Senior Director Retained Executive Search - UK

About Modern Executive Solutions

Modern Executive Solutions is a fully integrated talent management consultancy with a specific focus on developing diverse, modern leadership teams. We provide services that include talent and organization strategy, culture and change management, leadership assessment and development, and executive search. Everything we do is forward-looking and focused on creating modern organizations, leadership teams, and leaders. We are headquartered out of Atlanta, Georgia but work on a remote-first basis with employees across the United States and a team also in Europe. As a part of our embedded purpose to change lives for the better, we donate 10% of our annual profits to charities that support youth and education in order to develop the diverse talent of tomorrow.

In just five years, Modern has grown to over $40m in revenue (experiencing 40% YoY growth) and partnered with 200+ Fortune 500, FTSE, and European 100 businesses. We maintain an average fee of £150k and also operate the largest CHRO community in the world with 400+ members, exclusively from companies generating over $4bn in revenue.

Location: Hybrid - one day in the office in London required

The Role

We are seeking a Senior Director to join our European retained executive search practice. Your primary practice would be the Europe regional team, with a secondary alignment with the global HR practice. This is a high-accountability role for an experienced executive search professional who wants to own search delivery and executive for complex, enterprise-level searches across a variety of clients, and to start developing client accounts and carving an industry niche of their own. We operate a clear, merit-driven approach and roadmap to client ownership based on impact not tenure. You will have the opportunity to work both on European and US roles, building a transatlantic network and operating across multiple industries.

This role will involve:

• End-to-end involvement in search delivery and execution – owning research and market mapping strategy, candidate management and playing an active role in client management across multiple retained searches
• Front-of-client exposure and a voice in shaping search strategy
• Direct engagement with CHROs, CEOs, and Board level executives across industries
• Close partnership with Senior Partners and Managing Directors on high-profile search engagements

This role will give you the opportunity to:

• Become a trusted advisor to our existing client network
• Become an expert in your particular function or sector, taking an active role in business development meetings and starting to build your own network of client relationships
• Mentor and develop Associates and Associate Directors
• Support the continued growth of the European business, maintaining our high standards of quality, rigor, and execution

Directors typically manage six concurrent searches and deliver approximately 14+ searches annually.

What We’re Looking For:

• 6+ years in retained executive search or senior-level executive recruiting
• Experience managing multiple concurrent executive searches
• Demonstrated ownership of research strategy, market mapping, and candidate management
• Experience contributing to client management – leading update calls, providing insight and advice on sector/functional alignment and culture fit
• Some experience leading engagements end-to-end
• Strong executive presence and communication skills
• High standards for quality and accountability
• A can-do attitude, optimistic and high energy in approach
• A passion for the job and your sector/functional alignment
• 2+ European languages preferred (one being English)

Why Modern?

• Purpose-Driven Work: Join a team that is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and gives back to the community by donating 10% of annual profits to support underserved youth and educational opportunities.
• Impactful Projects: Contribute to meaningful projects that positively impact clients’ organizations, communities, and the development of diverse leaders.
• Professional Growth: Gain exposure to various aspects of the business, with opportunities for mentorship, leadership development, and career advancement.
• Flexibility & Balance: Benefit from a flexible remote work environment, paid parental leave, and an office setup stipend to support your work-from-home needs.

Our Values

• Be Bold: Think strategically, seeing implications and creative paths. Innovates commercially – seeks to understand client perspective to drive impact. Innovates internally - seeks to improve processes, procedures, and technology used within and across their teams.
• Be Excellent: Deliver client ready work, with attention to detail, raising the bar of expectations within team and with data integrity to include the use of all company tools and systems.
• Be United: Be an inclusive ‘team player,’ willing to support, develop and ‘go the extra mile’ to deliver impact with others.
• Be Authentic: Demonstrate awareness, coachability and a desire to grow with continuous improvement.

Modern Executive Solutions is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, religion, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, national origin, age, disability status, veteran or military status or care-giver status.

The pay range for this role is: 90,000 - 110,000 GBP per year (London, United Kingdom)