Managing Director - HR Practice

Modern Executive Solutions

13h•Remote

About The Position

Modern Executive Solutions is seeking a high-impact Managing Director to lead the execution of retained executive search engagements with rigor, judgment, and credibility. This role is central to the success of each search, owning the day-to-day execution of the engagement and helping clients navigate to the right leadership decision through a thoughtful, consultative approach. Working under the guidance of a Senior Partner, the Managing Director is accountable for running a successful search process from kickoff through close. This person will shape the search strategy, lead and motivate the research team, build trust with the client’s hiring stakeholders, and ensure the engagement remains on track even when conditions become complex or challenging. The right person brings strong executive search execution skills, commercial judgment, and the emotional intelligence to know when to support, when to challenge, and when to elevate issues in a client’s process that may be limiting the outcome.

Requirements

Significant experience in retained executive search or a closely related advisory environment.
Proven ability to run complex executive search engagements with substantial client exposure and project ownership.
Strong search strategy skills, including role shaping, target identification, market mapping, and candidate assessment.
High emotional intelligence and strong interpersonal judgment.
Excellent business acumen—with broad understanding of companies, industries and/or functions (particularly with publicly traded companies in the US and European markets)
Confidence to challenge clients constructively when needed, without damaging trust or momentum.
Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and direct research teams through ambiguity and adversity.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to synthesize information clearly and influence senior stakeholders.
Strong project management discipline, attention to detail, and commitment to execution.
Sound judgment in knowing when to handle an issue directly and when to involve a Senior Partner.
A consultative mindset with a strong bias toward accountability and outcomes.
Credible
Calm under pressure
Direct but tactful
Commercially astute
Highly accountable
Resilient and persistent
Collaborative
Client-oriented without being client-led
Motivating leader
Strong listener
Naturally curious and eager to learn

Nice To Haves

Clients hire modern leaders who achieve success as defined by a clearly articulated success profile
Leaders placed are retained beyond average tenures for the function/role.
Positive client experience leads to follow-on work across Modern’s service lines

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end execution of executive search engagements with the sponsorship and mentoring of a Senior Partner and supported by an Associate for research and candidate development.
Drive momentum throughout the engagement, keeping workstreams moving with pace, discipline, and accountability.
Partner closely with the Senior Partner, escalating client management challenges when appropriate while maintaining primary ownership of search execution.
Maintain high standards of quality, professionalism, discretion, and follow-through across every stage of the engagement.
Ensure a high-quality candidate experience and a professional, well-managed process from first outreach through completion.
Act as a consultative advisor to clients, helping them refine role specifications, assess talent, and navigate key decision points.
Identify weaknesses, gaps, or inefficiencies in the client’s hiring process and challenge constructively when those issues may compromise the search outcome.
Synthesize market intelligence and candidate feedback into actionable insights for clients and internal stakeholders.
Build trusted relationships with the client hiring team through consistent communication, sound judgment, and credible counsel.
Lead Research team to translate client needs into a clear, practical, and differentiated search strategy.
Lead the research team to develop target company lists, market maps, candidate pipelines, and search insights.
Motivate and direct the research team through difficult stretches of a search, especially when progress is slow or market feedback is challenging.