Conducting an Executive Search for a Director of Operations to Lead Rehabilitation and Custodial Services in Youth Justice
The Brief
A government department responsible for youth justice services sought to appoint a Director of Operations for a newly established youth justice precinct.
This facility was designed to support young people in the criminal justice system through a multi-disciplinary service model, integrating education, health, and mental health services within a secure setting. The role required a leader skilled in statutory oversight, custodial operations, and youth rehabilitation to create a positive impact on young lives.
Future Leadership™ was engaged to identify a candidate who could bring a fresh perspective, focusing on human-centred service delivery and extensive experience in social and community services. The ideal candidate needed a deep understanding of youth rehabilitation and the ability to foster a therapeutic approach to support long-term outcomes.
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
Following an in-depth briefing with key departmental stakeholders, Future Leadership™ undertook a comprehensive national and international search. The strategy included:
- Targeted Candidate Sourcing: Focusing on individuals with backgrounds in psychology, criminology, public policy, and social sciences from relevant government agencies, regulatory bodies, and community service organisations.
- Online Advertising Campaign: Leveraging online platforms to reach a wider audience and attract qualified candidates with demonstrated experience in complex youth-focused environments.
- Network and Outreach: Direct engagement with individuals and organisations known for expertise in wrap-around support, rehabilitation frameworks, and human-centred service models.
The search identified top candidates with the requisite skills and values alignment, offering innovative perspectives and a commitment to supporting young people in the justice system.
Emerging Capabilities
Operations
Proficient in managing day-to-day operations to ensure efficiency, continuity, and alignment with organisational goals.
Senior Stakeholder Management
Skilled in engaging and collaborating with senior stakeholders, fostering productive relationships to support strategic outcomes.
Policy Development
Expertise in formulating and refining policies that align with regulatory standards and address organisational objectives.
Daily Operations
Competent in overseeing routine operations, ensuring smooth and effective service delivery across departments.
Government Contracting
Experienced in managing contracts within government frameworks, ensuring compliance and optimising service value.
The Outcome
Future Leadership™ successfully appointed a Director of Operations who brought extensive experience in developing support structures tailored to young people in challenging settings. The candidate’s background in holistic support models, coupled with a history of collaborative service delivery, aligned seamlessly with the department’s goals. Key achievements of the appointed candidate included:
- Enhanced Youth Support Frameworks: Demonstrated expertise in creating individualised support plans that prioritise holistic outcomes, addressing not only academic but also emotional, social, and physical development.
- Collaborative Stakeholder Engagement: Proven success in working across diverse sectors and with multi-disciplinary teams to implement therapeutic, wrap-around care models.
- Innovative Leadership Approach: Leadership style centred on empowering young people, fostering resilience, and promoting long-term rehabilitative outcomes.
Feedback from the client underscored the success of our approach in securing a highly qualified candidate who exceeded expectations and reinforced the facility’s mission of positive youth development.
