Conducting an Executive Search for the Head of Community Engagement to develop and drive contemporary engagement agenda at a leading co-educational independent school in Victoria
The Brief
Building on an established relationship, Future Leadership™ was engaged by a leading independent co-educational school east of Melbourne to support the school to appoint the Head of Community Engagement.
The Head of Community Engagement leads the strategic direction and operations of the School’s Admissions, Marketing and Communications, Parents’ Association, Alumni and Advancement departments. The Head of Community Engagement brings together these key strategic pillars, whilst capitalising on opportunities to innovate, enhance and drive efficiencies into the practice and performance of these areas.
Candidate net Promote Score
Future Leadership combines truly personalised relationships with innovative technology solutions to ensure an approachable and efficient process for all our Net Promoter Score across clients, successful candidates and unsuccessful candidates is well above industry standard.
Candidates supported every year
We maintain genuine relationships with past candidates and continue to support them with leadership solutions long term, after they land their role.
Senior Women Appointed since 2002
Over half of the executive search assignments undertaken by our team have resulted in the appointment of outstanding female or LGBTQI+ leaders to high profile roles.
Candidate Retention Rate for 12 months since 2002
Our thorough briefing process and ability to engage passive candidates mean that we go to great lengths to find the right person for the role – long term!
The Process
Future Leadership™ undertook a comprehensive search process tailored to the school’s needs.
Key steps included:
- Targeted Search and Talent Pooling: Following an in-depth briefing with key stakeholders at the school, Future Leadership™ conducted a targeted search process supported by an online advertising campaign. Future Leadership™ sought to identify a candidate who possessed strong people management skills and background in stakeholder engagement. In order to support the school’s stated outcomes, the search focused on candidates who had an understanding of the independent school sector with a track record of identifying and leveraging opportunities delivering results.
- Comprehensive Shortlisting: A comprehensive Shortlist of five candidates was presented to the selection committee with three candidates progressing to panel interviews.
Emerging Capabilities
Commercial Acumen
Provides a deep understanding of relevant industry, marketplace and business drivers as applicable to the organisation. Leverages the application of commercial tools and frameworks to manage opportunities, conflicts and trade-offs. Able to focus on customer service requirements and acts proactively to raise the customer experience.
Culture and Engagement
Engages stakeholders inclusively with sensitivity and regard for diversity and facilitates a psychologically safe environment for social or cultural differences affecting behaviour.
Innovation and Creativity
Positively challenges the status quo, expected norms, and workplace paradigms. Contributes new ideas, solutions, and perspectives to current challenges and thinking practices enabling the creation of new products, solutions and opportunities.
Critical Thinking
Examines information for assumptions and gaps in logic; reframes problems and presents well-reasoned insights accommodating diverse perspectives. Persistent in asking insightful questions, enabling complex strategic judgements to be made across multiple dimensions.
Strategy and Purpose
Leads transformational processes, motivates teams, and influences commitment to a shared purpose that individuals and the workforce will require to enable sustained organisational success. Builds and promotes a culture underpinning the vision, purpose and values the organisation aspires to achieve.
Communication and Influence
Communicates with clarity and impact to facilitate individual and collective understanding, inspire action and enable information exchange. Leverages human-centric communication and storytelling to effectively influence stakeholders across the physical and virtual realms.
The Outcome
The successful candidate was appointed in June 2022. A highly experienced senior manager who has worked across the corporate, not-for-profit, sport and University sectors in NSW and VIC with a focus on leading partnerships, business development functions, program growth, process improvement, communications strategy, and organisational development.
