Senior Associate, Consumer Practice (Retail, Direct to Consumer, Apparel & Luxury Goods)

SENIOR ASSOCIATE ROLE
Spencer Stuart is seeking to recruit a Senior Associate for the Consumer Practice. This Senior Associate will have the opportunity to help solve Chief Executive Officer, Board Director, and other C-level functional executive searches, while working in partnership with several core Consultants, in the Retail, Director to Consumer, Apparel & Luxury Goods sectors.
Senior Associates are highly valued members of the Spencer Stuart team who are recognized for the quality of their work and impact related to delivering high quality results – consistently. Senior Associates are expected to work proactively and effectively on multiple client engagements through taking ownership of the search or assessment/advisory process. This includes having exemplary project management skills, industry and/or functional domain expertise, judgement and assessment skills, and commitment to the highest quality delivery orientation. With excellent communications and assessment skills, Senior Associates will demonstrate consistently their skill and capability in identifying and bringing forward candidates, conducting in-depth assessments of business experiences and professional capabilities of top executive talent, properly validating all candidates, and preparing insightful, client-ready documentation. The role of Senior Associate requires an individual with strong interpersonal skills who enjoys the challenge of working internally in a team based environment and externally with a variety of candidates and clients, as well as diverse, senior-level executives and board members. Senior Associates have earned a “seat at the table” in candidate and client interactions and are regularly contributing to discussions with candidate insight or market and/or subject matter expertise.
The Senior Associate will ideally be based in New York, Stamford, or San Francisco.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to:
Consumer Practice Leader
Consultants (on an assignment basis)
Other key relationships:
Associate Practice Leader
Market Leader
Analysts, Associates, Senior Associates, and Consultants
EEA’s
Talent Partner
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Build a Platform - strong industry or functional domain or subject matter expertise
The Senior Associate will be recognized as an expert in an industry, functional or geographically based candidate pool. He/she may be sought out for advice and input during the business development stage or in the client meeting itself, based on his/her depth of experience in a specific industry, function or geography. He/she will:
Contribute to the Firm’s knowledge management activities by owning and working a defined candidate pool both proactively and during the course of normal search work.
Contribute to qualifications packages by providing market information and potential profiles to demonstrate capability and knowledge of industry or functional area.
Deliver Quality
With strong assessment skills, Senior Associates will regularly draft position specifications and/or proposals following the initial client briefing, interview pre-qualified candidates/assessment participants along with the Consultant, create [long list] progress reports and draft candidate presentations or assessment/development reports including third party views (or references in the case of LAS reports). If the search Senior Associate has met the candidate, he/she may participate in taking selected references under the guidance of a Consultant. He/she will:
Demonstrate ownership of the assignment/LAS engagement, define the search/assessment strategy, coordinate resources and meet all timelines.
Assist in drafting the position specification/proposal on designated assignments/engagements following the client briefing.
Develop and present outstanding prospects by routinely conducting third-party source/pre-reference calls (search only) and thoroughly assess experiences and critical capabilities for success.
Co-interview candidates/participants with the Consultant and draft candidate presentations or assessment and development reports with evidence of assessment against experience and capabilities.
In conjunction with the Consultant, take formal references on the final candidate, where the Senior Associate has had a significant level of interaction with that individual (search only).
Communication and Impact
Senior Associates often participate in client meetings and candidate interviews and, during the course of a search or advisory engagement, will be responsive to client enquiries in the absence, or under the direction, of a Consultant. He/she will:
Actively participate in client briefing meetings with the Consultant and contribute to the development of the search/engagement strategy, providing insightful advice in client meetings based on market or subject matter expertise and demonstrating outstanding relationship building and communications skills.
As appropriate, liaise directly with the client and maintain dialogue with prospects/candidates/participants regarding the search/advisory engagement, ensuring that clients and candidates/participants experience a seamless model when working with the Consultant and Senior Associate.
Prepare information for the client progress report and other meetings by teaming with the Consultant and Executive Assistant, anticipating the information needs of others and providing an informed perspective on the market and the prospects/candidates/participants.
Role Model
Senior Associates are expected to be role models and good citizens to strengthen our People and Culture and make a broader contribution to the Firm. Senior Associates are viewed as go-to individuals and willing volunteers and they will have actively participated in contributing to the local office, practice or Firm development. He/she will:
Ensure up-to-date assignment/engagement, company and candidate/participant information during the course of an assignment/engagement is available for colleagues through appropriate use of Quest.
Actively contribute to practice/office/region/Firm with a global mindset (eg business development, knowledge building and sharing, best practice sharing, intellectual capital, marketing events, social activities etc.)
Develop self and others (eg being involved in or leading learning and development initiatives, mentoring, regional/global projects or other relevant activities for the Firm)
Adhere diligently to Firm policies and standards for candidate validation, documentation and assessment as well as demonstrating professional behavior and living our values (including adherence to Red Book, Quest policies etc.)
IDEAL EXPERIENCE
Progressive Associate or Associate-equivalent experience with executive search, leadership advisory, or another professional services firm environment.
Has established domain and/or subject matter expertise; ideally in consumer, retail or an adjacent industry.
Demonstrated experience managing a high volume of concurrent projects with competing deadlines, consistently delivering high-quality outcomes with a strong sense of urgency.
Consistently operates with a high level of ownership and independence, proactively shaping project direction, creating structure from ambiguity, and confidently stepping into leadership roles with clients and internal teams when needed.
Experience preparing client-facing deliverables, presentations, assessments, or reports for senior executive audiences, with regular exposure to client discussions and presentation of findings or recommendations.
Recognized as a top performer through a combination of successful project outcomes, increasing levels of responsibility, title progression, distinctive project leadership, or selection for high-priority and complex assignments.
Experience building trusted working relationships with senior stakeholders, clients, candidates, and colleagues across functions, geographies, or teams.
Experience contributing beyond core project execution through mentoring junior colleagues, supporting practice initiatives, participating in business development activities, or leading internal firm efforts.
International, cross-border, or globally-oriented project experience is preferred.
Fluency in English (written and spoken); additional language skills are an advantage.
Undergraduate degree required; postgraduate degree preferred.
CRITICAL CAPABILITIES
Project Management
Takes the lead in managing the search/engagement process and oversees collective team efforts to drive cadence and flow of client outcomes. Successful Senior Associates are trusted by consultants and are given and welcome increasing responsibility, with a high level of multiple and complex projects. They will achieve this through:
Time and Project Management, having capacity, a sense of urgency, anticipating challenges and remaining calm under pressure
Accountability and Initiative, taking responsibility for certain aspects of client and candidate handling and assuming ownership of projects/deliverables
Candidate Development
Consistently develops qualified and interested candidates for portfolio of searches. Successful Senior Associates will quickly develop excellence in search strategy to build strong contact management lists and do this through their