Search Associates
Search Associates is a family-owned international education recruitment firm founded in 1990 that connects teachers, administrators, and interns with 750+ vetted K-12 international schools across 125+ countries via a password-protected database platform and 11 annual global job fairs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersDallas, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Search Associates does
Search Associates is a private, family-owned international education recruitment firm founded in 1990 by John Magagna, a former international school leader. Headquartered in the United States with operations coordinated through Senior Associates based across North America, the UK, continental Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and Africa, the company connects certified teachers, school administrators, and recent graduates with hiring international K-12 schools in 125+ countries. Its customer base includes over 750 vetted member schools that range from single-campus institutions to multi-school networks such as Quality Schools International. The company has reportedly assisted more than 50,000 educators in finding international school positions since inception.
The company's core technology is a password-protected online platform consisting of a searchable Candidate Database and a searchable Schools Database, supplemented by a confidential online reference management system in which referees submit forms that candidates cannot access. The company operates 11 annual in-person job fairs in cities including Singapore, Dubai, Melbourne, Bangkok, Hong Kong, London (January and March), Cambridge USA, Toronto, and Doha, with the ACAMIS partnership supporting the Hong Kong fair. Distribution also relies on a global network of Senior Associates — all former international educators and school leaders — who provide personalized screening and placement guidance. Product extensions include Leadership Searches (executive Head of School placements), Consulting Services (governance, strategic planning), Advertising Services for schools, and a Paid Internships program for recent graduates.
Revenue is generated through three primary streams: a one-time $2,000 initial school membership fee, an optional $500 annual database access fee (waived for schools that attend fairs or make hires), and per-placement transaction fees of $1,980 per teacher/intern and $2,980 per administrator hire. Pricing is denominated in US dollars but varies by Senior Associate. Additional revenue derives from Leadership Searches, consulting engagements, and advertising placements. The company is family-controlled, with Jessica Magagna serving as CEO and sole owner since 2018, and operates without external investors.
Search Associates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Search Associates
- Legal name
- Search Associates
- Website
- https://searchassociates.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Search Associates is a family-owned international education recruitment firm founded in 1990 that connects teachers, administrators, and interns with 750+ vetted K-12 international schools across 125+ countries via a password-protected database platform and 11 annual global job fairs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Search Associates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Education Recruitment
- NAICS
- Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search (BPACAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK)
Keywords
Where Search Associates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dallas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Search Associates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- School Membership Fees: One-time initial membership fee of US$2000 for schools to join and access the database and comprehensive services. Annual database fee of US$500 for schools that do not attend job fairs or hire candidates within one academic year.
- Recruitment Fees: Fees charged when schools successfully recruit through the platform: US$1980 per teacher or intern hire, US$2980 per administrator hire. Based on US dollar fees with some variation by Associate.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Initial School Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Database Access |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Teacher/Intern Recruitment |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Administrator Recruitment |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Search Associates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Search Associates is an international education recruitment agency that matches vetted teachers, administrators, counselors, librarians, and interns with international K-12 schools worldwide. The company operates a password-protected online platform containing searchable Candidate and Schools databases and runs 11 annual in-person job fairs across major global cities. It also provides leadership/executive search services for Head of School positions, consulting for school boards, and a paid international teaching internship program.
Product overview
Search Associates operates as a unified platform for international education recruitment, combining a Candidate Database and Schools Database (both fully searchable, password-protected online databases), with in-person Job Fairs held across 11 global locations. The company offers complementary services including Leadership Searches for executive placements, Consulting Services for school governance and strategy, and Advertising Services for schools. A Paid Internships program provides entry-level opportunities for recent graduates. The core value proposition centers on connecting over 750 international schools in 125+ countries with qualified educators, facilitated through personalized support from Senior Associates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Candidate Database
- Schools Database
- Job Fairs
- Leadership Searches
- Recruiting Services
- Consulting Services
- Advertising Services
- Paid Internships
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 3,000 teachers, counselors, librarians, and administrators placed annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Search Associates
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Search Associates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Search Associates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS)coreACAMIS fully supports the Search Associates Hong Kong Fair, which is designed to fill teaching vacancies in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The partnership provides legitimacy and regional focus to the fair, with approximately 40% of attendees hired as a result of interviews at the fair.
