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- Tasks: Lead high-stakes C-suite searches and shape the firm's evolution.
- Company: Philanthrope is a co-owned executive search firm focused on long-term leadership solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy co-ownership, profit sharing, and a flexible, supportive work culture.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact in a collaborative environment while shaping future leadership.
- Qualifications: Experience in retained search at Principal or Partner level is essential.
- Other info: Join a firm that values trust, quality, and long-term relationships over transactional targets.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 ÂŁ per year.
Principal | Executive Search & Leadership Advisory
Principal | Executive Search & Leadership Advisory
1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants
Direct message the job poster from Philanthrope | Certified Co-op
Partner at Philanthrope | Trustee at Ways Into Work
Partner track: a co-owned firm for experienced professionals ready to build something lasting
A Structurally Different Firm
Philanthrope LLP is a cooperative executive search and leadership advisory firm, where co-ownership creates continuity, accountability, and deep client investment. We are trusted by investors, B Corps, and boards who want leadership decisions to serve the long term. Our consultants are co-owners, with a direct say in governance and a share in profits. Clients benefit from a stable, accountable team invested in long-term outcomes, not short-term transactions. We work with values-led organisations, from B Corps to responsible investors, to appoint and develop leaders who align purpose with performance and culture with governance.
Our approach combines a structured, five-stage search process with behavioural insight, co-ownership, and shared accountability, ensuring a rigorous, human-centred experience from role definition through integration. We don’t just fill roles. We help shape leadership that builds culture, serves stakeholders, and delivers lasting value — whether by strengthening board succession, aligning leadership with values, or supporting scale without losing integrity.
As a co-owned partnership, we operate with transparency, rigour, and integrity. Influence and value are shared, not concentrated. Members shape strategy, share profits, and take part in decisions that guide the future of the firm.
If you are serious about the craft but question the industry’s incentives, if you want to grow something principled, not just personal, this is a rare opportunity to help build a firm designed for long-term trust.
The Role
This is an opportunity to join Philanthrope at a thoughtful and purposeful stage in our development. We have strong client momentum, a growing portfolio of retained mandates, and a team committed to careful, long-term growth.
As Principal, you will lead retained C-1 search mandates and advise on high-stakes C-suite transitions. Just as importantly, you will help shape how we evolve — through systems, standards, and culture.
You will work across all aspects of the firm: delivery, design, and development. One day, you might build a psychometric evaluation brief. The next, draft governance diagnostics for a client. Then mentor a Consultant, contribute to a white paper, or refine our revenue attribution model.
This is a high-trust, high-autonomy role, ideal for someone who wants to do serious, meaningful work in a collaborative environment. You’ll often be engaged before a formal search begins, helping clients define leadership needs, assess organisational risk, and align stakeholders around the right decisions.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead search: Manage C-1 mandates from start to finish and support complex C-suite transitions.
- Build intellectual property: Shape frameworks, write thought pieces, and develop proprietary methods.
- Develop the firm: Improve systems, methodology, business development, and team capability.
- Contribute broadly: Mentor consultants, co-design client diagnostics, or refine our profit-sharing model.
- Act like a partner: Share insight, uphold quality, and help steward a firm you co-own.
Who You Are
You are a thoughtful, experienced professional who values substance over style and wants to do work that matters.
- You bring serious retained search experience at Principal or Partner level. Whether you are already established or ready to step into that level, we support progression with structure and trust.
- You think systemically about leadership, organisations, and value creation.
- You’ve advised boards, earned trust, and delivered in high-stakes contexts.
- You care about governance, culture, and long-term outcomes, not just placement.
You may not think of yourself as a salesperson, especially if you’re tired of transactional targets, narrow KPIs, or credit battles that reward noise over substance. Our growth is rooted in long-term relationships, not pressure-based origination. But you care deeply about trust, quality, and helping clients get leadership right. If you’ve ever thought, “I love the work, but not the industry,” this could be your next step.
