Senior Researcher, Health
Salary: Competitive + Benefits Reporting to: Research Lead, Health
Help shape the future of healthcare leadership
At GatenbySanderson, we find and develop leaders who shape a better society. As the UK's leading executive search and leadership consulting firm for the public and not-for-profit sectors, we partner with organisations tackling some of society's most complex challenges.
Our Health Practice is the market leader for senior executive and board appointments across the NHS, healthcare social enterprises, health innovation networks, and arm’s length bodies throughout the UK. Each year we support more than 10,000 candidates, deliver over 150 health assignments, and work with healthcare organisations across the UK to identify exceptional leadership talent.
We're looking for a talented Senior Researcher to join our Health Practice and play a critical role in identifying, engaging and attracting senior leaders who can make a real difference to healthcare services and patient outcomes.
The opportunity
As a Senior Researcher, you'll be at the heart of our executive search process. Working alongside experienced Consultants, you'll lead market mapping, talent identification and candidate engagement across a variety of senior leadership and board-level appointments. For example, we have recently helped NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Barts Health NHS Trust, Swansea Bay University Health Board and Manx Care in the Isle of Man with senior appointments. We work with specialist organisations such as Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Moorfields NHS Foundation Trust. We support those facing significant challenges, such as Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. We work with those on the leading edge of ethics (such as the Government of Jersey’s Assisted Dying Assurance and Delivery Committee Chair) and the cutting edge of research and innovation (such as and Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust).
This is a highly visible role where you'll build relationships with senior healthcare leaders, create diverse talent pipelines, provide market intelligence and ensure an exceptional candidate experience throughout the search process.
You'll typically manage three to four assignments simultaneously and will be involved from initial briefing through to longlisting, helping clients access the strongest and most diverse talent available.
What you'll be doing:
Talent Search & Candidate Engagement
- Conduct market mapping and executive search research across the health sector and wider leadership markets.
- Identify, engage and assess senior executive and board-level talent.
- Build and nurture long-term candidate networks and talent communities.
- Source diverse candidate pools and proactively reach underrepresented groups.
- Develop candidate referrals and uncover future opportunities for both candidates and clients.
Market Intelligence
- Produce insightful market maps, candidate reports and research briefs.
- Gather and analyse candidate feedback and sector intelligence.
- Share key market insights with consultants and clients.
- Develop a strong understanding of healthcare leadership trends and talent markets.
Project Delivery
- Attend client briefing meetings and contribute to search strategy discussions.
- Deliver high-quality weekly progress reports for clients and consultants.
- Conduct candidate due diligence, including online research and reference reviews.
- Support longlisting activities and ensure project milestones are achieved.
Building the GatenbySanderson Brand
- Act as a professional ambassador for GatenbySanderson across all candidate interactions.
- Act as a role model for less experienced researchers, supporting their development as part of the team.
- Contribute to thought leadership, market insights and content development.
- Help strengthen our reputation within healthcare and public sector leadership communities.
About you
We're looking for someone who is intellectually curious, relationship-focused, team-oriented and motivated by delivering outstanding results.
You will currently be working in:
- Executive search (ideally Healthcare)
- In-house senior talent acquisition
- Professional services recruitment & research
You'll bring:
- Experience conducting structured, credible conversations with senior stakeholders.
- Strong relationship-building and influencing skills.
- Excellent written communication and report-writing abilities.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- The ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
- Confidence researching markets and sourcing talent through a variety of channels.
- High levels of resilience, professionalism and attention to detail.
- A collaborative approach and commitment to delivering exceptional service.
It would be an advantage if you have:
- Experience within executive search.
- Knowledge of the NHS, healthcare sector or public sector leadership markets.
- Experience engaging with executive and board-level candidates.
- Familiarity with Boolean searching and online sourcing techniques.
Why join us?
At GatenbySanderson, you'll work on some of the most important leadership appointments across the UK. You'll gain exposure to senior healthcare leaders, develop deep market expertise and be part of a collaborative team committed to improving public services through exceptional leadership.
We offer:
- Meaningful and impactful work.
- A supportive and collaborative culture.
- Opportunities for learning and professional development.
- Exposure to senior-level client and candidate relationships.
- Hybrid working arrangements; with team members spread throughout the UK and able to work at home or in one of our three offices, we place no expectations on your location.
- We allow sensible flexibility for you to manage your work-life balance.
- The chance to contribute to a more diverse and effective leadership landscape across healthcare.
- Lots of opportunities to contribute to, and benefit from, connections across the company through our Affinity Groups and more informal networks.
Apply now
If you're curious about people, passionate about delivering exceptional candidate experiences, and excited by the opportunity to help shape leadership across the health sector, we'd love to hear from you.
Join us and help find the leaders who will shape a better society.
Pay: £37,000.00-£50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company pension
- Gym membership
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Private medical insurance
- Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Leeds LS1
