Associate Partner - Business Development

Job description

About the employer the employer is a Riyadh-based boutique executive search and HR advisory firm serving Saudi and GCC clients on Vision 2030-aligned leadership hiring — C-suite search, board/NRC advisory, and people-strategy consulting. We are founder-led, lean by design, and growing on reputation rather than headcount. The opportunity This is not a salaried BD job. It is a seat at the table for someone who wants to build a firm, not join one. You will work directly with the Founder & Managing Partner to originate and close search and advisory mandates, with a written path to Partner and profit share tied to the revenue you bring in. Compensation starts modest and scales with what you originate — if you need a market-rate base before proving yourself, this is not the role. What you’ll own • Originate new client relationships with CEOs, CHROs, boards and NRC chairs across KSA/GCC • Convert conversations into retained search and advisory mandates (proposals, pricing, negotiation) • Co-lead delivery on mandates you win: client management, shortlist presentation, offer stage • Build sector or functional practice ownership (e.g. logistics, fintech, PIF portfolio, boards) • Represent the firm at industry events and on LinkedIn; grow the brand alongside the founder • Help shape firm operations, tooling and process as we scale.

Requirements

• What we’re looking for
• 8–15 years in executive search, HR consulting, professional services BD, or a senior corporate HR/talent role with a strong external network
• A real, warm network of decision-makers in Saudi Arabia — demonstrable, not aspirational
• Proven track record of selling retained or advisory services (or hiring senior leaders repeatedly through agencies and knowing what great looks like)
• Entrepreneurial risk appetite and runway: comfortable with modest fixed pay for the first 6–12 months in exchange for upside
• Integrity and discretion — you’ll handle confidential C-suite mandates from day one
• Fluent Arabic and English
• Saudi national or long-tenured GCC resident strongly preferred

Skills