What We Offer
- Co-ownership from day one: Every Principal becomes a cooperative member with a stake in governance, profits, and long-term direction.
- Progression with influence: Advancement brings a genuine voice in strategy and model design, not just a new title.
- Revenue-linked earnings: Remuneration is structured around attributable revenue, ensuring clarity and fairness. You are rewarded not just for origination, but for meaningful delivery, evaluation, and engagement.
- Profit share and strategic voice: You share in firm-wide profits and have a say in how we grow — structurally and financially.
- Autonomy and impact: You help shape both client outcomes and the firm’s evolution — structurally and culturally.
- Psychologically informed evaluation: Our approach combines behavioural science, narrative-led assessments, and AI-supported research, enabling us to assess leadership potential in context, not just credentials on paper.
- A serious but human culture: Grounded, flexible, and intellectually ambitious, without bravado or bureaucracy.
This is a home for thoughtful consultants who want to do the best work of their careers without compromising their values.
How to Apply
We don’t scale fast. We scale well, focusing on meaningful growth, long-term partnerships, and refining our model with every new engagement.
If you care as much about how a firm works as what it delivers, and want to build with people who share your standards, get in touch via LinkedIn or email hello@philanthrope.co.uk.
Feel free to include a short note on:
- What kind of leadership you believe the future needs
- Where you see search, or yourself, going next
What Makes Us Different
- Co-ownership over commission
- Leadership ecosystems over placements
If that resonates, we’d love to hear from you.
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Principal | Executive Search & Leadership Advisory employer: Philanthrope | Certified Co-op
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Philanthrope | Certified Co-op Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal | Executive Search & Leadership Advisory
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the executive search and leadership advisory space. Attend industry events, webinars, or workshops where you can meet potential colleagues or clients. Building relationships in this field can lead to valuable insights and opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the values and mission of Philanthrope. Understanding their focus on long-term trust and co-ownership will help you align your discussions and demonstrate how your experience and values resonate with their approach.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience in leading C-suite transitions and retained search mandates. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully navigated high-stakes contexts and contributed to organisational growth.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your understanding of governance and culture in your conversations. Highlight how you can contribute to shaping leadership that aligns with values and delivers lasting impact, as this is a key aspect of the role at Philanthrope.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal | Executive Search & Leadership Advisory
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Company Culture: Before applying, take time to understand Philanthrope's unique co-ownership model and values. Reflect this understanding in your application to show alignment with their mission of long-term trust and meaningful growth.
Tailor Your CV: Highlight your retained search experience and any relevant leadership advisory roles. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage high-stakes C-suite transitions and your understanding of governance and culture.
Craft a Thoughtful Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for leadership development and how you envision contributing to Philanthrope's mission. Discuss what kind of leadership you believe the future needs and how you see yourself evolving within the firm.
Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit: Emphasise your experience in collaborative environments and your ability to mentor others. Philanthrope values teamwork and shared accountability, so provide examples of how you've successfully worked with others to achieve common goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Philanthrope | Certified Co-op
✨Understand the Co-Ownership Model
Familiarise yourself with Philanthrope's co-ownership structure. Be prepared to discuss how this model influences decision-making and client relationships, as it’s a key aspect of their culture.
✨Demonstrate Long-Term Thinking
Showcase your understanding of long-term leadership strategies. Discuss examples from your experience where you prioritised sustainable outcomes over short-term gains, aligning with the firm's values.
✨Prepare for High-Stakes Scenarios
Be ready to discuss your experience with C-suite transitions and high-stakes advisory roles. Prepare specific examples that highlight your ability to navigate complex organisational dynamics.
✨Emphasise Collaborative Mindset
Highlight your experience in collaborative environments. Share instances where you’ve successfully worked with teams to shape strategy or improve systems, reflecting the firm’s emphasis on teamwork and shared accountability.
