Associate, Advancement Practice

Isaacson, Miller • Boston, MA

4d • $80,000 - $100,000

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• experience in development and/or alumni relations is a plus

Responsibilities

• 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.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees