At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead C-suite searches and build client relationships in healthcare, education, or not-for-profit sectors.
- Company: Join a top executive search firm with a fun, ambitious culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, commission structure, wellness support, and flexible working.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with clear career progression and mentorship opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape leadership in impactful sectors while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in executive search or recruitment, strong communication skills, and ambition to grow.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 72000 £ per year.
Are you ready to run your own mandates at C-suite level? Do you want to build a career in retained search, not just support someone else's? Are you looking for a firm that will back your ambition with the platform to match?
About Us
Compass Carter Osborne is the industry’s highest profile provider of board level executive search within independent health and care services. Part of Compass Recruitment Solutions (CRS), a market-leading recruitment business focused on the Health, Care, Education, and Life Sciences sectors. We are a founder-led and investor backed, with a values-driven company culture where ambition, collaboration, and a sense of fun are at the heart of everything we do. Our teams are encouraged to thrive, achieve their full potential, and enjoy the journey along the way.
As an award-winning Executive Search provider (HealthInvestor Search Firm of the Year, 2022, 2024 and 2026), we are the go-to partner for critical C-suite and senior-level hiring. Our clients include leading care providers, private equity investors (and their portfolio companies), and high-net-worth individuals who trust us to find the very best talent for their businesses.
The Opportunity
Due to continued growth and success, we are seeking a Principal Consultant to join our Healthcare, Education or Not for Profit practice in our London office. This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious search professional ready to take their next step, whether that’s moving from a research or 180 delivery role into a full-cycle billing desk, or joining a specialist, market-leading firm where you can build a genuine career in retained executive search.
If you are a Senior Researcher, Associate Consultant or 180 Consultant at a larger search firm and you know you are capable of more, more client exposure, more ownership, more reward, this role has been designed for you. Equally, if you are already operating in a full 360 or Principal-level capacity but feel your current firm isn’t giving you the platform, the sector specialism, or the quality of mandates to match your ambition, we would like to hear from you.
At CCO, you won’t be left to figure it out alone. You will work alongside Partners and Directors who have built some of the most recognised careers in executive search, on mandates that genuinely shape the leadership of PE-backed and privately-owned non-profit organisations. The structure here is built to develop you, from your first retained mandate through to Director and beyond.
The successful candidate will focus on one of 3 sectors, continuing their journey to become one of the most trusted search professionals in their specialised sector. With this in mind, you can see our priorities within each sector below.
- Health and Social Care Services: Our practice is CCO’s flagship vertical. We work across the full spectrum of investor-backed healthcare, primary and secondary care, adult social care, senior living, consumer health, and health and wellness, placing CEO, CFO, COO and board-level leadership into businesses backed by private equity, family offices, and high-net-worth investors.
- Education: Our practice focuses on the private and specialist education sector, K12 independent schools, private school groups, specialist SEND providers, and PE-backed education platforms. We place CEO, CFO, COO, Managing Director, and board-level leadership into businesses where education meets commercial ambition, organisations backed by private equity, family offices, and institutional investors who expect their leadership teams to deliver both outstanding outcomes and commercial performance.
- Not-for-Profit: Our practice sits deliberately outside the traditional public-sector charity space. We work with commercially-minded not-for-profits, organisations with sophisticated governance, hybrid revenue models, corporate funding, and boards that expect their leadership hires to be held to the same commercial standard as their portfolio-company counterparts. This focuses on trading subsidiaries, membership bodies with commercial arms, PE-backed social impact platforms, and the growing category of not-for-profits being run like businesses.
Key Responsibilities
- Retained mandate delivery, owning and delivering C-suite and senior leadership searches end-to-end, from briefing through to shortlist, interview management, offer and placement.
- Business development, contributing to the growth of the practice by identifying new client opportunities, attending events, and building your personal profile in the sector.
- Client relationship development, building trusted relationships with PE investors, company boards, service providers, and operators in your specialist sector, supported by senior colleagues as you grow your own client base.
- Candidate identification and engagement, using headhunting, market intelligence and your developing network to identify and engage the best leadership talent across private and specialist organisations in your sector.
- Market mapping and sector insight, building deep knowledge of the investor-backed landscape, including providers, tech organisations and associated companies in the sector, and becoming a credible voice in your market.
- Collaboration, working closely with researchers, peers, and senior consultants across CCO to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients and candidates.
About You
We’re looking for someone with the intellect, curiosity and commercial instinct to thrive in retained executive search, and the ambition to build a long-term career at a firm that will genuinely invest in their development.
- Experience in executive search or recruitment in your specialist sector, you are currently working as a Researcher, Senior Researcher, Associate Consultant, or 180 Consultant within an executive search firm, or you have a background in specialist recruitment in your sector and are ready to step into retained search.
- A desire to step up, you want to own mandates, hold client relationships, and be accountable for delivery, not sit behind a desk waiting for someone else to bring you the work.
- An affinity with your sector, whether through direct experience recruiting into the private sector, or through a genuine interest in the investor-backed sector market and a willingness to learn fast.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills, you are confident engaging with senior leaders and can hold a credible, professional conversation at board level.
- Drive and resilience, you are motivated by results, comfortable with the pace of a high-performing team, and ready to put in the work to build something.
- A collaborative mindset, you thrive in a team environment, contribute to the culture, and want to be part of something bigger than your own desk.
What we offer
- Competitive salary & commission structure.
- Simply Health Cash Plan.
- Gold Standard Investors in People, with clear career progression, wellness support, and personal development opportunities.
- Quarterly company events & a vibrant social calendar.
- Increasing annual leave allowance.
- Early finish every Friday and flexible working with a central London base.
Why Join Compass Carter Osborne?
At Compass Carter Osborne, you’ll be part of a truly market-leading team at an exciting stage of growth. You’ll work alongside experienced consultants who are passionate about their sectors, in a business that has built a reputation for excellence.
As a Principal Consultant, you will have a defined career pathway through to Director and Partner, with the mentorship, mandate quality, and market position to get there. The education sector is one of the fastest-growing areas of PE investment in the UK, and CCO is at the centre of it, this is a chance to build your career in a market with genuine momentum.
All approaches will be treated in the strictest confidence. Ready to make your mark in executive search?
London Compass Carter Osborne (Part of Compass Recruitment Solutions)
Compass Carter Osborne is part of Compass Recruitment Solutions, Great Place to work certified, Investors in People (Gold), ISO 9001 and Cyber Essentials accredited.
Principal - Not for Profit / Education / Healthcare in London employer: Compass Carter Osborne
Compass Carter Osborne is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where you can take ownership of your role and lead impactful C-suite searches within the education sector. With a strong focus on professional growth, employees benefit from comprehensive platform support and a clear pathway to partnership, all while working in the vibrant city of London, known for its rich educational landscape and networking opportunities.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal - Not for Profit / Education / Healthcare in London
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Compass Carter Osborne.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Compass Carter Osborne.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Compass Carter Osborne.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Compass Carter Osborne. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal - Not for Profit / Education / Healthcare in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Compass Carter Osborne. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Principal - Not for Profit / Education / Healthcare, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Carter Osborne
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Compass Carter Osborne. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
