Delivering an executive search to appoint a Manager, Information Services for a large metropolitan council.
The Brief
A large metropolitan council engaged our firm to undertake an executive search for a Manager, Information Services, following the departure of the previous incumbent to another sector. The role was critical to the organisation’s digital maturity, operational stability, and ongoing transformation agenda.
The council had recently experienced challenges with a major cloud implementation, including third‑party integration issues, and required a leader capable of restoring confidence, strengthening governance, and driving improvements across a complex ICT environment.
Key contextual challenges included:
- Persistent issues stemming from a problematic cloud migration program.
- Multiple legacy systems still in use, requiring rationalisation and a clear future-state roadmap.
- A need for enhanced data governance, cybersecurity uplift, and stronger risk visibility.
- A requirement for political acumen and confident engagement with the Audit & Risk Committee.
- A team of approximately 25 staff (5 direct reports) experiencing positive cultural improvements but needing clear direction and prioritisation.
The council sought an experienced, people‑centred ICT leader who could combine technical depth, program oversight, and strong stakeholder engagement with an ability to drive transformation in a complex environment.
Process
To address these challenges, we developed a comprehensive and targeted search strategy designed to reach both local government specialists and talented ICT leaders from adjacent industries with strong transformation experience. The assignment included a nationwide outreach supported by an online advertising campaign across platforms such as the Local Government Jobs Directory, LGPro, Seek, and the firm’s professional channels including our website and LinkedIn presence. This ensured visibility among candidates with experience in cloud transformation, data governance, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture, and ICT operational management. All internal candidates were included in the process to ensure transparency, fairness, and alignment with public sector recruitment standards.
The research effort targeted candidates with a balance of strategic capability and hands‑on experience in transforming complex ICT environments. Key areas of focus included leaders with experience in cloud migrations, digitalisation programs, enterprise records management improvements, and multi-year ICT roadmap delivery. Candidates with experience working across both government and corporate settings were particularly valued, as they brought proven adaptability and the ability to navigate multi-layered stakeholder environments. Our assessment process included behavioural and capability-based interviews measuring leadership, operational governance, risk oversight, change management, and stakeholder advocacy. We also examined each candidate’s track record in leading teams, vendor management, service delivery performance, and implementing robust technology governance. The process followed a structured, nine‑week timeline encompassing the client briefing, development and approval of the position description, advertising, longlisting, shortlisting, client interviews, referencing, and final contract negotiation.
The Outcome
The campaign concluded with the appointment of an exceptional ICT executive who brought more than a decade of senior technology leadership experience across both local government and professional services. The appointed candidate had demonstrated a strong record of delivering enterprise-wide digital transformation, cloud transitions, and significant improvements in operational performance. Their achievements included overseeing major digitisation programs that reduced client cycle times by 80% and developing technology roadmaps that significantly enhanced business continuity capability by reducing disaster recovery times from 36–48 hours to just 90 minutes using a cloud‑based solution. These accomplishments reflected the candidate’s ability to translate strategic objectives into practical, organisation-wide outcomes.
The individual’s governance experience was extensive, having previously served as a member of senior leadership teams and engaged regularly with executive groups, steering committees, and risk management forums. They had chaired ICT Steering Committees, led policy development, and facilitated organisation-wide compliance improvements, including creating and implementing ten new ICT policies to meet legislative and security requirements. Their ability to communicate effectively with executive leaders, technical teams, and end users made them particularly well‑suited for the council’s highly visible role requiring clear prioritisation and political sensitivity.
In addition to strategic leadership, the appointed executive had a strong operational foundation. Their experience included leading major system implementations such as enterprise records management (EDRMS), ERP transformations, and mobility strategies. Notably, they had successfully supported the transition of 82% of a workforce to remote work during COVID disruptions while maintaining a 96% service-level achievement rate. Their vendor management expertise included negotiating contracts worth up to $1.4 million and leading complex multi-vendor project environments. Collectively, their achievements demonstrated the capacity to stabilise and uplift ICT operations while driving significant transformation aligned to organisational priorities.
The appointed candidate provided the council with the precise combination of strategic vision, governance acumen, and delivery capability needed to lead its ICT portfolio into its next phase of modernisation. Their balanced experience across transformation, operations, and stakeholder engagement positioned them to make an immediate impact on service levels, risk management, and long-term technology planning. Their appointment represented a critical step in strengthening the organisation’s digital maturity and capability to support the community into the future.
