Research Specialist, Issacson, Miller (IM), Multiple Locations
Posted January 3, 2019
Boston, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Locations
Isaacson, Miller (IM), the largest executive search firm dedicated to serving the leadership recruitment needs of the higher education and civic sector, seeks a Research Specialist to identify talent and evaluate future leaders. The role requires keen intellect and fervent analysis to investigate deeply and efficiently. This position will serve a critical role in the search process, sourcing candidates online through in-depth research and conducting in-depth screening of public records information. This is a unique opportunity for a curious, motivated individual.
Job Description
The Research Specialist will be an intellectually curious, detail-oriented, and motivated individual with outstanding communication skills they will use to provide consistently excellent research support to search teams. This individual will be a collaborative team member and engaged learner.
Key responsibilities include:
- Work as part of a team to lead research strategy discussions and provide targeted research.
- 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
- Networking and candidate research: Build lists of names or organizations and research past searches and candidate pools using online databases and our internal database
- Oppositional candidate research: Research and organize oppositional research on candidates using news databases and Google
- Work with the Knowledge Management & Search Services staff across IM offices to collect and organize research for centralized accessibility of all research materials
- Participate in research team meetings and projects; coordinate workload with other Research Specialists and draw on each other’s help when they reach capacity.
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 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. Proactively update search teams on project progress.
- Curiosity: Motivated to understand the context and goals for research assignments; engages internal partners in dialogue about research projects,including deadlines and project status.
- Independent and team-based approach: Enjoys heads-down, independent work in addition to collaborative engagement with both the search team and fellow researchers.
- Technical ability: Familiarity with search engines, web browsers, databases, and common office software. Willingness to discover, master, and teach new tools, sources, and techniques. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Attention to detail: Proficient with accurate data entry. Ability to contribute to and follow research protocols, where applicable.
- Flexibility: Ability to recognize and accommodate 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.
- Mission: A clear commitment to Isaacson, Miller’s mission.
Issacson, Miller (IM)
Isaacson, Miller was founded in 1982, and is committed to strengthening and diversifying leadership in the civic sector. Staff members share a fundamental dedication to the missions of the firm’s clients. Inclusion of diverse voices enhances creativity, expands ways of learning and thinking, and challenges individuals to be open-minded. It is also a foundational element in building a just and equitable society. Beyond these stated values, IM is unusual among large search firms for its consistent and statistically significant track record of success in recruiting candidates from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to key leadership positions throughout the country. Since its founding in 1982, 23 percent of the successful candidates in its searches have beenpeople of color and 43 percent have been women.
IM nurtures a culture of learning and experimentation in a context of warm collegiality, team spirit, shared values and mission commitment, and a sense ofthe whole being much greater than the sum of the parts.
This dedication to mission and general esprit de corps attract a remarkably diverse and talented staff. The Boston Globe has included IM in its list of the Best Places to Work in Massachusetts.
To Apply
Application materials, including resume and cover letter, should be submitted in confidence at: