Principal Executive Recruiter (Remote, US)

About the role

Lumen is the trusted network for the AI‑powered world, connecting people, data, and applications through our expansive fiber network and connected ecosystem. We enable secure, high‑performance connectivity across cloud, edge, and AI workloads for enterprises, governments, and communities. At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter. This is a high accountability environment where bold ideas drive real innovation for our customers, partners, and industry. The work is challenging, expectations are clear, and trust is built into how we operate. If you’re ready to take ownership, deliver meaningful impact, and help shape the future of AI‑ready connectivity, join us today. The Role Why Lumen, Why Now Lumen is at a rare, once‑in‑a‑career inflection point. We have completed the hardest part of our turnaround, stabilizing the business, strengthening the balance sheet, and sharpening our strategy and we are now reinventing ourselves as the trusted network for AI. As AI reshapes how enterprises move data across clouds, data centers, and the edge, traditional networks are no longer fast, flexible, or secure enough. Lumen is solving this problem at global scale, building a next‑generation, fiber‑rich, programmable network platform designed specifically for AI workloads. With billions of dollars in AI‑driven enterprise deals already signed and thousands of Network‑as‑a‑Service customers onboarded, Lumen has moved decisively from defense to offense and into a phase of durable growth. Work Location Fully remote position open to candidates based anywhere in the U.S. The Main Responsibilities Lumen is seeking a strategic, highly discerning Principal Executive Recruiter to join our Executive Recruitment & Advisory team. This senior individual contributor will lead complex VP+, SVP, and C-suite searches, with an emphasis on technical and transformation leadership across AI, software engineering, digital infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity, product, data, and network technology. The Principal Executive Recruiter will operate as more than a search leader. This person will be a strategic talent advisor and steward of Lumen's executive talent bar, partnering with senior leaders to define future-state leadership needs, build differentiated talent strategies, and ensure every executive hire strengthens the company's leadership quality, technical capability, innovation velocity, and ability to execute its long-term strategy. We believe exceptional talent compounds organizational performance. Every executive hire should raise Lumen's leadership quality, technical capability, operating pace, and capacity for transformation. What You Will Do Lead end-to-end executive searches for VP, SVP, and C-suite roles, from talent strategy and market mapping through assessment, offer negotiation, and onboarding. Build and engage world-class executive talent pipelines across AI, software, cloud, cybersecurity, digital, product, data, and technology leadership domains. Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, providing market intelligence, talent insights, competitive benchmarking, and strategic hiring recommendations. Drive a talent density mindset by identifying and attracting exceptional leaders who elevate organizational capability, innovation, and business performance. Assess executive talent using structured, evidence-based evaluation methods while ensuring a high-touch candidate experience and rigorous hiring standards. Influence and align executive stakeholders, compensation partners, and interview teams to enable high-quality, data-driven hiring decisions. Continuously improve executive hiring outcomes through market insights, talent analytics, and best-in-class search practices. Core Competencies Executive search expertise, including sourcing, assessment, executive engagement, negotiation, and closing of senior leadership talent. Strong business acumen and analytical thinking with the ability to translate market intelligence, talent insights, and candidate evidence into executive recommendations. Exceptional judgment in assessing leadership capability, technical depth, transformational potential, and cultural impact. Trusted advisor with strong executive presence, stakeholder management, and influence skills. Knowledge of emerging technology domains, including AI, cloud, cybersecurity, software, digital platforms, data, and technology transformation. High-agency operator who thrives in ambiguity, maintains high standards, protects confidentiality, and delivers results with urgency and discipline. Relentless commitment to raising the talent bar and improving quality of hire across the enterprise. What We Look For in a Candidate Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. 7+ years of progressive recruiting experience with significant responsibility for VP+, SVP, and C-suite searches. Demonstrated success recruiting executive talent in technology, software, AI, cybersecurity, digital, cloud, network, product, data, or transformation-intensive environments. Proven track record identifying and closing exceptional passive talent in highly competitive markets while maintaining rigorous quality standards. Deep knowledge of executive search methodologies, market mapping, talent intelligence, structured assessment, and offer negotiation. Ability to assess both leadership capability and technical credibility, including the executive's ability to build high-performing teams and lead through transformation. Exceptional communication, executive presence, stakeholder influence, discretion, and integrity. Proficiency with LinkedIn Recruiter, talent intelligence platforms, applicant tracking systems, and relevant sourcing channels such as GitHub and other technical communities Preferred Qualifications Experience recruiting leaders from high-performance technology, AI, cloud, cybersecurity, software, digital-native, or venture-backed organizations. Experience building executive talent maps across frontier AI, enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital product, data, and network technology ecosystems. Familiarity with talent density cultures, bar-raising hiring practices, structured executive assessment, and interviewer calibration. Experience advising senior leaders during rapid growth, enterprise transformation, organizational redesign, or capability-building initiatives. Working knowledge of modern technology platforms, architectures, development environments, and emerging AI trends sufficient to credibly assess executive leadership context. Self-directed, highly organized, and effective in a remote environment, with a strong commitment to clarity, transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Our Hiring Philosophy Lumen is building a disciplined executive hiring culture in which leaders define the bar before the search, interview for evidence, calibrate independently, and make decisions based on future-state impact. The Principal Executive Recruiter is central to that standard. The role combines the customer orientation of an advisor, the research depth of an executive search professional, the judgment of a talent assessor, and the conviction to protect long-term quality. Compensation This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors. Location Based Pay Ranges $132,232 - $176,310 in these states: AL AR AZ FL GA IA ID IN KS KY LA ME MO MS MT ND NE NM OH OK PA SC SD TN UT VT WI WV WY $138,844 - $185,124 in these states: CO HI MI MN NC NH NV OR RI $145,456 - $193,940 in these states: AK CA CT DC DE IL MA MD NJ NY TX VA WA Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing. We're able to answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process. Learn more about Lumen's:BenefitsBonus Structure Requisition #: 343154 Life at Lumen Life at Lumen is human and connected, even in a fast moving, AI‑focused organization. We set clear expectations and trust people to meet them. With real support and shared accountability, teams collaborate better, move faster, and deliver meaningful outcomes. Our Lumen 8 behaviors guide how we interact, make decisions, and work together, shaping a culture built to perform and win. To learn more about Life at Lumen and how we live the Lumen 8, please visit: Background Screening If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. For more information on these checks, please refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page. Job-related concerns identified during the background screening may disqualify you from the new position or your current role. Background results will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Equal Employment Opportunities We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, “protected statuses”). We do not tolerate unlawful di