Senior Associate, Consumer Practice – Retail, Direct to Consumer, Apparel & Luxury Goods

Spencer Stuart

. Help solve Chief Executive Officer, Board Director, and other C-level functional executive searches in the Retail, Direct to Consumer, Apparel & Luxury Goods sectors .

Posted 10/15/2026full-timeUnited StatesSenior💰 $150,000 - $170,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in executive search and leadership advisory within the Retail and Consumer sectors, with a strong focus on client engagement, project management, and effective communication. Capable of building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders while managing multiple concurrent projects and contributing to business development initiatives.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Executive Search ExperienceClient-Facing Deliverables PreparationProject ManagementStakeholder Relationship BuildingDomain Expertise in Retail

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Executive SearchLeadership AdvisoryProject ManagementClient Deliverables PreparationAssessment and EvaluationMarket ResearchData AnalysisPresentation SkillsCandidate AssessmentDocumentation Standards

Soft Skills

Effective CommunicationProblem-SolvingJudgment and InsightTeamwork and CollaborationReceptiveness to Feedback

Tools & Technologies

Quest

Industry Keywords

RetailDirect to ConsumerApparelLuxury GoodsConsumer IndustryProfessional ServicesBusiness DevelopmentMentoringGlobal Project ExperienceSenior Executive Audiences

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Help solve Chief Executive Officer, Board Director, and other C-level functional executive searches in the Retail, Direct to Consumer, Apparel & Luxury Goods sectors
Work in partnership with several core Consultants on multiple client engagements
Take ownership of search or assessment/advisory processes
Build industry, functional, geographic, or subject-matter expertise and own a defined candidate pool
Contribute market information and potential profiles to qualifications packages
Draft position specifications and proposals following client briefings
Interview and assess pre-qualified candidates or assessment participants
Create long-list progress reports and candidate presentations or assessment/development reports
Conduct third-party source and pre-reference calls and take formal references under Consultant guidance
Define search or assessment strategy, coordinate resources, and meet timelines
Participate in client briefing meetings, candidate interviews, client discussions, and presentations
Liaise with clients and maintain dialogue with prospects, candidates, and participants
Prepare client progress reports and meeting information with Consultants and Executive Assistants
Maintain assignment, company, and candidate information in Quest
Contribute to practice, office, regional, and Firm development, including knowledge sharing, business development, marketing, and social activities
Develop self and others through learning initiatives, mentoring, and regional or global projects
Adhere to Firm policies and standards for candidate validation, documentation, and assessment

Requirements

What you’ll need

Progressive Associate or Associate-equivalent experience with executive search, leadership advisory, or another professional services firm environment
Established domain and/or subject matter expertise, ideally in consumer, retail or an adjacent industry
Experience managing a high volume of concurrent projects with competing deadlines
High level of ownership and independence, proactively shaping project direction and creating structure from ambiguity
Experience preparing client-facing deliverables, presentations, assessments, or reports for senior executive audiences
Experience building trusted working relationships with senior stakeholders, clients, candidates, and colleagues
Experience contributing beyond core project execution through mentoring, practice initiatives, business development, or internal firm efforts
International, cross-border, or globally-oriented project experience preferred
Fluency in English, written and spoken; additional language skills are an advantage
Undergraduate degree required; postgraduate degree preferred
Time and project management, accountability and initiative
Problem-solving, judgment and insight
Effective written and verbal communication, executive presence, influence, and relationship-building
Distinct industry, function, or local-market expertise
Business and organizational acumen
Receptiveness to feedback, coaching, mentoring, teamwork, collaboration, and adherence to Firm values and policies

Benefits

Comp & perks

Generous performance-based discretionary bonus
Excellent healthcare benefits