Executive Job Search & Recruiting Operations Specialist

Executive Job Search & Recruiting Operations Specialist — Research, Outreach, Applications & Networking I am not hiring a general virtual assistant. I am hiring someone with demonstrated knowledge of recruiting, talent acquisition, candidate sourcing, and executive job-search strategy who can operate as my **Research & Recruiting Operations Specialist**. I am targeting Director and C-suite level remote roles across AI strategy, systems design, program leadership, and organizational strategy — plus **fractional consulting opportunities** (fractional Chief AI Officer, fractional operations/strategy work). I already have resumes, target-company lists, outreach templates, a defined strategy, and a growing professional portfolio. I need someone who can take those assets and execute — not someone who needs the strategy re-explained or defaults to their own approach when mine has already been stated clearly. **This role has two tracks running in parallel:** 1. Traditional remote Director/C-suite job search 2. Fractional consulting client acquisition (outreach, relationship-building, positioning) If you only understand one of these, say so honestly in your proposal — I may hire two specialists rather than one generalist. Recruiting Knowledge Required — Not Optional You should understand ATS systems, recruiter and hiring-manager screening, referral-based hiring, direct sourcing, executive search, hidden/unadvertised opportunities, and why Indeed and LinkedIn Easy Apply produce volume, not quality, for senior roles. If your job-search experience is mainly submitting applications through Indeed, **this is not the right role for you.** I operate from a "side doors" philosophy — the idea that most valuable opportunities are found through specific, personalized outreach and relationship-building rather than blind applications into saturated pipelines. You should be comfortable with cold and warm outreach, identifying decision-makers, and creating small, specific proof-of-value touchpoints rather than generic pitches. What You Will Do **Applications:** Submit tailored applications through direct company career pages, niche platforms, and executive/fractional platforms — customized per role using resume and portfolio materials I provide. **Outreach & Relationship-Building:** Research target companies and identify hiring managers, recruiters, HR contacts, and relevant executives. Send personalized outreach (email + LinkedIn) — including to companies with no publicly posted opening, to build relationships ahead of future roles. Track every touchpoint and manage follow-up cadences (minimum 2-3 touches per contact) without being reminded. **LinkedIn Outreach (research & drafting only — no account access required):** Using a provided tracker and a set of 13 pre-written message templates (connection requests, informational-interview asks, referral asks, follow-ups), source 15-20 relevant contacts per week matching my target roles, personalize each template with one specific, real detail about the person or company, and log it all in the tracker. I review and send every message myself from my own account — this role does not include LinkedIn login credentials under any circumstance. **Fractional Consulting Outreach (separate lane):** Identify small-to-mid-size organizations that could benefit from fractional AI strategy or operations consulting. Research and reach out to decision-makers with a consultative, non-salesy approach. This is relationship-building for long-term flexible income, not traditional job applications. **Portfolio Support:** I have a professional portfolio site and a flagship project — a full AI-integrated workflow application I independently designed and built — that needs case study materials organized and a professional walkthrough video coordinated (you don't need to create the video yourself, but you should be able to research and coordinate a freelance video editor for this). **Tracking:** Maintain one simple, functional tracker: Company, Role/Type (Job or Fractional Lead), URL, Source, Date Applied/Contacted, Follow-Up dates, Response, Status, Notes. Functional over elaborate — it should reflect real execution, not become its own project. Job Boards & Platforms to Use **Mainstream (discovery only, not primary application strategy):** LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter **High-level & niche:** Ladders (roles $100K+), Hired, The Muse, Built In, Wellfound (AngelList), Otta, Pallet, Contra **Remote-first & flexible schedules:** We Work Remotely, Remote.co, FlexJobs, Working Nomads, Jobspresso, Remotive, Dynamite Jobs, Pangian, Nodesk, Outsourcely, wantremotejobs.com, ShortListJobs.com **Executive & fractional:** Toptal, Bolster, Catalant, Umbrex, Expert360, Communo, YunoJuno **Education & mission-driven:** HigherEdJobs, EdSurge Jobs, Idealist, Education Week Jobs I am specifically interested in companies offering **four-day workweeks, 4x10 or 9/80 compressed schedules, or highly flexible/async remote arrangements** — I have a young child and need genuine schedule flexibility, not just "remote" in name only. **Fully remote only — no hybrid, no relocation.** I'm also prioritizing **startups and high-growth/upcoming companies that offer equity** as part of compensation — I want ownership in what I help build, not just a paycheck. Weight target-company research toward growth-stage and funded startups over large, static corporations. Part of your research role is identifying which companies genuinely offer flexibility versus which just say "flexible" in a job post, and flagging equity/ownership structure where it's publicly known or discoverable. What Success Looks Like — First 1-2 Working Days, Not Weeks Applications submitted through direct company pages and niche platforms. Target companies researched with specific contacts identified. Personalized outreach sent and tracked — including LinkedIn touchpoints logged in the provided tracker and at least a few fractional-consulting-lead touchpoints. A tracker that's actually current. Screening Questions — Answer All, or Your Proposal Won't Be Reviewed 1. Begin your proposal with the words: **"I understand this is an execution role."** 2. Explain what happens to a candidate after they submit an application, from the recruiter's side. 3. What's the difference between a recruiter, talent sourcer, HR business partner, and hiring manager — and which would you prioritize contacting first, and why? 4. If a remote Director-level role was posted three days ago with hundreds of applicants already, what would you do besides applying? 5. Describe one time you used networking, direct outreach, or referrals — not a job board — to help someone land an interview or client. 6. Have you ever supported outreach for **fractional/consulting** work specifically (not full-time job placement)? If yes, describe it briefly. 7. What recruiting/sourcing tools have you actually used? (LinkedIn Recruiter, Sales Navigator, Apollo, Hunter, RocketReach, ContactOut, Clay, Boolean search, ATS platforms — only list what you've genuinely used.) 8. Are you comfortable doing LinkedIn outreach research and drafting without ever having login access to the account itself? Paid Trial Required Before any ongoing contract, I'll provide a batch of target companies, resumes, and approved outreach templates. Within a defined number of paid hours, you'll research contacts, prepare outreach, identify strong-fit roles or fractional leads, and update a tracker. This tests execution and judgment, not interview polish. ## Hours Approximately 10 hours/week to start, with strong potential to grow for the right person — this role has long-term potential as my fractional consulting work develops. ## Do Not Apply If Your primary strategy is Indeed or LinkedIn Easy Apply. You need constant direction. You prefer building systems over shipping work. You're uncomfortable with direct outreach to recruiters, hiring managers, or potential consulting clients. You've only ever done traditional job-application support and have no exposure to consulting/fractional client outreach. You expect to be given account login credentials to execute outreach.