2027 Graduate International Search Rotational Programme - #2188176

Graduate Rotational Programme | International Executive Search

Edinburgh → Dubai → New York | August 2027 Start

An exceptional opportunity for an ambitious graduate to join a boutique executive search firm and undertake a structured international rotational programme across three of the world's leading financial centres.

This firm partners with the world's leading hedge funds and merchant trading platforms to identify, assess, and secure investment, trading, and analytics talent, combining the intellectual rigour of top-tier consulting with the pace and energy of a high-growth business.

Before considering an application, there is one key question you need to ask yourself: Do I genuinely want a career in Executive Search?

Summit has received a number of applications from graduates who are understandably drawn to the exciting international opportunity. However, while the prospect of working across multiple locations is a fantastic benefit, the priority is finding candidates who can demonstrate a genuine interest in building a career in Executive Search. If you cannot articulate convincingly why you want to pursue this career path, you are unlikely to be successful.

The ideal candidate will also have existing ties to Edinburgh, whether through having attended secondary school in the area or having family based there. As the programme both starts and finishes in Edinburgh, the client would prefer someone who already has established roots in the city.

The Programme

Edinburgh: 4 Months

You will begin in your home office, building the foundations of executive search through intensive training, live client work, and structured mentorship.

£40k starting salary

Dubai: 12 Months

You will relocate to develop international market expertise, working across mandates spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Salary adjusted to accommodate Dubai relocation

New York: 12-18 Months

Your final rotation places you within the New York office, partnering with many of the world's largest hedge funds, trading firms, and investment platforms.

Salary adjusted to accommodate New York relocation

On completion of the programme, you will return to HQ (Edinburgh) for a minimum of one year, with the opportunity to relocate permanently to one of the firm's global offices thereafter, subject to performance and business needs.

What You Will Be Doing

Working directly alongside Vice Presidents, Directors, and Managing Directors, you will deliver on live mandates across global markets, creatively mapping talent and organisational structures across leading companies, proactively headhunting senior executives, and developing deep subject-matter expertise across the firm's core buy-side markets. This is a role of genuine contribution and client exposure from day one.

Who We Are Looking For

No prior recruitment or exec search experience is required. What matters is intellect, ambition, and character with a few practical elements:

• A 2027 graduate with a demonstrable strong work ethic and sharp intellect
• You are ideally originally from Edinburgh and have a base to start and finish the programme here
• Excited by the prospect of building an international career and living across multiple countries
• A team player with a genuine competitive edge
• Resilient, with the patience and mental strength to work through setbacks
• Naturally curious about financial markets
• Socially confident, with a strong sense of humour and the maturity to engage senior executives
• Organised, with the ability to multi-task effectively across live projects
• Already living and based in Edinburgh
• Willing to sign a contract with a start date 6–9 months out

Compensation & Support

Base salary of £40,000 plus benefits, alongside a market-leading training and development programme, including intensive structured onboarding, ongoing mentorship, and full relocation support at every stage of the international rotation. Compensation is adjusted at each stage to reflect the cost of living in each new location