Conducting a search for an Interim ER and IR Lead during a period of significant operational and industrial change.
The Brief
Future Leadership was engaged to appoint an Interim IR and ER Specialist for a leading independent school in Melbourne during a period of significant operational and industrial change.
The school required an experienced specialist to support enterprise agreement (EA) negotiations, strengthen workforce governance, and provide stability following transitions within payroll and HR. The role was critical in preparing for key EA milestones while supporting timetable and workload reforms.
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
We partnered closely with the Director of HR and key stakeholders to understand the school’s EA priorities, workforce challenges, and organisational context.
We targeted candidates with deep IR/ER expertise and experience in complex, regulated environments such as education and health. The successful appointee brought strong stakeholder engagement capability and the ability to operate across HR, finance, and academic leadership.
This enabled an immediate focus on establishing structure, improving governance, and supporting leaders through complex workforce matters.
The Outcome
The appointment delivered immediate stability and capability uplift during a critical period.
Clear governance structures and timelines were established for the EA process, while HR capability was strengthened through coaching and support. The Interim Specialist also improved workload planning, policy alignment, and Fair Work compliance.
Beyond addressing immediate priorities, the engagement positioned the school for a more streamlined EA process, stronger cross-functional alignment, and improved organisational capability.
