Executive Recruiter

About the Opportunity

THIS POSITION IS ON-SITE IN AKRON, OH

Position Summary

FirstEnergy is seeking a strategic and relationship-driven Executive Recruiter to lead the search strategy for all executive-level hires across the enterprise. This role will be instrumental in identifying top-tier leadership talent, partnering with senior executives on succession planning, and building a robust pipeline of future leaders. The Executive Recruiter will serve as a trusted advisor to the business, ensuring alignment between talent acquisition strategies and FirstEnergy’s long-term organizational goals.

Responsibilities Include

• Executive Search Leadership: Own and execute the full lifecycle of executive recruiting (VP and above), including search strategy, sourcing, candidate engagement, assessment, offer negotiation, and onboarding.
• Succession Planning Partnership: Collaborate with HR Business Partners and senior leaders to identify succession gaps and proactively build external talent pipelines to address future needs.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Partner closely with senior executives and hiring managers to define leadership profiles, clarify role expectations, and deliver a high-touch candidate experience.
• Market Intelligence: Provide insights on industry trends, competitive talent landscapes, and compensation benchmarks to inform hiring decisions.
• Pipeline Development: Cultivate relationships with passive candidates and maintain a network of executive talent aligned with FirstEnergy’s strategic direction.
• Process Excellence: Ensure a consistent, equitable, and confidential executive search process that reflects FirstEnergy’s values and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Vendor Management: Manage relationships with external search firms when appropriate, ensuring alignment with internal standards and goals.
• Innovation & Technology: Leverage emerging technologies and data analytics to enhance executive search effectiveness and candidate insights.

Qualifications include

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in executive recruiting, either in-house or with a retained search firm.
• Proven success sourcing and placing senior leaders in complex, matrixed organizations.
• Strong business acumen and ability to influence and advise senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication, storytelling, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience with succession planning and talent pipeline development.
• High level of discretion, integrity, and professionalism.
• Familiarity with executive compensation structures and negotiation strategies.
• Passion for innovation and continuous improvement in talent acquisition.

Preferred Attributes

• Experience recruiting in the energy, utilities, or infrastructure sectors.
• Exposure to organizational transformation, leadership development, or strategic workforce planning.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment with multiple priorities.

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas currently.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.