Associate Director
Michael Illert Executive Recruitment, New York, NY, United States
michaelillert is a boutique executive search and leadership advisory firm. We specialise in placing senior Finance, HR, IT, Sales, Marketing, and functional leaders across Europe, the UK, and the United States, partnering with mid-market companies that operate on a transatlantic scale. Founded in the Netherlands, with team members in Germany and New York.
We are a small, purposeful team. Every person here carries real responsibility, works directly with clients and candidates, and shapes the quality of what we deliver. We do not hide behind process. We deliver.
What We Are Building
We are among the most technology-forward firms in executive search, with an operating model that is fully AI-enabled across research, preparation, and workflow. Our position on AI is clear: technology exists to remove the friction that prevents great recruiters from doing their best work. It handles the administrative, the repetitive, and the routine, so that our people can focus on what only humans can do: building trust, reading people, and advising clients on decisions that genuinely matter. We do not use AI to evaluate candidates. Ever. Assessment requires human judgment, and we hold that line without compromise. The Role
We are looking for an Associate Director to join our New York operation. This is a delivery-focused role for someone who takes genuine pride in the quality of their search mandates. You will run end-to-end retained and contingency searches for senior corporate function leaders. You will work directly with clients, own your candidate relationships, and be accountable for outcomes. What We Expect
You bring significant recruitment experience, with a clear track record in placing senior professionals across corporate functions. You understand what excellent search delivery looks like, and you hold yourself to that standard. You are comfortable operating in a high-trust, low-hierarchy environment where quality of work speaks before anything else. You are energised by client relationships and know how to earn and maintain them over the long term. You communicate with clarity and confidence, in writing and in person. A strong track record of winning search assignments is a major plus. How We Work
Our model is remote-first and in-person-first at the same time. That is not a contradiction. You choose where you work day to day, and we respect that fully. What we ask is that you are present with your clients and candidates whenever it matters: for first meetings, relationship-building, and the moments where being in the room makes a difference. You need to be where your candidates and clients are. Location flexibility is real here. Client and candidate commitment is non-negotiable. For this role, we are looking for candidates based in New York State, Connecticut, or New Jersey. You will operate as part of a close-knit global team with colleagues in Amsterdam, Germany, and New York. We work across time zones by choice, not by accident, and we have built the tools and rhythms to make that work well. What the Right Person Looks Like
You have built something in recruitment already. You know how to run a search from brief to placement with rigour and care. You are not looking for a bigger machine to disappear into. You want to do better work, with better tools, for better clients, and be recognised for it. You are based in New York State, Connecticut, or New Jersey, and you are ready to be present in the market. You know the tri-state area and understand what it takes to build and sustain client relationships in one of the world's most competitive talent markets. If that describes you, we would like to hear from you.
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We are among the most technology-forward firms in executive search, with an operating model that is fully AI-enabled across research, preparation, and workflow. Our position on AI is clear: technology exists to remove the friction that prevents great recruiters from doing their best work. It handles the administrative, the repetitive, and the routine, so that our people can focus on what only humans can do: building trust, reading people, and advising clients on decisions that genuinely matter. We do not use AI to evaluate candidates. Ever. Assessment requires human judgment, and we hold that line without compromise. The Role
We are looking for an Associate Director to join our New York operation. This is a delivery-focused role for someone who takes genuine pride in the quality of their search mandates. You will run end-to-end retained and contingency searches for senior corporate function leaders. You will work directly with clients, own your candidate relationships, and be accountable for outcomes. What We Expect
You bring significant recruitment experience, with a clear track record in placing senior professionals across corporate functions. You understand what excellent search delivery looks like, and you hold yourself to that standard. You are comfortable operating in a high-trust, low-hierarchy environment where quality of work speaks before anything else. You are energised by client relationships and know how to earn and maintain them over the long term. You communicate with clarity and confidence, in writing and in person. A strong track record of winning search assignments is a major plus. How We Work
Our model is remote-first and in-person-first at the same time. That is not a contradiction. You choose where you work day to day, and we respect that fully. What we ask is that you are present with your clients and candidates whenever it matters: for first meetings, relationship-building, and the moments where being in the room makes a difference. You need to be where your candidates and clients are. Location flexibility is real here. Client and candidate commitment is non-negotiable. For this role, we are looking for candidates based in New York State, Connecticut, or New Jersey. You will operate as part of a close-knit global team with colleagues in Amsterdam, Germany, and New York. We work across time zones by choice, not by accident, and we have built the tools and rhythms to make that work well. What the Right Person Looks Like
You have built something in recruitment already. You know how to run a search from brief to placement with rigour and care. You are not looking for a bigger machine to disappear into. You want to do better work, with better tools, for better clients, and be recognised for it. You are based in New York State, Connecticut, or New Jersey, and you are ready to be present in the market. You know the tri-state area and understand what it takes to build and sustain client relationships in one of the world's most competitive talent markets. If that describes you, we would like to hear from you.
#J-18808-Ljbffr