- International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)minorSenior Associate Gez Hayden participated in authorization and accreditation visits to schools representing IBO. The company serves many IB schools and candidates with IB experience.
- Council of International Schools (CIS)minorSearch Associates Senior Associates have participated in CIS accreditation visits to schools worldwide.
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)minorSenior Associates have participated in accreditation visits representing NEASC.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Search Associates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Edvectus: Edvectus recruits teachers and leaders for international schools globally, with a focus on vetted candidate networks and school-side advisory. Direct comparable in international school teacher placement.
- International Schools Services (ISS): ISS operates an international school recruitment and staffing service alongside its broader school management and consulting practice. Directly comparable to Search Associates as a teacher/administrator placement firm for international K-12 schools.
- Carney Sandoe & Associates: Carney Sandoe is an education recruitment and search firm placing teachers, administrators, and leaders in independent and international schools. Overlapping service lines, especially in leadership search, with Search Associates.
- Schrole (Schrole Connect): Schrole is an international school recruitment platform focused on verified candidate profiles and school-side hiring tools. Closest technology-forward direct competitor to Search Associates' database-driven recruitment model.
- Search Consultants International (SCI): SCI provides teacher and administrator recruitment services specifically for international schools, including job fairs. Directly competes with Search Associates in the international K-12 educator placement niche.
Others
- Council of International Schools (CIS): CIS is a membership and accreditation body for international schools with university counseling and community resources. Adjacent ecosystem player whose member base overlaps with Search Associates' school network.
- NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools): NAIS is a US independent school membership body that operates its own career and leadership search services. Adjacent player with overlapping school relationships and a leadership search capability that competes with Search Associates' higher-margin admin placement service.
Broad incumbents
- TES (Times Educational Supplement): TES is a large education job board and content platform serving K-12 educators globally. Broad incumbent that overlaps with Search Associates on teacher job discovery, though less specialized for international schools.
Emerging players
- ISS-Schrole Advantage: The ISS-Schrole partnership is a hybrid offering combining ISS's institutional reach with Schrole's verification platform. Comparable to Search Associates' combined membership-plus-database model.
- Educational Recruiting (ISS EduRecruit): ISS-managed recruitment fairs and the EduRecruit service provide a similar job-fair-plus-database offering to Search Associates, particularly in regions where ISS has strong school relationships.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Search Associates social profiles
Digital presenceSearch Associates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Search Associates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Search Associates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Search Associates M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Search Associates
What does Search Associates do?
Search Associates is an international education recruitment agency that matches vetted teachers, administrators, counselors, librarians, and interns with international K-12 schools worldwide. The company operates a password-protected online platform containing searchable Candidate and Schools databases and runs 11 annual in-person job fairs across major global cities. It also provides leadership/executive search services for Head of School positions, consulting for school boards, and a paid international teaching internship program.
Is Search Associates a public or private company?
Search Associates is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Search Associates founded?
Search Associates was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Search Associates based?
Search Associates is headquartered in Dallas, United States, in the North America region.
How does Search Associates make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. School Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are recruitment Fees.
Who are Search Associates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Edvectus, International Schools Services (ISS), Carney Sandoe & Associates, Schrole (Schrole Connect) and Search Consultants International (SCI). Others are Council of International Schools (CIS) and NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools). TES (Times Educational Supplement) is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are ISS-Schrole Advantage and Educational Recruiting (ISS EduRecruit).
Does Search Associates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Search Associates.
What industry is Search Associates in?
Search Associates's product category is International Education Recruitment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAI, Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search, with a secondary code of BPACAAAK, Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search. Its NAICS code is 56131 and its SIC code is 7361.