Leveling Role Description
Associate Supports scheduling and assists with sourcing for clients while shadowing Principals. Reports to the Director of Directors.
Sr. Associate Earns a $500 USD commission per placement. Paired with a Sr. Principal for mentorship and guidance.
Principal
Owns and works autonomously on requisitions. Responsible for full-cycle execution.
Sr. Principal Oversees a Sr. Associate and is responsible for their training and development.
Directors Owns client delivery and is accountable for outcomes and overall execution.
Partner

Full List of Levels, Competencies and Skillshttps://rivierapartners-my.sharepoint.com/:x:/p/krupp/EVs63kSus8BNqBU86K4ZJmwBJ-sdv0NpN03QcBmlT3_pDg?rtime=LQXkMosV3Ug&nav=MTVfezE5ODMwQkRBLUY4OEEtNDFCRi05OUE3LUU3REMzQzMwNDgyN30

Competency Description Associate Proficiency Senior Associate Proficiency Principal Efficiency Director Efficiency Partner Efficiency
Client Relationship Management The ability to build, manage, and sustain effective client relationships that support client satisfaction and business growth. Observes senior staffs' interactions with clients and takes potential opportunties with practice and guidance. Builds rapport with clients, follows up promptly, and ensures basic client needs are met. Builds rapport with clients, follows up promptly, and ensures basic client needs are met. Engages clients with strategic insights, adapts approaches based on feedback, and provides ongoing consultation. Nurtures high-level relationships, identifies opportunities for growth, and strengthens trust with key stakeholders.
Information Gathering The ability to effectively collect, organize, and document client information to inform search processes. Accurately collects and documents basic client information during kickoff calls; follows standard processes. Accurately collects and documents basic client information during kickoff calls; follows standard processes. Accurately collects and documents basic client information during kickoff calls; follows standard processes. Proactively gathers detailed information, assesses its relevance, and fills in gaps as necessary. Anticipates client needs, identifies critical information, and synthesizes insights to inform strategic decision-making.
Preparation and Planning The ability to plan and prepare for client interactions and searches, ensuring thoroughness and efficiency. Schedules calls, prepares agendas, and collects and completes any needed documents with guidance from senior staff. Schedules calls, prepares agendas, and completes alignment documents with guidance from senior staff. Schedules calls, prepares agendas, and completes alignment documents with guidance from senior staff. Leads preparation for client calls, identifies key questions, and organizes search processes proactively. Strategically plans and aligns resources for complex searches, ensuring readiness for high-stakes client engagements.
Professional Presence Demonstrates confidence, professionalism, and enthusiasm that reflects positively on the organization. Presents professionally on calls, and maintains a positive demeanor. Presents professionally on calls, expresses in a clear and concise manner, and maintains a positive demeanor. Presents professionally on calls, communicates effectively, and maintains a positive demeanor. Displays expertise and confidence, adapts communication to the client’s needs, and is seen as a trusted advisor. Represents the organization as a thought leader, exudes credibility, and enhances the organization's reputation.
Follow-up and Accountability Ensures all actions and communications post-client meetings are completed on time and meet quality standards. Sends follow-up emails, updates records, and follows task timelines with guidance from senior staff. Sends follow-up emails, updates records, and follows task timelines with minimal errors or reminders. Sends follow-up emails, updates records, and follows task timelines with minimal errors. Proactively ensures tasks are completed, manages follow-up communications, and resolves any open issues. Anticipates follow-up needs, drives accountability within the team, and ensures client satisfaction through ongoing engagement.
Data Management Proficient in the use of the company software system to maintain search information according to search processes. Learning how to use company software system to maintain search information according to search processes. Understands how to use company software system to maintain search information according to search processes. Can instruct others on the use of the company software system to maintain search information according to search processes. Uses the insights of the company software system to maintain search information according to search processes and report insights to client. Uses the insights of the company software system to maintain health of the projects when selling to potential new clients.
