Associate, Healthcare (Private Equity) at SSI (U.S.) Inc. d/b/a Spencer Stuart in Seattle, Washington

Job Description:

SSI (U.S.) Inc. d/b/a Spencer Stuart

Spencer Stuart is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer F/M/Disability/Vet/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.



Location: New York
Seattle

Full/Part Time: Full time

Req ID: R4116

Associate Role

Spencer Stuart is seeking to recruit an Associate, Healthcare Practice with a focus on Private Equity. This Associate will have a broad set of responsibilities focused on new business development, expanding existing client relationships, and eventually search execution of C-level and Board Director assignments. In addition, this person will serve as "Chief of Staff" and work closely with Spencer Stuart Partner, Lucinda Stewart. With exposure to a broad set of clients and leadership challenges, this Associate will help to identify new business opportunities, manage and coordinate internal teams to support client activity and develop diverse candidate slates as an essential member of the search team. The Associate role combines research, organization, assessment, and relationship-building skills to deliver extraordinary service and value to Spencer Stuart clients.

Successful candidates for the Associate position will have commercial acumen, strong project management, research and writing skills, results orientation, rigorous attention to details, intellectual curiosity and ideally, an understanding of the healthcare and/or private equity sectors. The Associate will enjoy the challenge of working internally with a variety of consultants, and externally with senior-level executives and board members. This Associate, over time, will be expected to acquire deep and insightful knowledge of the private equity landscape and candidate pools. We anticipate that year one this person will largely focus on new business development, expanding and coordinating activities within existing accounts and Chief of Staff responsibilities.

The Associate will ideally be based in New York but could potentially be in another East Coast city with a Spencer Stuart office presence or Seattle. There is an expectation of being in the office for a minimum of two days a week. In the early stages, it will be beneficial for the individual to spend more time in the office to build relationships, engage with colleagues and participate in the local office community.

Key Relationships

Reports to: Director of Associates

Practice Leaders

Other key Lucinda Stewart

relationships: Office Manager

Associates, Senior Associates, and Consultants

Analysts

EEAS

Key Responsibilities

New Business Development (~30%)

• Research and idea generation of new account planning, client targeting and market strategy. Help to identify and collaborate on strategy to open new Private Equity accounts (likely with a focus in the mid-market). The initial focus is likely to be in Digital Health, but the goal is to grow clients into multi-industry account coverage.
• Gather relevant information regarding the appropriate industries and target companies. Identify potential prospects and sources and represent the client effectively in the marketplace; validate potential candidates through reference and source calls.
• Partner with the Consultant to develop and present a slate of qualified candidates to each client. Anticipate what needs to drive the search to closure and be prepared to supply additional information, such as related industry/segment trends, market findings, reaction to the opportunity, compensation data, etc., gained during the course of a search.
• Communicate effectively with the Consultant and EEA, and remain fully abreast of search developments, in order to communicate accurately and credibly regarding the assignment.

Chief of Staff Responsibilities (10%)

• Track entire portfolio of work across BD and search execution. Help to identify priorities, key dates, deadlines and team needs. Work closely with EEA to align calendars around priorities and deadlines. Assist with the highest priority items in any given week. This person will be "the glue" between internal teams in how best to serve, expand, identify and open client relationships.
• Improve workflows, tracking systems and processes as needed based on efficiency, effectiveness and feedback from teams. Ensure alignment and coordination with other areas of Spencer Stuart.
• Liaise with PE Strategic Accounts Manager to contribute to and benefit from best practice materials and provide reporting on client status and outcomes for practice tracking.
• Identify key investor targets, track deal activity, support outreach, schedule/attend virtual meetings. Track activity and support Consultant relationships with VP and Principal level investors at both existing and priority targets.
• Manage PNB pipeline of opportunities and status of each. Track qualified leads, conversion rates to search/LAS opportunities/pre-deal, as well as assignment activity and success for current PE accounts managed by Lucinda Stewart. Serve in project manager capacity for PNB prep, taking lead role in mobilizing the team, especially managing internal operations and coordination. Manage the quals process end-to-end and develop best in class materials that will be shared across the PE practice.
• Collaborate with colleagues at Spencer Stuart to identify the best teams for assignments within the firm and research and track the data to know where Spencer's PE search qualifications are exceptional and match this to frame the ideal pitch for new opportunities.
• Help to support identifying opportunities for LAS work in new and existing PE clients and supporting business development efforts through sharing information on the PE account, portfolio, and identified needs with LAS colleagues.

Expanding Relationships with Current PE Firms (30%)

• To support account expansion and coverage with select clients, this role will track Lucinda Stewart's PE client portfolio, looking for obvious executive needs on new deals, potential LAS opportunities, and help manage Pre-Deal effort if / when they launch. They will conduct background research and prepare quals prior to meetings with deal MDs within client firms and would work closely with Lucinda to match PE deal members with the appropriate Spencer Stuart colleagues, tracking activity and ensuring strong communication for all working within client.
• Conduct market research and analysis to identify trends within the private equity landscape, providing insight and recommendations for clients regarding potential talent acquisition and leadership strategies.

Search Execution (~30% approx. after year one)

• Serve as Associate on select CEO, P&L/GM, board and CFO roles for digital technology companies; may need to provide additional support for select assignments in new PE relationships to ensure success.
• Contribute actively to the start-up phase of each search by participating in client kick-off meetings with the Consultant and assisting in the development of the position specification, search strategy and target list of companies. As the search progresses, effectively manage each progress milestone and client updates.
• Follow up on BD opportunities by working with EEA to schedule meetings, pitch strategy and preparation, production of materials, ensure the entire pitch team is prepared, and track follow up/success rate.
• Manage Lucinda's BD contact and touchpoint list; project manages BD initiatives where Lucinda is lead Consultant. Assist with IC development; serve as liaison with Marketing team to plan and project manage effort.
• Organize convening events which could be on the investor side or with C-level executives on specific topics of interest. Facilitate events from end to end, including planning, logistics, and follow up.

