Job Details

Role: Principal, Search

About Bespoke Partners | Who are we?

Bespoke Partners is the largest firm focused exclusively on executive recruiting and leadership advisory services for software and SaaS companies in the United States.

Bespoke-placed executives have orchestrated exits and more than 425 acquisitions by their companies, totaling more than $130 billion in value.

The firm is the leadership talent partner of choice for public, private, private equity and venture backed software and SaaS companies.

Bespoke has recruited more than 1,000 top-performing leaders into private equity portfolio companies, including CEOs, CFOs, CROs, CMOs, CPOs, CTOs, CIOs, CHROs, Board Members, Operating Partners, Vice Presidents and many more.

The firm’s unique, data-driven services complete searches in typically half the industry average time with a 95% placement success rate. The firm’s unique methodology cuts the risk of C-suite mis-hiring and identifies leaders who will accelerate growth.

At Bespoke, we don’t just offer jobs; we ensure careers flourish. As the premier leadership recruiting firm in the software industry, our unwavering support and unique culture are embedded in our DNA. Join us and align your career aspirations with unparalleled rewards, meaningful work, and steadfast values.

We are living out our Values everyday at Bespoke.

• Diversity & Inclusion: We embrace a culture where diversity is celebrated, and every voice is heard, fostering innovation and creativity.
• Invest in Others’ Success: We offer guidance, mentorship, and learning opportunities, advocating for every team member’s growth.
• Be Memorable: Create positive impacts with authenticity, forging strong, lasting relationships.
• Inspire Growth: Embrace change, challenge norms, and champion progress with our growth mindset.
• Winners Win: Optimism and resilience turn challenges into opportunities, fueling our collective success.

Unlock Your Potential at Bespoke: Your Best Career Awaits | Who Are you?

Drive. Instinct. Grit. Smarts.

Just like our search process, you are collaborative, thorough, accelerated and therefore effective. You are determined, solution-oriented and energized by exceeding your own potential. No matter your title, you lead and mentor with passion and purpose being memorable in every client and employee interaction you experience. Motivated by transparency, you thrive in a feed forward, team-first environment and continue to be laser focused on data driven and effective results.

Bespoke Futures Program Post MBA:

Accelerate your career with opportunities to collaborate with Private Equity firms and high growth software companies! The Bespoke Futures Program is created for high potential leaders to join our team and be given the support and tools needed to be successful in our space. Through development workshops, coaching and key networking opportunities, you will be able to take your career to the next level.

• Learning and Development: With the goal of investing in our high potential, future leaders, we have incorporated elements of learning and development through online trainings and hands on workshops. Additionally, you will be given access to a platform of resources and trainings that fosters continuous growth and career development.
• Coaching and Mentorship: Informal mentorship can be found regularly here at Bespoke, but this program will provide formalized mentorship and personalized coaching sessions to develop skills and achieve your professional goals. In this experience you will be paired with a coach as well as an experienced mentor who can provide guidance, support, and valuable insights and perspectives.
• Building your Network: Offering hands on, client facing experiences this will allow you to build practical skills while interacting directly with top Private Equity leaders and Executive Industry professionals. You will also be given the opportunity to attend external networking engagements or conferences providing valuable connections and insights into the latest industry trends.

Client Delight & Professional Collaboration: Thrive in an environment where delighting clients and collaborating with top-notch professionals fuels your career advancement.

If this sounds like you, please read on!

Opportunity & Position Summary:

Bespoke Partners sits at the intersection of top tier private equity firms and executive talent, in a market where software/ SaaS companies continue to get strong investment and achieve high valuations. This means private equity firms need expertise to succeed in this environment and recruit elite talent.

By establishing relationships with top private equity firms and PE-backed companies, Bespoke Partners is in high demand and looking to hire smart, driven recruiters who have the ability to take a leadership role in our growing functional pods.

As a Principal, you will have the opportunity to conduct high profile search work, drive white-glove client service, and build strong relationships with software executives in a fast-paced environment. With our team-based approach, you will gain deep knowledge on Private Equity, functional expertise across C-level roles, and Software/ SaaS business models in various end markets.

Principal Responsibilities:

Principals operate as the quarterback of the search process, project-managing the various stages to ensure we execute each client engagement to the highest standards end-to-end. Principals are relied upon to assess and communicate with candidates throughout a search engagement, and with support from their Search Partner, deliver regular search updates to the client on how the search is progressing. Over time, you will increase in both autonomy and efficiency on executing searches, as well as hone in on one or two specific functional areas of expertise.

• Act as primary recruiter on 4-5 searches at any given time with support of a Partner
• Fully understand client needs for search engagement and collaborate with search team, including research counterpart to develop effective search strategies
• Develop detailed position specification and scorecard tailored to search engagement and based on comprehensive needs assessment conducted at the kick-off of each search
• Conduct outreach and assess candidates for fit based on the position specification and scorecard
• Develop a thorough slate of best-fit candidate for the position
• Interact with and manage senior executives throughout the search process, maintaining relationships and representing Bespoke Partner’s to the highest standard
• Collaborate effectively with research counterpart as search progresses to ensure strong, quality pipeline throughout the search process
• Work closely with Search Partner to keep him/ her updated on search progress and consult throughout the search to ensure search progress is on track
• Capture and maintain accurate information on candidates in our systems to both drive search progress and enable effective relationship management across the firm
• Prepare and deliver weekly updates to clients on the status of search engagement, including review of candidates included in the slate and your assessment of their fit for the role
• Introduce candidates to clients following thorough assessment, managing delivery of candidate information to include resume, scorecard, interview notes
• Assist in successful close of the search to included conducting references (both named and backchannel) on finalist candidates and supporting offer extension/ negotiation as needed
• Work effectively with Leadership Advisory practice if engaged on search to ensure alignment across the search process and timely turnaround of deliverables
• Collaborate with colleagues across the firm when appropriate to draw upon full relevant knowledge of resources and expertise

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Bespoke Partners strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

TOTAL REWARDS BEYOND COMPARE

• World-Class Health and Welfare Benefits: Top-tier benefits for you and your dependents, emphasizing mental health and work-life balance.
• Earnings That Soar: Our reward culture ensures your earnings consistently outperform industry benchmarks.
• Resource Management Freedom: Our unique model liberates you from resource management complexities, enabling you to focus on your strengths.
• Unmatched Support System: Benefit from our Functional Pod model, comprehensive support, tech-driven empowerment, and personalized coaching.
• Investing in Your Success: Beyond words, we invest in dedicated research and search coordinator support.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY

• Our Commitment: We’re committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring our operations contribute positively to societal and environmental health.

HIRING PRACTICES

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Bespoke Partners recruitment policies are designed to place the most highly qualified persons available in a timely and efficient manner. Bespoke Partners may pursue all avenues available, including promotion from within, employee referrals, outside advertising, employment agencies, Internet recruiting, job fairs, college recruiting and search firms.