Manager, Executive Search

Location: United States (Remote/Hybrid options available)

Why Join Thrivent?

Thrivent is a leading financial services organization dedicated to helping people achieve financial clarity and live lives full of meaning and gratitude. As a mission-driven, not-for-profit financial services organization, Thrivent serves over 2 million members with holistic financial advice, investments, insurance, and banking solutions. Our culture is built on faith, trust, and community, fostering an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives drive innovation and impact.

Joining Thrivent means becoming part of a values-led team committed to client success and organizational excellence. We offer unparalleled professional growth opportunities, competitive compensation, and a supportive workplace that prioritizes work-life balance. Be part of building our in-house executive search function and shaping the future of leadership at a Fortune 500-caliber organization. At Thrivent, your expertise will directly contribute to our mission of helping people build strong financial futures while advancing your career in executive talent acquisition.

Role Description

The Manager, Executive Search will build our in-house executive search function from the ground up, expanding capabilities in 2027 and beyond. This pivotal role involves building processes, services, expertise, and capabilities for hiring senior-level executives and critical leadership roles. You will partner closely with senior stakeholders, HR leaders, and external search firms to deliver a seamless, high-impact executive hiring process aligned with Thrivent's organizational goals, culture, and mission.

Collaborating with Executive teams, Talent Acquisition leadership, HR Business Partners, and Total Rewards, you will provide a high-impact, consultative search experience that results in highly qualified hires. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in executive search, market intelligence, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring alignment with business priorities and delivering consistent, high-touch candidate experiences. This is a strategic leadership position where you will define best-in-class practices for VP-level and above placements, driving quality of hire and long-term business success.

Detailed Responsibilities

• Build and lead the Executive Search function, expanding operations in 2027 to support enterprise-wide leadership needs.
• Define, build, and manage end-to-end processes for VP-level and above roles, ensuring exceptional candidate and senior executive experiences.
• Provide department leadership to implement best-in-class practices, optimize quality of hire, and excel in stakeholder management. Guide Executive Recruiters to partner effectively with senior leadership and meet performance standards.
• Manage complex stakeholder relationships, navigating and aligning requirements, internal parameters, and candidate expectations.
• Lead market mapping strategies to mitigate workforce risk and ensure business continuity; build and maintain a robust pipeline of executive talent through proactive sourcing, networking, and relationship-building.
• Manage relationships with external search firms, ensuring alignment with Thrivent's internal standards, values, and hiring goals.
• Deliver market intelligence, benchmarking, and strategic insights to inform workforce planning, hiring decisions, and organizational strategy.
• Ensure a high-touch, confidential candidate experience throughout the recruitment lifecycle, from sourcing to onboarding.
• Report key performance outcomes, including time-to-fill, offer acceptance rates, retention metrics, and ROI on executive hires.
• Continuously innovate processes, leveraging data analytics and industry trends to enhance executive search effectiveness.

Required Skills

Thrivent seeks a proven leader with the following core competencies:

• Expertise in building and scaling executive search functions
• Advanced stakeholder management and executive relationship building
• Market intelligence and talent pipelining strategies
• End-to-end executive recruitment process design
• Leadership of high-performing recruitment teams
• External vendor management and negotiation
• Data-driven insights and performance reporting
• High-touch candidate experience delivery
• Confidentiality and risk mitigation in sensitive hires
• Strategic alignment with business and cultural priorities

Education & Experience

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; Master's or MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in executive search, talent acquisition, or recruiting, with at least 5 years in a leadership role managing executive-level placements.
• Proven track record of building in-house executive search capabilities, ideally within financial services, Fortune 500, or mission-driven organizations.
• Demonstrated success sourcing and placing C-suite, VP-level executives in competitive markets.

Preferred:

• Experience partnering with external retained search firms (e.g., Korn Ferry, Heidrick & Struggles).
• Knowledge of financial services industry talent trends, regulations, and compliance.
• Certifications such as SHRM-SCP, CEBS, or executive search-specific credentials.

Compensation Overview

Competitive base salary plus performance-based incentives, reflecting market rates for senior HR leadership roles in the U.S.

Benefits

Thrivent offers comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision coverage; 401(k) with company match; generous PTO; professional development stipend; flexible work arrangements; wellness programs; and employee assistance resources. We prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, with opportunities for community involvement aligned with our faith-based mission.

Thrivent is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.