Associate, Advancement Practice

Isaacson, Miller (IM), a national retained executive search firm specializing in leadership recruitment in the civic sector, seeks to hire an Associate and Senior Associate to its advancement practice area who will contribute to the growth of the advancement recruiting team and the conduct of the firm’s work. These are exciting opportunities for talented individuals dedicated to the success of mission-driven organizations, drawn to the intellectual demands and professional pace of executive recruiting, and motivated to have an impact on the caliber and diversity of leadership in organizations that advance the common good.

Since its founding in 1982, Isaacson, Miller has been committed to strengthening and diversifying the leadership of mission-driven organizations. A belief in the power of exceptional leadership and an unwavering commitment to service excellence, integrity, and impact animate the firm. IM enjoys a nearly 83 percent returning-client rate and completes more than 300 search assignments each year across the entire civic sector. IM has practices in higher education; healthcare and academic medicine; science and technology; PreK-12 education and education improvement; conservation, environment, and natural resources; associations and foundations; arts and cultural organizations; human and social services agencies; and advocacy organizations.

Isaacson, Miller’s more than 225 staff members share a fundamental commitment to its clients’ missions, motivating them to continue to achieve outstanding results. IM’s work is guided by the following ideals and principles that drive business forward and to which the company is held accountable:

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Craft excellence
• Intellectual curiosity
• Generous collegiality
• Support of growth opportunities
• Social impact
• Transparency

These core values anchor Isaacson, Miller and the firm’s aspirations for the future. They guide firm strategy, client service, teammate recruitment, day-to-day interactions, and the firm’s drive for continuous improvement.

For more information about the firm, please visit: www.imsearch.com

THE ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATE ROLE

Isaacson, Miller’s associates are organized into teams for the purposes of community-building, development, and staffing. IM is currently recruiting an Associate and Senior Associate to join the advancement practice, which spans higher education, healthcare, environmental institutions, independent schools, and a range of other philanthropic organizations. The team is co-led by Managing Partner Jack Gorman, based in Massachusetts, and Rachel Ellenport, based in California, and operates nationally with team members located across the country to meet the needs of its broad client portfolio. The advancement practice consists of more than a dozen team members, including associates, search coordinators, reference specialists, and practice management support staff.

Associates are talent recruiters, relationship builders, writers, and project managers. They support the project work of Partners who build client relationships, develop business, and ensure the successful and high-quality completion of each search.

Over time, Associates undertake additional responsibility and have the opportunity to progress in the firm and build their own niche areas within the practice. As Associates continue to expand and grow their competencies, breadth of experience, and level of independence, they can progress to the Senior and Managing Associate levels.

Associates carry several search projects simultaneously, each on their own timeline, and are involved in all stages of the search process. They collaborate with the Partner and/or Managing Associate in developing and executing research and networking strategies, recruiting and screening candidates, conducting candidate references, managing due diligence, overseeing search timelines, and preparing for and participating in client presentations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ASSOCIATE ROLE

Advancement practice Associates carry an average search-load of five to seven searches at a time, working on matrix teams with a Partner and Search Coordinator – occasionally joined by a Managing Associate or Senior Associate. Associates are expected to perform the following tasks:

• • Scope the position with the client through in-depth listening sessions with the Partner to gather essential information, including the nature of the role, the challenges facing the organization, and the client’s ambitions for moving the organization forward. Concurrently, the Associate is generally expected to write, edit, and proofread much of the first draft of the position profile.

• • Develop a deep and diverse pool of candidates through exhaustive research and accurate and persuasive phone communications, followed by timely email communications, with sources and prospective candidates. The advancement practice is unique in its high-touch, personalized approach to networking by phone versus blast emails. In a typical week, Associates may be making upward of 50-100 outreaches by phone across their searches. This work is supported by the use of IM’s proprietary database. In concert with the Partner, the Associate is expected to develop and implement networking strategies for each search, remaining flexible in their approach to ensure appropriate responses to client and market feedback.

• • Cultivate and evaluate prospective candidates with respect to their organization, industry, and the needs of a particular client, moving them through the search process strategically and efficiently, with a clear plan for next steps. Associates assess candidate credentials and credibility, both on paper and through in-depth phone and Zoom interviews. Simultaneously, Associates steward candidates through all stages of the search process, checking in regularly, assessing for any new obstacles, and ensuring their interest continues to grow.

• • Present the pool to the client via Zoom (occasionally, in-person) meetings. In consultation with the Partner, the Associate drafts memos and supplemental documents and is responsible for the accuracy, clarity, concision, relevance, and consistency of the information and materials presented.

