Executive Search Researcher

Location: Cape Town, South Africa Working Hours: US Business Hours Employment Type: Full-Time Industry: Executive Search | Investment Banking | Private Markets

About the Opportunity

We are recruiting an experienced Executive Search Researcher to join a boutique international executive search firm specialising in Investment Banking and Private Markets.

This is an opportunity to work on high-level international recruitment mandates, identifying and engaging senior banking and financial services professionals across the US market.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in executive search research, talent sourcing or financial services recruitment, with excellent communication skills and the ability to engage confidently with senior professionals.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed market research and talent mapping across investment banking and private markets.
• Identify and source high-calibre candidates for retained executive search assignments.
• Proactively headhunt professionals across the US financial services market.
• Build and maintain targeted candidate pipelines and talent databases.
• Research investment banks, private equity firms and other financial institutions.
• Engage potential candidates through LinkedIn, email and direct outreach.
• Conduct initial candidate screening and qualification conversations.
• Prepare candidate profiles, market intelligence reports and research summaries.
• Work closely with senior search consultants to support live recruitment mandates.
• Maintain accurate candidate records and track recruitment activity.

Candidate Requirements

• Previous experience in executive search research, talent sourcing or financial services recruitment.
• Experience sourcing senior or specialist professionals.
• Strong research, market mapping and candidate identification skills.
• Confident using LinkedIn Recruiter, Boolean searches and recruitment databases.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Professional and credible when engaging with senior-level candidates.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple searches.
• Based in Cape Town and comfortable working US business hours. Important: This is a specialist recruitment research position, not an administrative or virtual assistant role. Previous recruitment or executive search experience is essential.