Associate

Role summary

This Associate role is based in Singapore and centers mainly on executive search, with a secondary focus on leadership advisory services. The position calls for someone who can manage several client assignments at once, keep work moving smoothly, and maintain a high standard of quality throughout the process. Success in the role depends on strong project coordination, a proactive mindset, ownership of tasks, and the ability to work effectively with internal teams and senior external stakeholders.

In executive search, the Associate will assess senior talent by combining strong communication skills with the ability to evaluate experience and professional capability against client needs. Over time, the role is also expected to build deep knowledge of candidate markets across specific industries, functions, or geographies.

In the leadership advisory space, the Associate supports consultants through the delivery of client engagements from early-stage business development and proposal work through assessment, development, recommendations, and feedback. The role also contributes to internal learning, the use of proprietary culture-related offerings, and the ongoing development of practice capabilities.

Key relationships

This position reports to the Research Director and works with consultants on a per-assignment basis. It also collaborates closely with the Office Manager, Consultants, Research Team, and Executive Assistant Team.

Responsibilities

• Support the launch of search assignments by joining client kick-off discussions and helping shape the search strategy and target company list.
• Contribute to winning new business by sharing benchmark profiles and background market insight when needed.
• Research industries and target organizations to identify suitable prospects, potential sources, and relevant market information.
• Represent the client professionally in the market, while maintaining strict confidentiality and helping build a broad, qualified candidate slate.
• Provide timely context on market trends, compensation, candidate reactions, and other search intelligence that helps move assignments forward.
• Stay closely aligned with consultants, associates, and executive assistants so search updates are communicated accurately and credibly.
• Help prepare clear, organized progress updates and meeting materials, including informed input on candidate fit against client criteria.
• Keep assignment, company, and candidate records current in the firm’s proprietary database, including detailed assessment notes.
• Track changes in business and sector dynamics, and gradually build expertise in a defined candidate pool, industry, function, or geography.
• Contribute to local, practice-level, and firm-wide initiatives, and share relevant information for broader knowledge management use.
• Follow firm policies and standards for candidate validation, documentation, assessment, and professional conduct.
• Support leadership advisory engagements through deep-dive assessments of executives, teams, and organizations, and help produce written outputs based on findings.
• Contribute across the engagement lifecycle, from proposal and business development work through advisory recommendations and final feedback.
• Act as a subject matter resource on proprietary culture products and solutions and help educate internal colleagues about them.
• Participate in internal efforts related to leadership advisory product development and practice infrastructure building.

Candidate profile

The ideal applicant has at least 4 years of experience in executive search, leadership advisory, strategy consulting, or corporate HR/organizational development work, especially in roles involving multiple priorities and competing deadlines. Exposure to psychometric tools is a strong advantage. An international outlook and experience working across borders are preferred.

Strong written and spoken English is required. Additional languages are beneficial, especially in markets where local language knowledge matters. A bachelor’s degree is required, and an advanced degree is preferred, particularly in Psychology, Organization Development, or Human Resources.

Critical capabilities

The role requires strong project management, the ability to work at pace, a disciplined approach to deadlines, and resilience under pressure. The Associate should be proactive, thorough, action-oriented, and comfortable dealing with issues quickly and independently.

Credibility and influence are also essential: the person should communicate clearly and professionally, build trust with a wide range of stakeholders, and present with executive presence. The ability to adapt communication style to different audiences is important.

In addition, the candidate should be able to gather and use market and candidate intelligence effectively, identify relevant executive movements, and make strong use of internal and external research resources.

Personal characteristics

• Comfortable adapting to different client and colleague styles.
• Highly organized, with strong prioritization skills.
• Careful with confidential information and sensitive documentation.
• Curious, learning-oriented, and eager to grow knowledge.
• Able to handle several competing demands at the same time.
• Sound judgment, good decision-making, and the ability to work independently.
• Proactive in preventing issues before they arise.

Additional information

Candidates must complete an application through the employer’s own website to be considered. Applications that are not received through that route cannot be reviewed.

Equal opportunity statement

The employer follows an equal opportunity and affirmative action approach and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, creed, color, religion, gender, pregnancy or related medical conditions, national origin, immigration status, ancestry, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by law.