Graduate Executive Search Associate

Salary: £28,000 basic salary OTE £35,000 Year 1

Location: Leeds city centre - Office-based

Start date: As soon as possible

Are you ambitious, resilient and looking for a graduate career where your progression is directly linked to your performance?

Who is the Company?

Our client is a fast-growing executive search firm specialising in the Private Equity market.

They partner with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to identify and secure senior executive talent, including CEOs, CFOs and COOs.

The business is entering its next stage of growth, with an initial goal of reaching £10 million in revenue. To achieve this, they are building a new generation of high-performing graduates into specialist Private Equity executive search professionals.

This is not a traditional recruitment role. No previous recruitment, executive search or sales experience is required. Instead, the business is looking for ambitious graduates who want to learn quickly, perform at a high level and build a long-term career.

What You'll Be Doing

This is a fast-paced, performance-focused role supported by an intensive 9-month development programme.

• Speak directly with CEOs, CFOs, COOs and other senior leaders across Private Equity-backed businesses.
• Conduct high-volume outreach through phone, email and LinkedIn.
• Build relationships with senior executives and develop an understanding of their businesses, careers and ambitions.
• Work towards clear performance targets and measurable goals.
• Take part in daily role plays, call reviews, coaching and structured learning and development.
• Develop the commercial, communication and relationship-building skills required to become a specialist executive search professional.

You will receive regular feedback, clear expectations and significant investment in your development from the outset.

Requirements

• A first-class degree or strong 2:1.
• Evidence that you have invested in yourself outside of your degree.
• No previous recruitment, executive search or sales experience is required.
• You must have full right to work in the UK, including UK or Irish citizenship, indefinite leave to remain, or settled status.

What Are They Looking For?

• Someone motivated by ambitious goals and measurable success.
• Confidence speaking with senior professionals over the phone.
• The resilience to handle rejection, feedback and challenging targets.
• Someone who thrives in a fast-paced, high-performance environment.
• A willingness to continuously learn, improve and act on feedback.
• High standards for both your own work and the people around you.
• Someone comfortable taking ownership of their performance and progression.

Why Should You Apply?

• First-year OTE of approximately £35,000-£45,000.
• Second-year OTE of approximately £60,000-£80,000.
• A structured 9-month development programme.
• Daily coaching, role play, call reviews and ongoing training.
• The opportunity to speak with CEOs, CFOs and COOs from the beginning of your career.
• Significant earning and progression potential for high performers.
• Join a growing business at an important stage of its expansion.

Is This Role Right for You?

This is a performance-driven environment where targets and standards matter.

You will be making outbound calls every day and will be expected to become confident speaking with senior executives.

The business operates heavily within the US market, meaning there will be occasions when later working hours are required.

Feedback is direct, specific and action-focused, and performance data is used extensively to identify where individuals can improve.

For someone who enjoys being challenged, wants their progression to be based on performance and is motivated by significant long-term earning potential, this could be an exceptional graduate opportunity.