Research Analyst role is the entry point for this career development.
As a single source for leadership and talent consulting services to empower businesses and leaders to reach their goals, Korn Ferry can offer you the perfect environment in which to reach yours as well.
We currently employ more than eleven thousand professionals in over fifty countries and serving clients all over the globe. As one of them, you will have endless opportunities to innovate, make an impact and work with the best. You will also have plenty of freedom to chart your own course, as you grow and develop with our business.
Talent matters at Korn Ferry. We created a colleague-centric culture where everyone can make an impact on our business, our clients’ businesses and their own careers. Some of the things that make our culture special:
- Creativity – We look to one another to generate innovative solutions, not only for our clients but also for ourselves.
- Collaboration – We work in an open environment with a borderless mentality, sharing the expertise of our team members around the world.
- Performance – We are committed to exceeding client expectations, so high performance levels are a given.
- Inclusivity – We encourage everyone to contribute to the success of the business; there is no role at Korn Ferry that is insignificant.
- Integrity – We believe that how you go about business is as important as business results.
- Agility – We work in a fast-moving, dynamic industry where change is the only constant and flexibility is key to our success.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Our Talent Acquisition solutions consist of Executive Search, Professional Search, Interim Search and Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO).
The Research Analyst (RA) role will work in the Executive Search area where we identify and attract the right senior leaders, C-Suite and board members to make a difference in organizations and help them achieve their business goals faster. We are a multicultural, diverse, and collaborative company and operate in a fast-growth and very dynamic business environment. You will be working on local, regional, and occasionally global projects. You will work with colleagues that are aligned, as you are, in a specific Market and/or Center of Expertise.
Currently, we have developed deeper functional and industry-based expertise, particularly in
Technology & Digital, Supply Chain, Energy & Utilities, Consumer & Retail, Life Sciences,
Financial Services, Technology Officers, HR Officers, Financial Officers, Marketing Officers and Risk and Compliance. These specializations allow us to better solve the diverse talent needs of our marketplace. The role of the RA is critical for the market mapping and name generation/identification of candidates for executive search projects, as well as assisting with market intelligence and development of presentations and documents for business development purposes.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE:
The Research Analyst is an important part of the Global Investment Banking & Markets practice. The primary focus of this role is working closely with the Investment banking search team to support the practice in preparing for business development meetings, updating candidate/industry research and helping deliver on executive search projects. Typical job focus includes:
- Providing engagement research support to the client and the team.
- Researching the investment banking market and developing target lists.
- Identifying potential candidates from a variety of online and proprietary tools. Also, tapping into personal networks to uncover information not available from public sources.
- Capture and maintain accurate market, client, and candidate information in the company’s systems to facilitate the search process.
- Oversee the preparation and updating of Market Mappings, People Moves data and other Investment Banking & Markets specific research platforms.
- Manage the research and market intelligence data of the search process to always ensure the highest quality execution of client engagement.
Additional responsibilities for a Research Analyst may include:
Searcher™ Data Quality Management and Entry Consistently inputting and updating highly confidential candidate records in our proprietary Client Resource Management (CRM).
Business Development Support Participating in deck preparation and design in collaboration with the Partner who has determined the search and business development strategy.
Candidate ID Providing research in support of candidate identification and business development activities of the practice. Help develops appropriate candidate “target” lists for the search engagement teams using a wide range of online, print and proprietary information resources.
Internal/External Call Participation Attending and/or listening in on kick-off meetings, suggesting possible targets, and attending client briefings/meetings when possible; Attending or listening in on all applicable sector and practice meetings/calls.
Focus on Client and Candidate Service: Developing a full understanding of the search and the research needs of internal clients; Developing confidence and trust of both internal and external clients.
Market Intelligence: Teaming up on “proprietary” market intelligence projects relating to the Investment Banking & Markets industry; Proactively identifying and tracking organizational, industry, and/or functional trends and reporting findings.
ROLE COMPETENCIES AND SUCCESS FACTORS:
The RA position at Korn Ferry is viewed as a critical position in providing market intelligence, market mapping and candidate identifying through the search process. Successful RAs could advance within the firm to the Associate level, where they will be responsible for identifying and development of candidates for the search process. RAs will develop skills and competencies before being ready to progress within the firm.
YEAR ONE CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Learn the researcher role and become an effective member of the search team.
Master ability to identify relevant candidate backgrounds from a variety of sources including:
- Searcher Express™ (proprietary candidate database)
- LinkedIn, Capital IQ, BoardEx, Pitchbook, ZoomInfo, etc.
