Deputy COO - Executive Search Practice

Position Title : Deputy COO - Executive Search Practice
Reports To : Managing Director
Location : Delhi / Gurgaon
Organization : Chieftain Search LLP (A sister concern of Impeccable HR)
About Organisation
Chieftain Search LLP, 100% subsidiary of Impeccable HR, which carries a 25-year legacy of excellence in lateral, leadership hiring and talent advisory, is a distinguished executive search firm, specializing in C-suite and senior leadership hiring. With over 300 successful CXO placements and 7,000+ leadership hires, Chieftain has earned the trust of leading organizations in identifying and engaging transformative leaders who drive strategic growth and long-term value. For further growth expansion, Chieftain is inviting dynamic Executive Search professional for Deputy COO role.
Role Purpose
To build and scale the Executive Search business as an independent, high-performing practice from the ground up - establishing the brand, building client trust, ensuring operational excellence, and driving sustained profitability. The Deputy COO will serve as the strategic architect, business head, and culture carrier for the practice, owning its P&L, revenue growth, delivery excellence, and team development.
Key Responsibilities

A. Business & Practice Leadership
- Set up and scale the Executive Search vertical - strategy, structure, offerings, processes, and performance culture.
- Define and execute the 5-year business roadmap aligned to growth, profitability, and brand positioning goals.
- Own P&L, annual operating plan (AOP), and drive consistent YoY revenue and margin growth.
- Design service differentiation, brand positioning, and go-to-market strategy to strengthen market presence.
- Represent the firm in strategic client and industry forums to establish thought leadership.
B. Client & Market Development
- Build and nurture CXO and Board-level client relationships to generate repeat and referral business.
- Drive new client acquisition, partnership alliances, and sector diversification strategies.
- Lead complex CXO mandates, ensuring top-quality delivery and candidate experience.
- Provide leadership advisory, talent intelligence, and succession insights to clients.
C. Team Building & Capability Development
- Hire, mentor, and lead a team of high-caliber search consultants, researchers, and delivery partners.
- Create a performance-driven, entrepreneurial culture with strong accountability and client ownership.
- Build internal capability frameworks, training, and mentoring systems for search excellence.
- Implement productivity dashboards and review mechanisms for consistent performance improvement.
D. Operational Excellence & Governance
- Define SOPs for search execution, client management, and quality assurance.
- Drive process automation, digital enablement, and data-driven decision-making.
- Ensure compliance, ethics, and brand reputation in all client engagements.
- Collaborate with finance and corporate functions to ensure fiscal discipline and reporting accuracy.
Candidate Profile
- Experience: 5 - 10+ years in Executive Search / Leadership Hiring, including 5+ years in P&L or business head capacity.
- Exposure: Multi-sector search experience across Indian and international markets.
- Skills: Strategic business acumen, stakeholder influencing, consultative leadership, and growth orientation.
- Mindset: Entrepreneurial, hands-on builder, and brand custodian.
- Education: MBA / Postgraduate in Management / HR from a reputed institute.
- Willingness to travel for client meetings and business expansion