Firm:
Founded in 1969, Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) is a privately held, global executive search and leadership advisory firm. The 400+ consultants in 47 global offices work with public, private and non-profit organizations across all industries and regions. In Canada, RRA has a team of 35 in three offices: Toronto, ON, Calgary, AB and Montreal, QC. The clients they serve are within the following sectors: Financial Services, Industrial Natural Resources, Technology/Telecom, Consumer, Retail and Pharmaceuticals.
RRA, helps clients build teams of transformational leaders who can meet today's challenges and anticipate the digital, economic and political trends that are reshaping the global business environment. From helping boards with their structure, culture and effectiveness to identifying, assessing and defining the best leadership for organizations - the teams bring their decades of expertise to help clients solve their most complex leadership issues.
The success over the past four decades is attributable to the outstanding quality of the people, and a culture focused on excellence in client service:
- They equip clients with a clear plan to act on leadership, talent, and organizational opportunities and in the future--challenging the clients with market intelligence and insight
- RRA uses the entirety of their global network to build meaningful long-term relationships with exceptional people--both candidates and clients. They take the time to gain a thorough understanding of each client's business goals and strategy, position in the marketplace, business life cycle, existing and future competition, and culture/values.
- They help clients to "see around corners" by presenting the most effective team to serve on each engagement, based on the role and geography.
- They maintain an open dialogue with clients and candidates throughout the assignment, ensuring that expectations are met on both sides.
- RRA identifies emerging trends in leadership and talent that are unique and actionable. They identify the most experienced and proven candidates: leaders who will make an immediate and significant impact on client organizations.
Because RRA chose to remain private, they focus exclusively on client's challenges. They are undistracted by the pressure of near-term earnings, yet the quality of work allows them to remain consistently profitable. Russell Reynolds Associates is committed to investing in training and career development as part of a long-standing belief that the firm benefits from a "grow from within" philosophy.
The Role:
RRA Canada currently has a need for a Research Associate Intern based in the Toronto office. The Research Associate Intern is a member of our Global Research Team, who will support Consultants and Senior Researchers in Canada with various components of the search process across a number of sectors including: Technology/Telecom, Financial services, Consumer and CEO & Board.
The Research Associate Intern is responsible for working in conjunction with consultants throughout the kick-off, strategy, and execution of search engagements to bring each search to a successful completion. Additionally, this person will also participate in the preparation of potential new business presentations, client meetings, and candidate interviews, where appropriate.
Responsibilities:
Search Process
- Conduct company research (includes analysis and tracking of prospective candidates)
- Maintain the high-quality information, with timely, accurate capture of data gathered during the course of search work
- Produce comprehensive reports, which detail the relevant target companies, possible market sources and candidates for an assignment
- Contribute to identification of "best in class", high quality, diverse candidate slates (both obvious and non-obvious) by:
- Identifying potential candidates based on job specification and resumes
- Identifying appropriate internal and external sources
- Developing sound working knowledge of on-line and proprietary database search engines to identify relevant candidates
- Liaise with colleagues in other offices to share ideas and best practices
- Collaborate with administrative support in the creation of client status reports and other client facing materials
Business Development
Conduct background research and develop components of credible, client ready materials to support business development efforts; ensure accuracy and timeliness of information provided to Consultants
Closely monitor specific markets, using research tools and resources, and highlight potential opportunities to support consultants in the development of new relationships and broadening existing ones
Knowledge management and Sector/Practice Activities
- Contribute to building our global database by proactively tracking and capturing individuals in target markets
- Work closely with Knowledge Management team to capture both search and non-search related information in RRA's proprietary information system
- Develop and demonstrate domain knowledge, insight and an informed view to support consultants and enhance our standing in the market
- Contribute actively to the development of best practice initiatives
The Candidate
Qualifications
- A bachelor's degree in business, math or science; ideally holds an advanced degree
- 5+ years of post-secondary business experience is preferred
- General interest and basic familiarity with the Canadian corporate landscape
- Interest in professional services/consulting
- Relentless curiosity and is comfortable with the challenge of unfamiliar tasks; strong learning orientation and zeal for seeking out new information on competitors, issues, trends and best practices to increase impact with clients
- Excellent writing skills and ability to produce quality and ability to produce quality, well-structured documentation for clients
- Highly organized--outstanding time management, project management and ability to prioritize
- Strong proficient in MS Office suite, specifically PowerPoint, Word and Excel
- Excellent listening skills
- Ability to filter large amounts of information, quickly identify the salient points and provide relevant insights
Personal Qualities
- Bright, smart, intuitive
- Intellectually curious and a quick thinker
- Able to develop and defend a point of view
- Demonstrates above average levels of skepticism. Knows when to question the status quo
- Drive and tenacity with the desire to excel
- Self-starter, who can meet deadlines while multi-tasking
- Forensic attention to detail
- Resilient
- Results focused
- Strong team orientation and collaborative instincts
- Sound judgement
- Culturally aware
- Personal maturity and good judgement. highly professional in all circumstances
Career Potential:
Russell Reynolds Associates offers a variety of different career paths for Research. The firm takes pride in the fact that, every year, a small number of Researchers are promoted into the Consultant ranks and we provide formal support in this process through the Associate-in-training program. We also provide leadership opportunities to those who are keen to stay in the Research ranks but aspire to get involved in broader initiatives around training, mentoring and contributing to the overall research strategy. Finally, our researchers can move into our knowledge team, which focuses on creating insight into industry and talent trends.