- Industry associations and trade publications
Manage time effectively to simultaneously balance research requests from multiple search teams. Actively engage with colleagues of all levels to create a culture of transparency, collaboration, respect, execution, and professionalism.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS
Intelligence and Intellectual Curiosity
Must be genuinely interested in learning about people, business and industry characteristics/needs. Need the ability to quickly learn Investment Banking & Markets industry fundamentals. Importantly, they must have a high "EQ" (Emotional [Maturity] Quotient). Need sufficient conceptual skills to understand broad industry concepts and analytical skills to “drill down” to determine depth of experience.
High Energy Level
Must work on multiple assignments simultaneously, adhering to best practice guidelines. Must be willing to work hours required to complete the assignment. “Street Smarts” The ability to quickly discern the criteria most important for candidate success in a particular search and think in a nonlinear fashion to work smarter and creatively; Listen to and process candidate information in such a way as to determine likely fit with the opportunity and quickly “close” the conversation to specific next steps or additional source or candidate identification.
Contribution to Resources
Adds to and updates Searcher. Conducts a thorough evaluation of the outcome of research provided on a search and ensures that results are recorded in Searcher. Actively contributes to the practice knowledge system and to practice and research meetings.
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Operates effectively with minimal guidance, demonstrating strong initiative to seek clarification when necessary. Provides meaningful feedback and when appropriate offers value-added suggestions for approaching the search in a different way. Provides research support in business development efforts.
Efficiency and Need for Closure
Work with multiple managers and prioritize task effectively. The capability to close searches quickly at exception quality, while optimizing profit consistent with the value delivered.
Persistence and Thoroughness
Ability to work in a fast-paced and unstructured work environment, able to assertively navigate organizational structures, but with sensitivity and finesse. Associates must reliably complete necessary paperwork and follow procedures effectively, especially those involving protecting key assets, such as proprietary databases.
Outstanding Communication Skills
RAs need excellent overall communications skills; they must demonstrate excellent verbal skills, written skills in drafting emails and other required documents, and presentation skills for both internal stakeholders and clients.
Discretion
Must project an understanding and appreciation for the strict confidentiality of client and candidate information and protect it as appropriate.
Poise and Professional Presence.
Although in-person client contact is not the primary focus of this position, the Research Analyst will interface frequently with very senior stakeholders and must project a professional image.
Positive Cultural Influence
Although our culture is independent and entrepreneurial, team orientation is becoming increasingly important. At a minimum, the RA must interface well with other office associates but ideally will become a valued and important part of building a positive culture.
Technical Expertise
Advanced Excel expertise with a strong focus on PivotTables, advanced data analysis, workflow automation, and deriving strategic insights from large and complex datasets—well beyond basic data entry and simple formulas.
LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS
Getting Organized
The RA is well-organized, resourceful, and focused; effective and efficient at marshalling multiple resources to get things done; lays out tasks in sufficient detail to mark the trail; gets things done with less and in less time; can work on multiple tasks at once without losing track of any; foresees obstacles and plans around them.
Focusing on Action and Outcomes
Attacks everything with drive and energy with an eye on the bottom line; unafraid to initiate action before all the facts are known; drives to finish everything he/she starts.
Communicating Effectively
Writes and presents effectively; adjusts to fit the audience and the message; gets a message across with precision, clarity, brevity, and a relentless desire to re-read / proofread.
Managing Up
Is ambitious and is comfortable marketing himself/herself to higher management; knows how to relate effectively to top management, and can advocate for him/herself
Relating Skills
Warm, friendly, and interpersonally agile; easy to approach and talk to; relates well to all kinds of people; makes a pleasant first impression and builds solid relationships.
Managing Diverse Relationships
Relates well to a wide variety of diverse styles, types, and classes; open to differences; effective up, down, sideways, inside, and outside; builds diverse networks; quick to find common ground; treats differences fairly and equitably; treats everyone as a preferred customer.
Demonstrating Personal Flexibility
Open to lifelong, continuous personal improvement; aware of self and impact on others; responsive to feedback; is very flexible; can act in ways that seem contradictory and is adaptable to demand characteristics of different situations.
EDUCATION
An undergraduate degree from a well-regarded institution is required. Familiarity with Microsoft Office Products and databases (such as Bloomberg, Factiva, Lexis-Nexis) are a plus.
LOCATION
Position based in New York office.
