Director, Executive Recruiting

Location: North America

Reports to: VP, Global Talent Acquisition

About the Role

AlphaSense is building an executive talent function that operates as a true strategic capability, not a reactive search desk. This is the role that builds it.

As Director of Executive Recruiting, you will own the design and execution of AlphaSense’s end-to-end executive search function — from search strategy and agency model to in-house research methods, tools infrastructure, and team development. You will be the company’s most senior internal practitioner for VP-and-above hiring, and the person who shapes how we compete for the world’s best leaders as we scale.

You will operate at the intersection of business strategy and talent intelligence — partnering directly with the ELT, and People leadership to build the executive pipeline that powers our next phase of growth.

What You’ll Do

• Executive Search Execution
  • Lead end-to-end search for VP, SVP, and C-suite roles across the organization — from intake and profile definition through offer and close.
  • Conduct and commission deep market mapping and competitive intelligence to identify, track, and engage executive talent across target companies and industries.
  • Craft compelling, personalized outreach to senior passive candidates; cultivate long-term relationships with high-potential executives well before active searches open.
  • Screen and assess candidates for leadership caliber, cultural alignment, and functional depth; present well-researched shortlists with clear recommendations.
  • Maintain a white-glove candidate experience and meticulous ATS records throughout every engagement.
• Strategic Partnership & Advisory
  • Serve as a trusted talent advisor to the ELT, and People leadership — providing proactive workforce intelligence, not just reactive search support.
  • Partner closely with senior executives and hiring leaders to define role parameters, candidate profiles, and sourcing strategies with precision and speed.
  • Champion inclusive hiring practices at the executive level, proactively building diverse pipelines and mitigating bias throughout the assessment process.
  • Partner with the broader TA team to ensure standardized workflows, consistent standards, and cohesive executive candidate experience across global offices.
  • Contribute to succession planning and long-range organizational design by surfacing market trends and executive talent movement.
• Function Design & Build
  • Design the structure, operating model, and roadmap for AlphaSense’s executive search function — defining how we balance in-house capability against strategic agency partnerships.
  • Establish agency strategy and governance: identify preferred search partners by function and geography, manage PSL relationships, set engagement norms, and drive accountability on delivery and value.
  • Evaluate and deploy AI-powered sourcing tools, talent intelligence platforms, and research methodologies to build a competitive, tech-forward search function.
  • Build and maintain the executive talent infrastructure: market maps, competitive tracking, and succession-relevant talent pools.

Who You Are

• 12+ years of executive or senior-level recruiting experience — in-house, retained search, or a blend of both; direct experience building or significantly scaling a function strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success placing VP-and-above candidates across multiple functions, including GTM, Engineering, Finance, and/or Product.
• Experience designing or overhauling an executive search operating model — including agency strategy, tooling decisions, and team structure.
• Fluency with AI-powered talent intelligence and sourcing tools; a genuine conviction that technology reshapes what’s possible in executive search.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to advise and influence at the C-suite level — someone leaders turn to proactively, not just when a search opens.
• Expert sourcer: mastery of LinkedIn Recruiter, talent intelligence platforms, Boolean search, and emerging research methodologies.
• Data-driven: comfortable building and interpreting TA analytics, market compensation data, and search performance dashboards.
• High degree of discretion and professionalism in handling sensitive, confidential information.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; executive-caliber presentation and synthesis.
• Experience with ATS platforms (Greenhouse, Workday, or similar).
• Deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as a non-negotiable practice
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree a plus.

What Defines Success

• Strategy and operations: The executive search function has a defined operating model, agency governance, tooling stack, and team roadmap within the first 12 months.
• On-time hiring delivery: 90% of executive roles are filled within or ahead of agreed timelines, with rigorous SLA accountability.
• Executive Trust: C-suite and business leaders view you as a proactive talent advisor, evidenced by proactive engagement in workforce planning and reliance on TA insights for decision-making. 
• Cross-functional alignment: You have strong internal partnerships and clear SLAs with Finance, HR/People Ops, and hiring managers. 
• Strong leadership: You model inclusive leadership.
• Operational Excellence: You are data-driven, and you actively track and improve key efficiency metrics such as time-to-fill, cost-per-hire, and candidate experience scores to meet or exceed industry benchmarks. 
• Unified global team: You partner with other TA Directors & leaders to ensure standardized and efficient workflows across our global offices.