Ideal Experience

• 4+ years of progressive business experience in an expert network, executive search, strategy consulting, or a relevant professional services environment with significant time spent focusing on business development.
• Advancement of skills and knowledge evidenced through promotion or tenure.
• Superior project management skills demonstrated through experience working in a high-performance environment where multiple projects and competing demands are the norm.
• Excellent communication skills shown through clear, structured and concise written and verbal presentation.
• Undergraduate degree required, post-graduate degree a plus.

The base compensation range for this position is $100k -$120k per year. The actual base compensation offered within this range will be dependent on the individual's skills, experiences, and qualifications. This position will be eligible to participate in our annual discretionary bonus program.

Spencer Stuart also offers a competitive benefits package, which includes:

• Retirement savings plan with discretionary profit sharing contribution and employer match;
• PTO (minimum 15 days per year, increases with tenure), paid sick time (10 days per year), company holidays (12 days per year), and paid leaves of absence when applicable;
• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, and healthcare flexible spending account;
• Life Insurance, and short-term and long-term disability insurance;
• Wellness benefits, including an employee assistance program, virtual mental health program, and mindfulness program; and
• Voluntary benefit options, including supplemental life insurance, identity theft protection, and whole life insurance with long-term care and critical illness coverage.

Critical Capabilities for Success

Business Development/Commercial Acumen

Supports activity and outreach to develop and strengthen relationships to generate new business; sets high goals for self and others and acts to surpass these goals. Will do this by select targeting and tracking of potential clients and ensure the team is well prepared to discuss Spencer Stuart's qualifications and full set of service offerings. The expectation is that with most key PE relationships, we will provide quarterly reporting that captures all assignment activity and discussions underway.

Project Management

Plans, manages and drives own efforts to organize support business activity across the PE landscape for potential and existing clients, and active assignments. The successful Associate will do this while handling multiple projects/workstreams with competing deadlines, working with individuals who have differing styles, and managing challenging expectations:

• Takes an end-to-end view of each opportunity and/or project and the required resources; works at pace and with attention to detail while managing competing deadlines and priorities; has a sense of urgency.
• Understands the business development and search processes, asks questions to understand; and is proactive.
• Works on multiple projects; meets deadlines and is resilient under pressure; delivers on commitments on time or notifies as early as possible if deadlines slip.
• Demonstrates enthusiasm, tenacity and intellectual curiosity; action-oriented; deals with problems immediately.
• Is results focused and flexible; demonstrates a strong work ethic.

Candidate Development

Develop qualified and interested candidates for portfolio of searches. A successful Associate will develop excellence in search strategy to build strong candidate slates:

• Observes and asks questions to fully understand the issue; synthesizes information from a variety of internal/external sources, despite possibly having ambiguous or incomplete information.
• Gathers relevant data from a variety of sources, including views gathered through Third Party Sourcing (TPS), to help determine broad capabilities, gaps, qualifications/fit; articulates reasons for fit to spec in a succinct manner.
• Determines priority of which potential candidates to approach.
• Adds meaningful notes on Quest, diligently uses the initial assessment feature.
• Will provide outstanding candidate care and nurture long term relationships.

Credibility and Influence

Communicates effectively both in writing and verbally; has "gravitas" (executive presence) and is able to build relationships. Able to hook candidates, and present their backgrounds in a compelling manner both internally and with clients:

• Interacts with a range of internal and external stakeholders and candidates with differing styles and egos, understanding and appreciating what is important to each.
• Becomes a credible and authentic professional by observing colleagues and emulating role models.
• Adapts verbal and written communications according to expectations for role and audience, specifically how to be confident, succinct, concise, prepared and professional.

Market and Candidate Knowledge

Obtains and incorporates knowledge to enhance client work in a meaningful way. Knows how to get information, effectively uses the available Firm resources, developing and sharing candidate pool knowledge:

• Identifies executive movements in the market and updates Quest (ideally in real time) and colleagues; asks questions and shows interest in networking.
• Has a genuine interest in/curiosity about people and businesses; and has an understanding of businesses and their interrelationships.
• Understands how to identify and navigate the various relevant sources available (internal/proprietary and external such as CapIQ, ZoomInfo, Pitchbook, LinkedIn, etc.).

Developing Self and Others

Develops self and others; seeks and provides feedback, modifies own performance or behavior based on feedback. A successful Associate is constantly growing, learning and enhancing his/her skills and capabilities:

• Seeks and is open to feedback from colleagues, placing value on self development efforts; seeks opportunities for growth.
• Is self-aware and open to changing one's own behavior.

Firm Values

Champions the Firm's values, culture and Code of Conduct; engages, participates and collaborates with others. A successful Associate, who people like working with and who may over time also have a leadership role:

• Accepts others' opinions and encourages teamwork.
• Brings cultural awareness and sensitivity to each interaction with colleagues.
• Participates actively and contributes to internal activities; engages with office and practice.
• Represents Spencer Stuart well by speaking positively about the Firm and aligning behavior to Firm values.
• Conducts themselves in a way that is consistent with the Firm's values.

Spencer Stuart is a proud equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to non-discrimination without regard to actual or perceived race, ethnicity, creed, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), national origin, immigration status, ancestry, age, marital status, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any basis prohibited under applicable federal, state or local law.

PI257140424

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