Independent Executive Search and Research Consultant – Working at Senior Management and Board Level to find and connect the right people

“You have found us candidates we did not think we would be able to attract”

Background

I am a leading independent executive search consultant and researcher with over 30 years of experience; working with executive search firms as an associate and with corporate clients as a consultant. My early career was in publishing, with EY and then with a boutique search firm and as the Head of Research for the Search & Selection arm of what is now PwC, before establishing my own business.

I have a wealth of experience, working on assignments from senior management to board level, both executive and non-executive, in a variety of sectors and job functions, as a generalist search professional. Since 2015 I have also worked extensively in the arts, heritage, charity and higher education; my recent search clients include Kids in Museums (Chair), London Transport Museum (Enterprise Director), Tower Bridge (Associate Director TBIM), Bevis Marks Synagogue Heritage Foundation (Trustees), Istituto Marangoni (Design Programme Leader) and the Royal Society of Literature (Director). In the commercial sector, I have worked on searches for clients in a variety of sectors including investment trusts, professional services, technology and manufacturing. My work has spanned various markets and geographies, particularly emphasising consumer-facing organisations.

Known for fostering longstanding working relationships, I pride myself on a meticulous and thorough process, which is clear and transparent and leaves client and candidate feeling that they have had a good experience, whatever the outcome.

I work as an executive search consultant in the cultural sector, as a research professional in the commercial sector, as a trainer in executive search and as a career consultant. I am always happy to talk in any of these contexts.

My qualifications:

I have a BA Hons in Philosophy & English Literature from the University of East Anglia and an MSc in Organisational Behaviour from Birkbeck College, University of London. I am also a licensed career counsellor with Career Counselling Services and qualified with the British Psychological Society Levels A and B in occupational testing.

Executive Search

Defining the requirement and preparing the Candidate Brief
Finding suitable candidates
Assessing candidates, longlisting and interviewing
Helping with shortlist interviews and selection of the preferred candidate
Agreeing terms of appointment and finalizing a contract

Executive Search Research

Candidate identification or mapping exercises
Candidate and source approach calls
Reporting and assistance with paperwork as required
Client meeting attendance

Executive Search Training

Training in executive search process and techniques
- Getting the briefing you need
- Finding candidates and sources
- Making approaches – including those tricky initial telephone calls

Career Advisory

Supporting people through times of career transition, such as senior Army leavers and senior executives moving from full-time to portfolio careers
Advising on CVs, how to maximise networks and refreshing interview skills

Please get in touch if you would like to know more.

Testimonials

“Working with Jocelyn was a revelation. She guided us through the recruitment process every step of the way and provided us with a wonderful array of candidates. She is thoughtful, diplomatic and experienced. I recommend her unreservedly.”

Ruth Scurr, Chair Royal Society of Literature

“As the Deputy Chair of Kids in Museums, I worked closely with Jocelyn Buxton on the search for a new Chair to lead the charity with a growth agenda. My fellow trustees and I were impressed with the impressive range of candidates Jocelyn found that met our brief as well the depth and quality of her research and meticulous management of the process. It can be a difficult decision for a small charity to use professional search but we were delighted with the outcome and had a unanimous Board agreement that this support to our charity was excellent value.”

Elizabeth McKay, Deputy Chair Kids in Museums and Director & CEO of London Transport Museum

“Jocelyn worked with the Bevis Marks Synagogue Heritage Foundation in 2022 to bring in two new Trustees with skills that are highly valuable but difficult to recruit. Our Board were impressed by her knowledge of the sector, her understanding of our environment, the quality of candidates she was able to attract and the professionalism and thoroughness of the process. We would not have found these individuals ourselves and they are making a great contribution to the Foundation.”

Howard Martin, former Chair, Bevis Marks Synagogue Heritage Foundation

“Jocelyn worked with me in my executive search business, for more than six years, supporting some significant search assignments across the arts and heritage sectors in the UK and internationally. She goes the extra mile in finding candidates, paying attention to diversity in all its forms and is excellent at both her candidate and client handling. Her extensive experience in the commercial sector means that she can bring people from outside the cultural sector to Board – and to appropriate executive - assignments. She works to deadlines and can be relied upon to deliver a good outcome in both large and smaller organisations, understanding the different challenges which they face. Jocelyn is a quality, experienced, professional search executive.”

Liz Amos, MBE

“Jocelyn has worked with our search firm for over 25 years which is a testament to the high regard in which we hold her and the quality of her work. She takes time to understand the brief, often picking up on issues which we may have missed, is diligent in her pursuit of candidates and then is able to deal with them, making our life much easier. She is a high quality executive search professional who goes far beyond that which is expected of her. Candidates, clients and all with whom she comes in contact have been impressed by her attention to detail and the quality of the work delivered.”

David Dumeresque, Partner, Tyzack