Established in 2003, Higher Talent is one of the nation’s most respected executive search firms serving mission-driven institutions including colleges and universities, independent schools, academic medical centers, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations. Our global reach, collaborative culture, and flexibility allow us to lead regional, national, and international recruitments on behalf of our clients with an intense focus on results.
Higher Talent is a bi-coastal firm with offices in the Washington, DC metro area and Los Angeles, CA. Our organization is led by President Mindy Suissa Cohen, a recognized industry leader with more than two decades of experience in recruiting. Higher Talent’s senior team is experienced at recruiting for universities and colleges, nonprofit organizations, and industry. They have also served as nonprofit advancement leaders, higher ed administrators, and executive directors.
Our team’s expertise in identifying talent for higher education institutions is unrivaled. We are extraordinarily skilled at recruiting highly qualified professionals to lead functional areas including development, advancement services, alumni/constituent relations, university-industry relations, marketing and communications, finance/operations, talent management, and more. We are nationally recognized for our ability to present exceptional candidates from a variety of backgrounds with best in class qualifications and the right “fit” to lead our client organizations and their administrative programs.
As a boutique firm, our partnership approach to university client relations is highly responsive and collaborative. We have enhanced our internal operations and processes to deliver timely and efficient search outcomes. Our superior execution results in searches that average 94 days.
Our Recruitment Process
Weeks 1-4: Initiate
Information Gathering
Assess and Advise on Position Structure and Organizational Development
Build Consensus Among Key Stakeholders
Develop Search Strategy and Priorities
Weeks 2-6: Identify
Recruit and Network
Identify and Develop Candidacies
Regular Progress Reporting / Search Calibration
Deliver 20-day Market Analysis Report
Develop & Prioritize Top Prospects
Weeks 4-9: Qualify
Qualify Candidates
Continue Intensive Recruiting
Comprehensive Candidate Interviews / Assessment
Weeks 6-12: Select
Present Candidate Recommendations
Facilitate Feedback to Identify Finalists
Conduct Final Reference & Background Checks
Offer Negotiations & Candidate Counseling
Post Selection: Onboarding
Facilitate Successful Onboarding Process
First Year Quarterly Client and Candidate Counsel