Executive & Strategic Recruiter

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Executive & Strategic Recruiter based in Canada.** This is a high-impact recruiting role focused on executive, strategic, and highly specialized searches across a diverse multi-brand portfolio. You’ll own searches from initial role definition through sourcing, assessment, negotiation, and close, with significant autonomy throughout the process. Working directly with senior executives, you’ll translate complex hiring needs into targeted talent strategies and compelling candidate approaches. The role is particularly focused on passive candidates and hard-to-find profiles, including specialized AI, data science, and technical talent. You’ll build long-term relationships with high-value candidates, creating warm pipelines before opportunities formally arise. Operating in a lean, fast-moving environment, you’ll combine sophisticated recruiting judgment with modern AI and automation tools. Your work will directly influence leadership capabilities and strategic growth across multiple brands and functions. ### Accountabilities - Own end-to-end search strategy and execution for executive, strategic, and hard-to-fill positions, including sourcing strategies, assessment criteria, candidate engagement, and offer approaches. - Partner directly with senior hiring executives to define complex or difficult-to-articulate role requirements and translate them into actionable talent strategies. - Proactively identify and engage passive candidates through direct outreach, competitive talent mapping, referrals, professional networks, and platforms such as LinkedIn. - Personally manage searches for highly specialized talent, including candidates with deep experience in AI, data science, and other technical disciplines. - Build and maintain long-term relationships with high-value passive candidates to establish strong talent pipelines ahead of future hiring needs. - Lead confidential searches with discretion and sound judgment, including searches associated with organizational restructuring or leadership transitions. - Provide market intelligence on talent availability, competitive hiring activity, candidate expectations, and relevant market dynamics to guide hiring strategies. - Manage multiple senior-level searches with a high degree of ownership, pace, and accountability from intake through successful close. - Leverage AI and automation tools to improve sourcing, research, productivity, and recruiting effectiveness while applying human judgment where candidate evaluation requires additional context. ## Requirements - Proven track record of personally sourcing and closing passive candidates for executive, strategic, or highly specialized positions, rather than relying primarily on inbound applicants. - Demonstrated experience completing approximately 10–15 or more senior-level searches within the last 12 months. - Strong executive recruiting capabilities, including talent mapping, cold outreach, candidate engagement, assessment, negotiation, and closing. - Ability to operate independently as an individual contributor in an environment characterized by autonomy, ambiguity, speed, and direct executive access. - A well-developed professional network and strong recruiting instincts, with the ability to identify the right people and create interest among candidates who are not actively job searching. - Technical fluency with modern AI and automation tools, combined with sound judgment regarding appropriate human involvement in candidate evaluation. - Strong communication, influencing, relationship-building, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills. - Experience within a search firm or recruitment agency is preferred, particularly experience engaging passive candidates through targeted outreach. - Experience recruiting technical, AI, data science, or other highly specialized talent is an advantage. - Experience in retail, e-commerce, or multi-brand organizations is a plus. - Strong discretion and professionalism when managing confidential or sensitive executive searches. ## Benefits - Fully remote opportunity for eligible candidates based in Canada. - Competitive paid time off policies. - RRSP matching program. - Medical, dental, and vision coverage. - Variety of supplemental benefit options. - Employee discounts across a portfolio of brands. - Opportunity to work across multiple brands and functions with significant cross-functional exposure. - End-to-end ownership of executive and strategic searches without unnecessary handoffs or committees. - Opportunity to build expertise using modern AI and automation tools within an AI-first operating environment. - Direct exposure to senior executives and the opportunity to influence leadership and organizational capabilities. - High-autonomy environment suited to recruiters who enjoy building, moving quickly, and seeing the direct impact of their work. - Regular collaboration across teams and brands, with an in-person interview required as part of the hiring process.