Research Associate – Talent Acquisition

ghSMART

18d • $95,000 - $105,000 • Remote

About The Position

We are seeking a high-caliber Research Associate to support our global consultant hiring efforts. This is an in-house, search-caliber role that blends market mapping, talent intelligence, and insight generation with structured first-round candidate conversations. You will partner closely with the Talent Acquisition & People team, consultants, Partners, and Hiring Committees, serving as an internal “go-to” resource for relevant talent markets, role archetypes, or geographies. You will develop deep familiarity and calibration over time, serving as a source of continuity, insight, and perspective across multiple hiring efforts.
Success in this role requires intellectual curiosity, executive presence, and structured, insight-oriented thinking, along with the ability to synthesize large volumes of information into clear, decision-ready perspectives. You’ll be expected to exercise sound judgment and pattern recognition, collaborate effectively with senior stakeholders, and operate comfortably upstream in high-stakes hiring decisions, where rigor, discretion, and clarity of thinking materially influence outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a respected institution required; advanced degree (MBA, MA, etc.) preferred but not required.
• Approximately 2–4 years of experience in executive search, in-house recruiting, consulting, or other research-intensive professional services roles.
• Demonstrated strength in primary and secondary research, market mapping, and insight synthesis.
• Preferred experience using LinkedIn Recruiter and other market intelligence, research, and contact-enrichment tools (e.g., ATS platforms such as Lever; ZoomInfo, Lusha, RocketReach, or similar).
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to engage senior internal stakeholders and experienced candidates with confidence and professionalism.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, global environment.
• Strong analytical skills, sound judgment, and discretion.

Responsibilities

• Conduct market mapping, organizational analysis, and competitive research to surface relevant talent, inform internal hiring strategy, and build long-term pipelines.
• Formulate and execute research-driven sourcing strategies to proactively identify, engage, and approach high-quality, diverse candidate pools across priority markets and roles.
• Develop deep familiarity with assigned talent markets and serve as a trusted internal expert and keeper of relevant information and resources.
• Ensure candidates are market-validated, systematically capturing and synthesizing insights gathered through research and candidate conversations.
• Conduct structured first-round screening interviews with experienced candidates, assessing fit, trajectory, and judgment.
• Produce clear, insight-driven candidate summaries and research briefs to support internal hiring stakeholders and Hiring Committees.
• Support the full internal hiring lifecycle, from upfront role calibration and market research through candidate evaluation and decision support.
• Work closely with consultants, Partners, and People-team colleagues to calibrate profiles, align on priorities, and refine hiring strategy.
• Effectively and clearly articulate ghSMART’s value proposition in candidate conversations, tailoring the message to what is most important to each candidate.
• Collaborate across regions to leverage global perspectives, share market insights, and maintain consistent assessment standards.
• Maintain high-quality, well-structured documentation and ensure rigorous capture of insights to build long-term institutional knowledge.

Benefits

• annual discretionary performance bonus
• 401(k) plan with an annual employer contribution
• comprehensive benefits package

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level