At Watson, we help Boards be more effective so they can positively shape the future of their organizations. In partnership with our clients, we are tailored and practical in helping recruit and select the right Directors and CEO, strengthen governance, and navigate strategy and risk in a rapidly changing world. At Watson, we help Boards be more effective so they can positively shape the future of their organizations.

In partnership with our clients, we are tailored and practical in helping recruit and select the right Directors and CEO, strengthen governance, and navigate strategy and risk in a rapidly changing world. Building a Strong Board - A Board is at its best when every member adds value. From supporting clients in identifying its needs, to recruiting and selecting new Directors, to succession planning for its leadership, to ensuring the Board’s composition is right for the next phase of its business, we help clients ensure they have the team they need to shape the future.

From crafting the right success profile for their incoming CEO, to helping them find and evaluate highly qualified candidates, to assessing and supporting their performance and leadership, to planning for succession, we help Boards find and support the most important partner in the Board’s work. Understanding the Board’s Performance - Improving as a Board starts with understanding where Boards are strong and what would make them even more effective. From conducting Board Evaluations to designing respectful processes for Director Feedback, we give the Board and its members a more objective and insightful view of their performance, along with practical ways to improve.

From comprehensive Governance Reviews to the design and implementation of structures and practices, we equip Boards with the governance frameworks and tools it needs to support the next phase of its organizational journey. From facilitation to education and coaching, we help Boards align at the highest level, and optimize how, where, and when it tackles the most strategic issues facing its organization. People who work at Watson have a unique opportunity to have a positive impact on Boards of Directors and CEOs, the senior-most decision makers, at organizations throughout our country.

Over the last 20 years, we have supported more than 500 Boards across the full spectrum of sectors, ownership structures, and stages of evolution. The Associate is a core member of our search teams, helping clients make consequential decisions about the leaders and Board members they need for the future. Working closely with Partners and other team members, the Associate contributes across the search process: developing a deep understanding of the client and its context, shaping search strategy,



conducting candidate and market research, building and assessing candidate pipelines, and supporting clients through selection and decision-making.

Search is the foundation of the role, but Associates will also have opportunities to contribute to related CEO and Board advisory work, including succession planning, Board composition planning and leadership evaluation. Over time, the role provides an opportunity to develop a broader understanding of how organizations identify, assess and plan for their most senior leaders and Board members.

Project Excellence

Develop and maintain project workplans, timelines and tools, ensuring teams remain aligned on key milestones, deliverables and responsibilities. Own and increasingly lead discrete workstreams within search engagements, taking responsibility for quality, timelines and follow-through with appropriate Partner oversight. Maintain complete, accurate and current candidate records and pipeline information throughout each engagement.

Draft clear and thoughtful client communications and respond to client inquiries with appropriate Partner oversight. Lead internal project meetings and selected portions of client update discussions, communicating search progress, candidate pipeline developments, emerging issues and next steps. Build proficiency across the systems and tools used to deliver Watson’s search work, including Salesforce, Target Recruit, LinkedIn and Microsoft Office.

Synthesize client context, stakeholder input, market research and candidate insights to help the project team refine leadership requirements, search strategy and assessment criteria throughout an engagement. Conduct targeted candidate and market research using Target Recruit, LinkedIn and other sources to identify and build high-quality candidate pipelines. Develop high-quality client deliverables, including candidate briefs, market insights, interview guides, assessment materials and other search-related materials, with appropriate Partner review.

Conduct candidate outreach and follow-up, building trust and maintaining strong relationships throughout the search process. Synthesize candidate information and assessment insights into clear, thoughtful observations and recommendations for the project team and client. Bring curiosity, judgment and high emotional intelligence to candidate interactions,



recognizing that assessing senior executives and Directors requires understanding nuance beyond a résumé or stated experience.

Develop knowledge of the CEO, executive and Director landscape and contribute relevant market intelligence and candidate insights across the firm. Contribute to marketing, thought leadership and other firm-building activities. Contributing to internal initiatives (process improvement, creating templates, research & knowledge transfer, etc.) The strongest candidates will combine executive search or recruitment experience, strong research and assessment skills, and a consultative approach to working with clients and candidates.

They will be interested not only in executing high-quality searches, but also in understanding the broader organizational, leadership and governance questions that shape CEO and Board decisions. Candidates from related consulting or in-house environments may also be considered where they have relevant experience in candidate research, assessment or senior-level recruitment.

Project ownership: Confident, polished and credible when interacting with senior executives, Board members and other experienced leaders, while knowing when to seek guidance.

High emotional intelligence: Takes ownership for follow-through and quality. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize research, consultations and assessment information into concise, accurate and client-ready materials. Able to manage multiple searches, candidates, stakeholders and deadlines while maintaining accurate records and consistently high-quality work.

Motivated to build expertise beyond search, including CEO succession, Board composition planning and leadership evaluation. Works effectively as part of a project team, provides guidance to Analysts and colleagues, receives feedback constructively and demonstrates a strong appetite for continued development.

Tools: Comfortable using Microsoft Office and digital research tools;

experience with applicant tracking, CRM, or executive search platforms is an asset. The lower end of the range is typically indicative of individuals with limited work experience in a similar setting. Additional compensation includes an annual bonus, three weeks of annual vacation plus additional office closures, group health perks on Day 1, pension plan with company matching, and a $500 personal spending allowance.

We strive to ensure that our hiring process and workplace accommodate the diverse needs of candidates and employees with disabilities. If you require accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact us at hr@watsoninc.

📌 Recruitment Associate, CEO & Board Search (Vancouver)
🏢 Watson Board Advisors
📍 Vancouver