Associate

Role: Associate, Executive Search (B2B SaaS GTM)

Location: New York City

We’re hiring an Associate to join Formative Search Partners, a boutique executive search firm that builds GTM leadership teams for high-growth B2B SaaS and AI startups. You’ll work directly with the Managing Partner and team of Senior Directors and Directors on executive searches, owning research, sourcing, and candidate development. 

We’re not looking for someone with a recruiting background; we’ll teach you our process from the ground up. Ideal candidates have 1-2 years of B2B SaaS experience (SDR/AE, CS, consulting, or similar), are highly organized, well spoken, and strong writers with solid sales instincts. If you’re genuinely curious about early-stage startups and how they grow, this could be the right fit. 

We’re especially interested in candidates based in San Diego (as this is where our Managing Partner sits), though we’re also open to New York City. Our team’s average tenure is 6.5 years, which speaks to the collaborative, high-performing culture we’ve built over the past decade. 

ABOUT FORMATIVE SEARCH PARTNERS:

Formative Search Partners is a boutique executive search firm that builds go-to-market and sales leadership teams for high-growth B2B SaaS and AI companies. We help startups navigate pivotal growth moments by guiding intentional leadership transitions and partnering with founders and investors on critical VP and C-level GTM hires.

ROLE OVERVIEW:

We’re hiring an Associate to support executive searches for high-growth B2B SaaS and AI companies. You’ll work closely with a small, high-performing team and take ownership of research, candidate development, and process execution across multiple concurrent searches. Much of your time will be spent understanding markets, mapping talent, engaging executives, and keeping searches on track with precision and care. 

We’re not looking for someone with a traditional recruiting background. Instead, we want someone with one to two years of experience in B2B SaaS or similar environment who is organized, articulate, and an excellent writer. You should also bring curiosity about startups, an understanding of sales dynamics, and a strong drive to learn the craft of executive search.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Partner with the Managing Partner and team to execute end-to-end executive searches, from intake through close.
• Build and refine search strategies and target company lists for GTM and sales leadership roles.
• Conduct in-depth research on markets, companies, and executives; map org charts and uncover talent pools.
• Source and engage prospective candidates through LinkedIn and other channels, writing thoughtful, tailored outreach.
• Run structured screening calls to assess experience and communication skills, and prepare clear, concise candidate summaries.
• Manage documentation and updates in our internal systems to keep pipelines, trackers, and reports current.
• Support client communication with position specs, search summaries, and candidate slates.
• Use AI tools such as Perplexity and ChatGPT to enhance research, drafting, and market intelligence.

WHAT MAKES YOU A FIT:

• 1–2 years of professional experience in B2B SaaS or a similar client-facing, analytical role (SDR/AE, customer success, consulting, rev ops, or analyst).
• No prior recruiting experience required; we prefer to teach our approach rather than rework habits from other firms.
• Highly organized, with strong attention to detail and an ability to manage several projects at once.
• Strong communicator who is confident in meetings and writes clearly, concisely, and professionally.
• Curious and analytical, with an interest in business models, GTM strategy, and executive leadership.
• Genuine interest in early-stage startups and how they operate, scale, and adapt over time.
• Tech-forward and comfortable using tools like LinkedIn, Perplexity, and ChatGPT.
• Professional presence and maturity when interacting with senior executives and founders.

NICE-TO-HAVES:

• Exposure to enterprise or mid-market B2B SaaS sales cycles.
• Experience working in a startup or small, entrepreneurial environment.
• Familiarity with Google Workspace and ATS/CRM tools.

WHY WORK HERE:

Formative Search Partners focuses on executive GTM leadership for high-growth B2B SaaS and AI companies. You’ll join an exceptionally collaborative team that values craftsmanship in search, deep partnerships with clients, and real accountability to results. The average tenure on our core team is 6.5 years - rare in recruiting - and reflects both the quality of our work and our culture. You’ll gain ownership early, work directly with senior leaders, and see the impact of your work across the SaaS ecosystem.

COMPENSATION RANGE: $65,000 - $72,000 plus commission *based on level of experience