Executive Search

Appointing a Director of Advancement in an independent Anglican co-educational primary and secondary day school located in the Melbourne

Date Posted:17 January 2025
Consultant:Larissa Langley

Conducting an Executive Search for a visionary leader to foster a robust culture of philanthropy and community engagement

The Brief

Building on a long-standing relationship with Future Leadership™, the school engaged the Future Leadership™ team to partner in leading the search process for the Director of Advancement.

The school sought a visionary leader for the newly established role of Director of Advancement, a position pivotal to fostering a robust culture of philanthropy and community engagement. The successful candidate would be tasked with implementing the Board-approved Philanthropy Strategy, which included ambitious goals for Annual Giving, Major Gifts, Bequests, and Capital Fundraising. This role required not only exceptional fundraising but also a deep alignment with the school’s values of dignity, respect, care, and compassion.

9.19.1

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.

10,000+10,000+

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.

50.5%50.5%

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.

98%98%

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 Future Leadership™ team led by Liz Jones and supported by Larissa Langley undertook a comprehensive search process tailored to the school’s needs.

Key steps included:

  • Engaged with Principal and Board to understand the role’s strategic priorities and challenges.
  • Targeted Candidate Search: The Future Leadership™ team leveraged extensive networks within the philanthropic and educational sectors, targeting individuals with proven success in building and executing comprehensive advancement strategies. The search was supported by an online advertising campaign.
  • Candidate Assessment: Future Leadership™ employed a rigorous selection process, including detailed interviews, psychometric assessments, and cultural alignment checks to ensure that the candidates not only possessed the necessary skills but also shared the ethos and values of the school.
  • Final Evaluation: A Shortlist of six candidates was presented to the school with three candidates progressing to second round panel interviews including a 10-minute presentation to panel members.

This rigorous process ensured the appointment of a candidate capable of implementing the Board approved Philanthropy Strategy which included ambitious goals for Annual Giving, Major Gifts, Bequests, and Capital Fundraising.

Future Leadership Capabilities

01.

Emotional Awareness

Demonstrates commitment, sensitivity and responsiveness to the emotional needs of
different cultures and people. Gathers and reviews the preferences of stakeholders to
understand their feelings towards the organisation. Guides and mediates the alignment of
the organisation’s culture and values with the external operating environment, society and
stakeholders.

02.

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

03.

Stakeholder Relationships

Works strategically and systemically to encourage diverse thinking with all types of people. Actively contributes to teamwork, and deliberately builds relationships and networks across a range of people and communities.

04.

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.

05.

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.

06.

Initiative and Drive

Leads self by working independently, setting and attaining personal and work-related goals, and demonstrating motivation and responsibility for their own actions. Demonstrates awareness of personal strengths and improvement areas. Effectively relates to others in a professional manner.

The Outcome

The successful candidate was appointed in September 2024, bringing a wealth of experience in the independent school sector running successful Annual Giving, Bequest, Major Gifts and Capital fundraising campaigns.

Consultant

Larissa Langley

Associate Partner, Executive Search View Profile

I had the pleasure of working with Future Leadership during my recent job search and found it to be a very positive experience. Larissa Langley and Paul Carter were outstanding in their professionalism and support. They kept me well-informed throughout the process, ensuring I felt confident and prepared at all times. Their dedication and expertise made a significant difference, and I am most grateful for their assistance. I highly recommend Future Leadership to anyone seeking a seamless and successful job search experience.

Candidate, Director of Advancement Independent School, Victoria
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