Senior Associate, Consumer Practice (Retail, Direct to Consumer, Apparel & Luxury Goods)

Spencer Stuart•Stamford, NY

4d•$150,000 - $170,000

About The Position

Spencer Stuart is seeking a Senior Associate for its Consumer Practice, focused on the Retail, Direct to Consumer, Apparel & Luxury Goods sectors. The role partners with core Consultants on Chief Executive Officer, Board Director, and other C-level functional executive searches. Senior Associates take ownership of multiple client engagements and search or assessment/advisory processes, applying project management, industry or functional expertise, judgment, assessment skills, and a commitment to high-quality delivery. The Senior Associate identifies and assesses executive talent, validates candidates, and prepares insightful, client-ready documentation. The role involves regular participation in candidate and client interactions, contributing candidate insight and market or subject-matter expertise. It requires strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with internal teams, clients, candidates, senior executives, and board members. The position is ideally based in New York, Stamford, or San Francisco. Senior Associates build recognized expertise in an industry, function, or geographic candidate pool; contribute to business development and firm knowledge management; and lead search execution under the guidance of a Consultant. They also contribute to the firm and local practice, support colleagues’ development, maintain accurate assignment information, and uphold firm policies and values. Total compensation includes a base salary of $150,000–$170,000, a discretionary performance-based bonus, and healthcare benefits.

Requirements

Progressive Associate or equivalent experience in executive search, leadership advisory, management consulting, or another professional services environment.
Record of strong performance demonstrated through successful outcomes, increased responsibility, project leadership, title progression, or selection for high-priority or complex assignments.
Experience developing industry, functional, or subject-matter expertise; consumer, retail, or an adjacent industry is preferred.
Experience leading numerous concurrent projects with competing deadlines in a fast-paced professional services environment.
Ability to deliver high-quality outcomes with urgency, ownership, independence, and the ability to create structure amid ambiguity.
Experience preparing client-ready deliverables, presentations, assessments, and progress reports for senior executive audiences.
Regular exposure to client discussions and active contribution to presenting findings or recommendations.
Experience collaborating across a matrixed organization with clients, candidates, and colleagues across functions, geographies, or teams.
Experience contributing beyond core project work, such as mentoring, business development, practice initiatives, or internal firm projects.
Fluency in written and spoken English.
Undergraduate degree required.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing expertise in the consumer, retail, or an adjacent industry.
Additional language skills.
Postgraduate degree.

Responsibilities

Build industry, functional, or geographic expertise and contribute market information and potential candidate profiles to business development materials and client discussions.
Own and maintain a defined candidate pool, contribute to knowledge management, and proactively build candidate and market knowledge.
Lead assignment execution by defining search strategy, coordinating resources, managing timelines, and taking ownership of deliverables.
Draft position specifications and proposals following client briefings.
Source prospects, conduct pre-reference calls, assess experience and capabilities, and present qualified candidates.
Conduct initial assessments or co-interview candidates with the Consultant, and prepare candidate presentations with evidence-based assessments.
Take formal references on final candidates with the Consultant and prepare reference reports.
Participate in client briefing meetings and contribute market and subject-matter insight to search strategy.
Liaise with clients, prospects, and candidates as appropriate, maintaining communication and a seamless experience alongside the Consultant.
Prepare information for client progress reports and meetings in partnership with the Consultant and Executive Assistant.
Keep assignment, company, and candidate information up to date in Quest for colleagues.
Contribute to practice, office, regional, and firm initiatives, including business development, knowledge sharing, marketing, and other activities.
Coach and mentor junior colleagues and participate in learning, development, and firm projects.
Follow firm policies and standards for candidate validation, documentation, and assessment, and demonstrate professional behavior consistent with firm values.