Executive Recruiter

Position: Executive Recruiter

Job Description:

As we continue to grow, we are seeking an experienced and dynamic Executive Recruiter to join our Talent Acquisition team. This individual will play a critical role in identifying and attracting top leadership talent across our corporate and field operations.

The Executive Recruiter will drive high-impact hiring initiatives across Forward Air by sourcing and securing top-tier, management-level and executive talent. This role is ideal for a strategic and resourceful recruiter who thrives on proactively finding and engaging high-caliber professionals and convincing them to join the winning culture and mentality at Forward Air. The successful candidate will be skilled in executive search methodologies, market mapping, and competitive intelligence gathering.

The successful candidate will not only have the problem solving mindset that would drive them to attending industry events in which are attended by regular talent profiles of theirs, but they will also demonstrate the ability to effectively network and socialize at these events - all while demonstrating the ability to do so while also balancing their day to day recruiting workload.

Preferred but not required in this role: Experience with IT/Technical, Human Resources, and/or general executive level sourcing.

Core Responsibilities & Duties:

• Proactive Talent Sourcing: Develop and execute comprehensive sourcing strategies to identify, attract, and engage passive candidates for exempt-level roles across corporate functions and field operations.
• Market Intelligence: Conduct in-depth research on competitors and industry trends to identify top talent and develop strategic hiring recommendations.
• Candidate Outreach & Engagement: Utilize innovative outreach techniques, including direct headhunting, networking, referrals, and digital sourcing tools to build strong talent pipelines.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with hiring managers and senior leadership to understand business needs, define role requirements, and align talent acquisition strategies with organizational goals.
• Full-Cycle Recruitment: Manage the recruitment process from sourcing through offer negotiation, ensuring a seamless and high-quality candidate experience.
• Creative Problem Solving: Develop tailored sourcing approaches for complex and niche searches, leveraging multiple channels and unconventional recruitment tactics.
• Executive-Level Assessment: Conduct structured interviews and evaluate candidates' leadership capabilities, cultural fit, and potential impact on Forward Air.
• Employer Branding: Enhance Forward Air's reputation as an employer of choice by leveraging strategic talent marketing and professional networking opportunities.
• Pipeline Development: Build and maintain a high-quality pipeline of managerial and executive talent for current and future hiring needs.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in executive recruiting, corporate talent acquisition, or agency search focused on exempt-level roles.
• Proven ability to source and recruit passive talent through direct outreach, networking, and competitor intelligence.
• Experience working across multiple disciplines in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to understand and align recruitment strategies with company objectives.
• Hands-on experience with sourcing tools (LinkedIn Recruiter, Boolean search, ATS, CRM, etc.).
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Creative and strategic problem solver with a track record of successfully filling hard-to-source roles.
• Comfortable managing multiple searches simultaneously and adapting quickly to shifting priorities.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field (preferred).

Skills:

• Expertise in direct sourcing and passive candidate engagement
• Strong ability to map markets and identify top talent at competitors
• Proficiency in Boolean search, LinkedIn Recruiter, and CRM/ATS systems
• Experience using alternative sourcing techniques beyond job boards
• Strong networking skills to build long-term talent pipelines
• Ability to engage, persuade, and sell opportunities to passive candidates
• Skilled in managing executive-level relationships and maintaining confidentiality
• Ability to build rapport and gain trust quickly
• Ability to develop custom sourcing strategies for hard-to-fill roles
• Flexibility and adaptability in changing hiring needs
• Experience managing end-to-end recruitment from sourcing to offer negotiation
• Strong skills in behavioral interviewing and assessing leadership capabilities
• Ability to identify cultural fit and long-term potential for the organization
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to negotiate and close offers with executives and senior-level candidates
• Strong presentation and storytelling skills to sell Forward Air's value proposition
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority searches simultaneously
• Strong attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Self-motivated and proactive in driving recruitment initiatives
• Experience using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and CRM tools
• Knowledge of AI and automation tools for talent sourcing (preferred)

Forward Air is an Equal Opportunity employer.