• • Manage the flow of knowledge obtained during a search regarding candidates, sources, and clients by regularly updating the firm’s database. In addition, Associates must routinely brief Partners on the overall progress of a search, market feedback, and individual candidate situations. Alongside Search Coordinators, Associates also oversee the flow of candidate information to the client.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SENIOR ASSOCIATE ROLE

In addition to the core responsibilities outlined above, the Senior Associate operates with greater autonomy and is expected to take ownership of key components of the search process. Senior Associates are expected to:

• • Prepare near-final drafts of position profiles that require minimal Partner editing, demonstrating superb written communication skills.

• • Play a leadership role, alongside the Partner, on in-depth candidate interviews conducted via Zoom, drawing out nuanced insights and synthesizing findings to inform client discussions. Leveraging sound judgment, Senior Associates are especially instrumental in developing and presenting candidate assessments.

• • Lead select external meetings, including client check-ins and listening sessions with key constituents at the launch of a search.

• • Engage more directly with clients, including occasionally leading portions of, if not most of, client meetings and managing follow-up communication. Additionally, Senior Associates contribute actively to search strategy by synthesizing market insights and candidate feedback into clear recommendations.

• • Support and guide Associates informally on project work, modeling strong execution and professional judgment.

• • Increase participation and leadership in firmwide community engagement and development opportunities.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE | QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

The advancement practice seeks an Associate and Senior Associate who are collaborative, team-oriented, and highly self-motivated.

Associate

Candidates for the Associate position must possess a bachelor’s degree, one to four years of progressively responsible professional experience (experience in development and/or alumni relations is a plus), and many of the following qualities:

Communication

• Confidence and interest in high-volume phone outreach, approaching phone-based communication with professionalism, warmth, and discipline.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Maturity and discretion in maintaining strong relationships with multiple constituencies, often involving issues of confidentiality.
• The ability to build rapport with people at all levels of an organization.

Judgment and Knowledge

• • The capacity to extract and persuasively articulate the ambitions of and challenges facing client organizations.
  • The ability to evaluate the accomplishments, credibility, and organizational alignment of prospective candidates using evidence-based assessment.

Organization and Project Management

• • The ability to take initiative and work independently, but also to know when to ask for guidance.
  • Excellent time management skills and the ability to juggle competing priorities and consistently meet deadlines in a fast-paced and client-focused environment
  • Conscientiousness in producing high-quality work and attending to detail.

Team Orientation

• • A collegial and collaborative disposition and the inclination to learn from and offer assistance to colleagues.
  • Intellectual curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
  • Relational talent and an engaging personality.
  • Intellectual curiosity and a genuine interest in human connection; a desire to understand a person’s story, what challenges they have overcome, what impact they have had, and what motivates them.
  • Honesty, openness, a low ego, and a healthy sense of humor.

Senior Associate

Candidates for the Senior Associate position must meet the qualifications for the Associate role; possess seven or more years of progressively responsible professional experience, ideally in recruiting or talent management; and bring many of the following additional qualities:

Communication

• • Superb client and candidate management skills and a track record of building trust with external constituencies, many of whom are senior and high ranking in complex institutions.
  • Exceptional presentation skills and public speaking experience to a wide range of audiences.

Judgment and Knowledge

• • Sound judgment when faced with client or candidate concerns that have ethical implications.
  • Superb analytical skills and the ability to present probing, insightful questions to clients and candidates.
  • The ability to develop and execute a search strategy with limited Partner support.

Organization and Project Management

• • Experience undertaking, managing, and completing simultaneous projects with limited supervision and clear competing deadlines
  • A track record of success delivering results in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Team Orientation and Leadership

• • Experience indirectly leading or motivating teams in a highly-matrixed environment.
  • The ability to effectively manage up to senior leaders with varying preferences and communication styles.
  • A track record of investment in the professional development of colleagues across levels and functions.

APPLICATION, COMPENSATION, AND BENEFITS

Please visit www.imsearch.com/IMcareers to learn more about the opportunities offered at IM, and to submit application materials in confidence. Applications should include a resume as well as a cover letter explaining your interest in Isaacson, Miller and the role.

As an employee-owned firm, IM offers competitive compensation and benefits, including a non-contributory health and dental offering as well as participation in a profit-sharing pension plan and an employee stock ownership plan.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

IM is an equal opportunity employer and strives to create a safe work environment for its employees free of discrimination and harassment. IM hires the most qualified individuals for each position, and does so without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), sex stereotyping (including assumptions about a person’s appearance or behavior, gender roles, gender expression, or gender identity), gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, ancestry, medical condition, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected status of an individual or that individual’s associates or relatives. This Equal Employment Opportunity policy applies to all areas of employment for all employees.