Industry Knowledge Understands the client’s industry to accurately portray opportunities to potential candidates. Basic industry research and trend awareness relevant to the client's field. Proficient knowledge of client industry trends and competitive positioning. In-depth knowledge of client industry trends and competitive positioning. In-depth knowledge of client industry trends and competitive positioning. Acts as an industry expert, leveraging insights to inform strategic candidate pitches and engagement.
Search Strategy Development The capacity to create, refine, and execute targeted search strategies that align with client objectives and market conditions. Observing the execution of search strategies by senior staff and learning to source candidates based on role requirements. Implements established search strategies with guidance, sources candidates based on role requirements. Analyzes client needs, refines search strategies, and adjusts to changing client or market conditions. Analyzes client needs, refines search strategies, and adjusts to changing client or market conditions. Creates long-term strategic plans for client searches, introducing innovative approaches and optimizing search methodologies.
Requirements Identification Effectively identifies and documents client role requirements to drive the search strategy. Collects high-level role requirements and records them accurately. Collects high-level and specific role requirements and records them accurately. Classifies role requirements as must-haves and nice-to-haves, aligning them with search strategy. Proactively uncovers detailed requirements, anticipates future needs, and aligns them with broader search strategies.
Proactive Candidate Engagement The ability to identify, engage, and pre-qualify candidates who align with client needs. Sources and presents candidates based on role requirements to senior staff, engages candidates on a basic level. Sources and presents candidates based on role requirements, engages candidates on an in-depth level. Pre-qualifies and engages candidates who align with client requirements, proactively builds pipelines. Pre-qualifies and engages candidates who align with client requirements, proactively builds pipelines. Develops strategic talent pipelines, anticipates future needs, and engages top-tier candidates for key roles.
Personalization and Customization Crafts personalized outreach templates to attract top candidates, adapting messaging based on candidate profile and industry trends. Practices writing standard templates with minor customizations for individual candidates with guidance from senior staff. Customizes outreach messaging based on candidate insights, tailoring content to be relevant with senior staff guidance. Customizes outreach messaging based on candidate insights, tailoring content to be highly relevant. Creates fully personalized messages that resonate with candidates and drive higher response rates.
Candidate Sourcing The ability to strategically source candidates from various ecosystems, including passive and active candidates, and build strong pipelines. Identifies candidates based on role requirements and ecosystem research, submits qualified profiles. Identifies candidates based on role requirements and ecosystem research, submits qualified profiles. Adjusts sourcing strategies based on feedback, actively builds pipelines with high-potential candidates. Develops strategic sourcing plans, anticipates client needs, and builds extensive candidate networks.
Ecosystem Analysis Identifies and analyzes relevant ecosystems to create targeted candidate pools. Basic research on industry players and potential sources of talent. Basic research on industry players and potential sources of talent. Creates targeted lists of companies and industries, leveraging insights for sourcing. Creates targeted lists of companies and industries, leveraging insights for sourcing. Deeply understands ecosystem dynamics, identifying emerging talent pools and networking opportunities.
Status Call Management The ability to conduct effective status calls, using them as opportunities to inform, strategize, and strengthen client partnerships. Prepares for and observes status calls, ensuring basic updates and relevant details are compiled. Prepares for status calls, ensuring basic updates and relevant details are compiled, always prepared to participate. Provides strategic insights during status calls, using them to guide the search process and build client trust. Provides strategic insights during c;ient updates, using them to guide the recruiting process and maintain project tracking. Leads status calls as strategic discussions, setting expectations, and aligning closely with client goals.
Progress Reporting Provides clients with updates on search progress, addressing any challenges and potential solutions. Provides standard progress updates and addresses basic client questions. Learning to prepare standard progress updates and how to address basic client questions with senior staff. Provides standard progress updates and addresses basic client questions. Shares detailed reports with strategic insights and recommendations for next steps. Leads discussions on search progress, using data-driven insights to inform strategic decisions with the client.
