and you'll have all three.
