Principal Recruitment Consultant – Insurance & Compliance

About the Role

We are looking for a high-performing, commercially minded Principal Recruitment Consultant to build and develop a specialist recruitment desk across the insurance and compliance markets within the UK and the USA.

This is an opportunity for an experienced 360 recruiter who enjoys winning new business, developing client relationships and creating something of their own. You will take ownership of your desk, identify opportunities within the market and implement a targeted strategy to build a strong client portfolio and generate consistent billings.

The role will focus on placing compliance and related specialist professionals into insurance firms, alongside opportunities across law firms, accountancy firms and the wider professional services sector. You will also have the opportunity to develop relationships within the KYC and compliance markets, with a focus on the London market and opportunities across other UK business hubs.

This is a business-development-led position suited to someone who is proactive, polished and confident operating at a senior client level. You will have the freedom to develop your market, build long-term partnerships and grow a successful desk, supported by an internal team, modern recruitment technology and a competitive commission structure.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Market Development

• Identify, approach and win new clients across the insurance, compliance and professional services markets.
  

• Build relationships with senior stakeholders, hiring managers and decision-makers across insurance firms, law firms and accountancy practices.
  

• Proactively generate new business through networking, market mapping, speculative approaches and consultative sales.
  

• Identify opportunities to develop the London-focused market, while exploring additional opportunities across relevant UK locations.
  

• Develop a clear strategy for growing your desk, building a sustainable client portfolio and increasing market share.
  

• Secure new vacancies, negotiate terms of business and pursue exclusive or preferred supplier agreements where appropriate.
  

• Take ownership of personal billing targets, new business activity and overall commercial performance.
  

Candidate Attraction & Recruitment Delivery

• Build a strong network of compliance, KYC, insurance and professional services candidates.
  

• Proactively headhunt high-calibre professionals, including passive candidates who may not be actively seeking new opportunities.
  

• Manage the full recruitment lifecycle, from client briefing and candidate sourcing through to interviews, offers and placements.
  

• Conduct in-depth candidate interviews and assess skills, experience, suitability and motivation.
  

• Prepare high-quality candidate profiles and present suitable shortlists to clients.
  

• Manage interview processes, provide feedback, negotiate offers and support successful placements.
  

• Develop long-term relationships with candidates and clients to generate repeat business and referrals.
  

Desk Ownership & Strategy

• Build and grow a recruitment desk within a developing or new market.
  

• Identify profitable niches, map target clients and develop a clear approach to generating new business.
  

• Use market intelligence, competitor research and recruitment data to identify opportunities for growth.
  

• Review business development activity, conversion rates and billing performance to continuously improve results.
  

• Maintain accurate CRM/ATS records and follow agreed recruitment processes.
  

• Contribute to the wider team's commercial success and share market knowledge where appropriate.
  

Requirements

• A minimum of 3 years' experience in 360 agency recruitment.
  

• Able to provide clear examples of personal billing performance, including billing figures achieved over a defined period and evidence of consistently meeting or exceeding targets.
  

• A strong, demonstrable track record of personal billings and commercial performance.
  

• Proven experience winning new clients and developing business through proactive sales and relationship building.
  

• Experience in insurance recruitment is essential. (Non negotiable).
  

• Experience in insurance recruitment in the UK and USA is highly desirable. 
  

• Evidence of successfully building a desk, developing a new market or growing an existing client portfolio.
  

• A strategic and commercially minded approach, with the ability to identify opportunities and turn them into revenue.
  

• Excellent communication, negotiation and client relationship management skills.
  

• A polished, professional and confident approach when engaging senior stakeholders.
  

• Resilience, tenacity, commitment and a strong work ethic.
  

• The ability to work independently, take ownership and remain motivated by ambitious commercial targets.
  

• Confidence using LinkedIn Recruiter, job boards and CRM/ATS systems.
  

The Ideal Candidate

You are a proven biller who enjoys the challenge of building something from the ground up. You understand that successful recruitment requires consistent business development, strategic thinking, persistence and the ability to develop genuine client relationships.

You are comfortable creating your own opportunities rather than waiting for vacancies to come to you. You demonstrate the resilience to manage setbacks, the discipline to maintain consistent sales activity and the ambition to build a profitable, long-term desk.

You take pride in your professionalism, communicate confidently with senior decision-makers and are motivated by measurable results. A background in competitive sport or another performance-driven environment would be beneficial, but your proven commitment, commercial success and resilience are what matter most.

Benefits

• Basic salary of R35,000–R50,000 per month, depending on experience.
  

• Competitive commission structure with earning potential linked to performance.
  

• Remote working from South Africa.
  

• Opportunity to build and grow a specialist recruitment desk with significant scope for commercial development.