Candidate Evaluation Effectively evaluates candidates to determine fit with client requirements during intake calls. Learning to ask basic questions to assess candidate fit with role requirements. Proficient in asking candidate assessment questions based on the needs of the client. Ability to anticipate both basic and unique assessment questions  based on the needs of the client and adapt them over time. Uses structured interviews to evaluate candidates, providing nuanced insights to the client. Conducts in-depth evaluations, assessing candidate alignment with client goals and long-term potential.
Needs Identification Identifies candidate needs and motivations to align with client roles effectively. Identifies primary motivations and constraints during intake calls. Identifies primary motivations and constraints during intake calls. Identifies primary motivations and constraints during intake calls. Uncovers deeper motivations, anticipating alignment with client needs. Advises clients on candidate needs, helping align offers with candidate expectations for long-term fit.
Stakeholder Coordination Effectively coordinates with various stakeholders, including board members, investors, and the hiring team, to manage expectations. Engages with secondary client contacts and maintains ongoing communication. Engages with primary client contacts and maintains ongoing communication. Engages with primary client contacts and maintains ongoing communication. Works with additional stakeholders, coordinating efforts across teams and ensuring alignment. Leads stakeholder engagement, maintaining relationships that drive successful outcomes across multiple areas.
Candidate Experience Ensures a positive candidate experience by providing clear and respectful communication throughout the recruitment process. Provides timely updates and ensures candidates feel respected during interactions. Provides timely updates and ensures candidates feel respected during interactions. Proactively supports candidates, addressing concerns, and ensuring they have a positive experience. Proactively supports candidates, addressing concerns, and ensuring they have a positive experience. Creates a seamless, high-touch candidate experience that strengthens the employer brand and encourages long-term relationships.
Debriefing and Feedback Facilitates debriefs after interviews, gathering insights to refine the search process. Gathers basic information/documents from candidates and relays it to the senior/staff. Gathers basic feedback from candidates and relays it to the client with guidance from senior staff. Gathers basic feedback from candidates and relays it to the client. Conducts structured debriefs, identifying areas of alignment or improvement for the candidate and the client. Leads debrief sessions, providing actionable feedback that supports strategic decision-making for the client.
Calibration and Adjustment Continuously adjusts sourcing strategies based on client feedback and candidate availability to align with evolving needs. Implements minor adjustments based on direct feedback from the client. Proactively refines sourcing strategies as needed, ensuring alignment with client requirements. Anticipates sourcing needs, calibrates search strategies in real-time, and provides strategic sourcing advice. Anticipates sourcing needs, calibrates search strategies in real-time, and provides strategic sourcing advice. Anticipates sourcing needs, calibrates search strategies in real-time, and provides strategic sourcing advice.
Data-Driven Decision Making Uses data and insights to drive strategic decisions in the search process. Uses available data to inform basic decisions; follows established practices. Uses available data to inform basic decisions; follows established practices. Uses available data to inform basic decisions; follows established practices. Analyzes trends and uses data to refine search strategies and inform client recommendations. Leverages deep data insights to make high-level strategic recommendations to clients and optimize the search process.
Offer and Negotiation Facilitation The skill of guiding clients and candidates through the offer and negotiation process, ensuring clear communication and alignment on expectations. Observes offer process. Assists clients and candidates with basic offer details, communicates updates, and facilitates alignment with senior staff guidance. Leads the offer and negotiation process, positioning offers to meet both client and candidate expectations while strengthening relationships. Advises clients on negotiation tactics and helps candidates understand offer components, ensuring transparent communication.
Expectation Alignment Ensures alignment between client expectations and candidate needs to support a smooth negotiation process. Manages basic expectation setting on pipeline development and data management with senior staff. Manages basic expectation-setting with clients and candidates and maintains ongoing and prompt communication. Manages complx expectation-setting with clients and candidates and maintains ongoing and prompt communication. Actively aligns client and candidate expectations, advising on potential areas of misalignment. Drives alignment at a strategic level, ensuring offers meet both client business needs and candidate motivations.