executive headhunter / executive search consultant - EN

Role: Executive Headhunter / Executive Search Consultant (retained)
Location: Prague / Czech Republic / hybrid (CZ/CEE)
Employment: Full-time • Start: by agreement

Who we are

A boutique executive search firm for demanding top–management roles. We map 100% of the market, work offline, prefer in-person meetings, and tell clients the truth before it hurts. “Shortlist in 72 hours” is for others. We stand for precision, discipline, and results.

What you’ll do

• Search strategy & org-mapping: define where we will / won’t look and why; build maps beyond LinkedIn (registries, annual reports, industry events, media, alumni, insiders).
• 100% coverage: maintain a coverage ledger (approached / replied / declined / reason / source) + negative space (who we deliberately don’t chase and why).
• Executive communication: smart outreach, cold calling, handling objections; run calibration meetings with clients.
• End-to-end delivery: longlist with methodology, shortlist with trade-offs, references, negotiations, signature.
• Truth reporting: risks, blind spots, weekly truth report.
• Ethics & reputation: respect NDAs, off-limits, zero spam.

What you won’t do here

• KPI on number of CVs.
• “72-hour shortlist.”
• Make things up when you don’t know yet.

Signals you’re the one

• 2–5 years in retained/executive search or in-house Executive TA; alternatively consulting / M&A / PE with strong org-mapping.
• You can run a 15-minute mapping sprint and cold-call a passive executive.
• OSINT / Boolean; Excel / Google Sheets (keeping a coverage ledger).
• Excellent written & spoken Czech/English; strong negotiator.
• References proving placement retention (12–24 months) and an example of when you brought bad news in time.

What success looks like (indicative cadence)

• 2 weeks: comprehensive market search (≈ 150–200 companies/names).
• 2 weeks: your candidate meetings (20–30).
• 2 weeks: client interviews (3–5 finalists).
• 2 weeks: second rounds & offer negotiation.
• → 1 accepted offer (total ~6–8 weeks depending on role).

What you get (so quality beats quantity)

• Fewer parallel projects = more depth & precision (max 3 live).
• Autonomy and the right to challenge—clients are partners, not “kings”.
• Variable compensation tied to outcomes: offer acceptance + 6–12m retention + CSAT (not number of CVs).
• Origination share when you bring a mandate.
• Support & tools: researcher/admin, budget for offline meetings, references, know-how & best practices.
• Growth: from delivery to leading searches/clients.

Cross-Industry Track (for talent from other fields)

Background outside headhunting? Great — if you can do the below, you’ll get a fair shot.

Non-negotiables:

• Intellectual honesty & skeptical thinking (better “I don’t know yet” than a nice story).
• Executive-level diagnostic interviewing (not a “screen”).
• Grit & discipline: cold calls, on-time follow-ups, auditable notes.
• Hypothesis-driven research beyond LinkedIn (sources, negative space).
• Czech/English at negotiation level.

Selection process (fast, but unforgiving)

• 15-minute mapping sprint (live) on a real brief.
• Cold-call role-play (passive executive, objections).
• Mini-longlist + methodology (10–15 names, why in/out, source).
• References & ethics case (NDA / off-limits).

How to apply

Email pavel.p@flow-r.cz or DM on LinkedIn with:

• 3–5 sentences on how you’d map a tough role today and where you’d start.
• A small anonymized map sample (8–12 companies/seats + sources).
• A short anonymized call note excerpt so we can see your thinking.
• A CV is fine, but craft matters more.

Discretion guaranteed. We welcome diversity. Performance and integrity decide.