Director of Executive Recruitment

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Position Title:

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Job Profile:

Job Duties:

The Director of Executive Recruitment provides administrative management, strategic planning, and direction for ES and supervises at least one staff member, in delivering executive search services to the Universities of Wisconsin. The Director ensures compliance with university, state, and federal regulations and procedures as related to candidate sourcing and recruitment, screening, selection, and compensation. The Director is a primary liaison with the highest level of executives at the UWs, including the Chancellor, Provost, Vice Chancellors, Deans, and Department Heads. The Director handles politically sensitive and highly confidential matters on a routine basis, under the direction of the Associate Vice President of Human Resources as needed.

Specific responsibilities of the Director of Executive Recruitment include assessing business opportunities and marketing services to decision-makers; developing and maintaining customer relationships that are built on a history of excellent service delivery and trust; sourcing, recruiting, and maintaining a network of highly talented specialized professional and academic contacts for candidate sourcing to senior administrators as well as faculty and director positions, including hard-to-fill positions; consulting with administrators and interpreting their business requirements and translating them into successful recruitment solutions.

The Director role includes identifying well-qualified and highly-desired potential candidates (both active and passive) and recruiting them for consideration; conducting phone screens; matching candidate backgrounds and expertise to university needs; and presenting top candidates to nomination and search committees, providing feedback on interpersonal skills and perception of fit from personal contact with the candidates.

The Director of Executive Recruitment creates university and division/department profiles as well as compelling job prospectuses for “selling” each of the UWs to the “best” candidates; researches and implements new recruitment sources for active and passive candidates; leverages traditional as well as social and professional networking for sourcing; develops advertisements and other media pieces for publication on job boards, in specialized journals, with affinity groups, and at conferences; develops customized interview and assessment tools for each search. As a search draws to an end, they secure candidate evaluation data from those involved in the interview process and develops analytical reports for hiring administrators; analyzes salary market data and recommends starting salaries; conducts thorough reference checks; and communicates to candidates not selected in a manner to preserve their positive experience of the university.

In addition, the Director provides regular follow-up to senior leadership and nomination committee chairs and guides the activities of and advises committees in appropriate and effective actions. The Director also develops marketing plans to generate new business opportunities and negotiates terms and conditions of service level agreements. The position escorts candidates or oversees the escort of candidates if assigned to others and coordinates dual-career assistance and relocation services for finalist candidates with Human Resources partners and vendors.

The Director of Executive Recruitment is accountable for the service delivery performed by the ES staff and university partners. The ES team coordinates search committee “charge” meetings, handles the scheduling of nominating committee meetings and logistical details; the posting of vacancies in the on-line system; the preparation of interview agenda and guides; the coordination of travel arrangements for candidates; the preparation of itineraries; and the secure processing of background checks and education verifications.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Policy/Program Development and Implementation - Develops and implements the program as related to Universities of Wisconsin employment including compliance with university, system, state, and federal policies. Explains and ensures compliance with policies including recruitment and advertising, screening, interviewing, EEO, employment terms and offers, reference checking, background checks, and credentials verification. The Executive Search has university-wide scope and impact as it contributes directly to the accomplishment of the university’s strategic plan.

Independent Problem Resolution - Analyzes a variety of problems and determines the appropriate resolution in administrative, technical, and political senses. The Director functions independently to resolve issues quickly to ensure exceptional outcomes for hiring administrators and candidates.

Strategic Planning – Assists in formulating business strategies; plans and participates in the annual planning process for Executive Recruiting within UW Administration Human Resources. Planning must be progressive as Human Resources is committed to attracting, developing and retaining the best employees possible for the University. Planning includes the development of short-term and long-term initiatives with justifications, resource allocations, and assessment measures provided. The Director of Executive Recruitment must recognize the overall impact of departmental policies and procedures on other units and the universities as well as prospective candidates/ employees. The Director also researches new concepts and service offerings as well as recruitment options and implements them after consultation with the AVP for Human Resources.

Fiscal Management – Assists in the managing of the budget for executive search support by monitoring income and expenditures.   Assists in the development of a structured funding model that is sustainable.

Department:

Compensation:

Related Master’s degree and 5+ years of progressive management experience related to executive level recruitment/search services, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Possession of professional certifications relevant to the position.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Requires solid experience and demonstrated success in relationship management;

• Ability to translate business needs into effective recruitment and hiring solutions;

• Ability to collaborate, influence, persuade, and manage internal/external elements that affect the services of the department;

• Well-developed oral and written communication skills;

• Expertise with relevant laws and regulations; and policy and program development experience in a dynamic setting of similar size/scope, preferably an educational institution.

• Ability to exercise a high degree of judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting guidelines, regulations and laws;

• Deep knowledge of accepted personnel practices;

• Ability to conceptualize broad operational and business needs;

• Ability to understand complex and dynamic organizational structures;

• Ability to assess operations and initiate new approaches and strategies.

• Ability to make sound business decisions in a complex, fast-paced environment.

• Ability to develop effective and successful business and fiscal models.

Note: WI driver’s license is required.  The Director of Executive Recruitment may at times be responsible for transporting individuals between sites during interviews.

Work Location:

The business office is located in Madison WI. Hybrid work options may be available, within the State of Wisconsin. Residency in/relocation to the state of Wisconsin is required. An in office requirement of 3 days per week is expected and may be approved to be outside of Madison. Telecommuting agreements are subject to change at any time

Application Information:

To ensure full consideration, please submit application materials as soon as possible. Applicant screening will begin immediately and be ongoing through 11:59 pm, Monday, February 2, 2026. Applications may be accepted until the position has been filled. 

Contact Information:

Questions may be addressed to: Sarah Haen, HR Manager, at sarah.haen@uwss.wisconsin.edu

Accommodation Request

If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request by contacting uwshr@wisconsin.edu. 

Criminal Background Check and Reference Check Policy

This offer of employment is conditional pending the results of a criminal background check and a reference check process that includes questions regarding employee misconduct, sexual violence, and sexual harassment. If you have prior work history within the past 7 years with the Universities of Wisconsin, your personnel file will also be reviewed for employee misconduct. If the results are unacceptable, the offer will be withdrawn or, if you have started employment, your employment will be terminated.

Employment Authorization

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on, before, or after the effective date of appointment.   

Confidentiality

The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7). 

Benefits Information

Universities of Wisconsin employees receive an excellent benefits package. To learn more about the benefits package, review the Faculty, Academic Staff & Limited Appointees  or University Staff   Please see this link for total compensation information: Universities of Wisconsin Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator to provide you with total compensation information. 

Clery Act information 

The Universities of Wisconsin provides statistics on campus crime in its Annual Security Report.  For more information on university campus statistics see https://www.wisconsin.edu/compliance/clery/.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.