Conducting an Executive Search for a Director Media and Strategic Communications to lead high-level strategic communications and drive a high performing team culture
The Brief
Future Leadership™ has an enduring relationship with this Victorian Government department, having been engaged on over 25 executive search processes. This position is a key member of the executive leadership team within the department’s Digital and Customer Communications division, which is responsible for the delivery of specialist advisory support that enables delivery to customers and communities across Victoria.
Reporting to the Executive Director, Digital and Customer Communications, the position is responsible for providing leadership for the department’s media and external communications team ensuring the department delivers consistent and reliable high-quality communications for both internal and external customers. The Director will work with strategic communications directors and teams across portfolio entities and departments to ensure coordination and delivery of communication across the Victorian Government. This is a critical appointment to lead, support and set short-, medium- and long-term strategic plans for integrated media, issues management, relationship building, stakeholder engagement and content creation.
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
The lead consultant completed a comprehensive briefing with the primary stakeholder for the division. The briefing provided an understanding of the specific nuances of the position and the operational environment, along with identifying key challenges for the successful appointee. With the role working closely with the offices of the Secretary and Ministers, in addition to working across whole of government, it was essential that the appointee demonstrate prior experience at a senior level in communications and engagement together with a wide range of contemporary communications and content marketing techniques. In undertaking the search, Future Leadership targeted candidates with a strong track record of managing high-level strategic communications issues, lead critical incident management communications, whole of government advertising coordination and portfolio relationship management.
The search targeted executive strategic communication specialists across relevant state and federal government agencies and authorities. Additional areas of focus for the search included candidates in the private sector, with previous government experience or deep knowledge across environmental, energy, water, planning, emergency services, local government, and conservation sectors. The process was supported by an online advertising campaign.
Approximately 40 formal expressions of interest were received with the panel considering a number of candidates at shortlist prior to recommending three candidates participating in a first-round interview. The candidates were assessed against agreed accountabilities and selection criteria including communications and issues management experience, leadership, stakeholder management and service excellence.
Driving a positive culture was a critical attribute.
Emerging Capabilities
Strategy and Purpose
Develops and leads strategy for the function/organisation, taking a broad and long-term perspective. Understands and considers context. Communicates and gains buy-in to the function/organisation goals, direction and vision, promoting change initiatives.
Culture and Engagement
Fosters a positive culture, creating a sense of belonging and inclusiveness. Creates an environment that encourages diverse perspectives and facilitates a psychologically safe environment.
Stakeholder Relations
Establishes rapport with stakeholders, builds and sustains trusted and collaborative relationships. Identifies and draws on relevant and diverse perspectives and integrates them to support productive interactions.
Innovation and Creativity
Demonstrates curiosity through challenging the status quo, expected norms, and workplace paradigms. Contributes new ideas, solutions, and perspectives to current challenges and thinking practices. Creates new products, solutions and opportunities and identifies opportunities for improvements.
Systems Thinking
Views situations in their entirety, understanding all the parts at play. Identifies the interconnected factors and how they influence each other, impacting the whole system. Takes a strategic perspectives.
The Outcome
The selection panel endorsed the appointment of a senior media and communications leader with more than 20 years’ experience, delivering results in internal and external communications, branding, media, and stakeholder engagement roles.
The panel agreed the appointee provided both breadth and depth in tactical and strategic communications. With experience in both the public and private sector (consultancy) the appointee brings impactful team leadership experience, and at interview they demonstrated their people leadership, strategic mindset, performance management and technical capability.
