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Research Specialist, Isaacson, Miller, Boston, MA

Posted February 16, 2017

Position Summary
Isaacson, Miller (IM) is the largest executive search firm to focus exclusively on recruiting leadership for nonprofit organizations and it is rapidly growing. The firm has hired 40 new professionals in the last two years and in 2015, IM placed 280 executives at mission-driven organizations domestically and internally.

To support the firm’s expansion, IM is seeking a Research Specialist to partner with vice presidents and frontline recruiters across the firm. This position will serve a critical role in the search process, aiding colleagues with the identification and evaluation of leaders. This is a unique opportunity for a motivated individual to gain a thorough understanding of our nation’s civic infrastructure.

The successful candidate will possess a team-oriented approach, an enthusiasm for finding and organizing information, and a high attention to detail. Research Specialists are members of the firm’s Research team and they are also members of the broader Knowledge Management & Search Services group. This position will join a dynamic team that fosters collaboration and innovation.

About the Firm
Isaacson, Miller recruits transformative leaders for education, healthcare, philanthropy, advocacy, and other endeavors that advance the public good. We have over 175 employees located in our Boston headquarters and in offices in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. Our Results page includes stories about our work’s broad impact.

We believe there are three features that distinguish us.

  • Mission: The first is our focus upon mission. We seek exceptional leaders for important civic institutions. We are passionate and clear about our commitments, one of which is to understand and advance the aspirations that drive our clients. There is no search firm in the country that has conducted as many and as varied a range of searches in the independent sector as we have at Isaacson, Miller.
  • Diversity: The second distinguishing feature of our firm is our longstanding commitment to bringing women and people of color to senior management positions. For over 30 years we have established networks that support us in our efforts to build and present diverse pools of candidates. Over the life of the firm, 42% of our placements have been women and 23% have been people of color.
  • Craft: Third is our proficiency in the craft of search. We attend carefully to learning and understanding the unique strategic challenges and organizational cultures of our clients, to networking thoughtfully for candidates who may not currently be looking for a new position, and to interviewing and referencing our candidates in depth.

Working at IM: Since its founding, IM has nurtured a culture of learning and experimentation in a context of warm collegiality, team spirit, shared values, and mission commitment. Our culture attracts a remarkably diverse and talented staff, many of whom have held senior leadership positions in universities and colleges, advocacy organizations, public sector agencies, and human services organizations. In 2012, The Boston Globe listed IM as one of the Best Places to Work in Massachusetts.

Key Responsibilities 

  • Work with the IM Boston search teams to aid in the successful completion of the search. In some cases, this will involve becoming embedded in the search team and engaging in search strategy discussions. In other cases, it will involve completing discrete research tasks.
  • Support several search teams and searches simultaneously at various stages of the search, with research projects that include but are not limited to:
    • Institutional and market research: Provide background on the institution or field; generally done before the first meeting with the potential client
    • Networking and candidate research: Build lists of names or organizations to support associates during networking, using online databases and IM’s internal records and database
    • Public profile research: Conduct public records research on candidates using new databases and Google
  • Work with the Knowledge Management & Search Services staff across our offices to collect and organize research in order to ensure centralized accessibility of all updated research materials for both current and future searches.
  • Participate in research team meetings and projects; coordinate workload with other research specialists.

Key Qualifications 

  • Background: Bachelor’s degree with two to three years of translatable, professional experience; non-profit or higher education experience is a plus.
  • Project management: Ability to prioritize and work on multiple tasks for multiple search professionals simultaneously and independently, delivering high quality work within established timelines.
  • Communication: Ability to listen well, and to write and speak clearly and concisely. Respond promptly and maintain a pleasant attitude. Motivated to understand the context and goals for research assignments; engages internal customers in ongoing dialogue about research projects.
  • Collaboration: Active inclination to seek knowledge from and share expertise with colleagues.
  • Technical ability: Familiarity with search engines, web browsers, databases, and common office software. Willingness to discover, explore, master, and, when appropriate, teach new tools, sources, and techniques. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Outlook, Word and Excel).
  • Attention to detail: Ability to contribute to and follow research protocols, where applicable.
  • Flexibility: Ability to recognize and accommodate internal customers’ varied approaches to and expectations of research. Ability to tailor communications to each recipient.
  • Self-motivation: Self-directed and able to work independently. Ability to recognize and articulate problems and propose creative solutions. Inquisitive and driven to understand the context and implications of the work. Ability to identify and articulate professional development goals.
  • Mission: A clear commitment to Isaacson, Miller’s mission.

To Apply
All inquiries, nominations, and application materials, including résumé with cover letter, may be submitted in confidence to:
Jane Callahan
Director of Research Services
[email protected]

Isaacson, Miller is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and actively seeks a diverse pool of candidates in this search.