Conducting an Executive Search to appoint four clinical executives to provide leadership to improve health care, advocating for the clinical workforce into the future and delivering reform and improvement in the system.
The Brief
This state-based, public health directorate engaged Future Leadership to appoint four clinical leadership positions as part of a team of expert clinicians who would be pivotal in the reform agenda of the directorate. A national search was conducted to support the appointment of highly qualified and experienced candidates to the positions of:
- Chief Allied Health Officer
- Chief Medical Officer
- Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer
- Chief Psychiatrist
All roles lead teams and collaborate at a systemic level across the state and region to improve health care, advocating for the clinical workforce into the future and delivering reform and improvement in the system. A review of the roles was undertaken prior to the searches commencing which highlighted the need for both local and whole system leadership, to work highly cohesively amongst the Clinical chief group to enhance the cross-over for inter, and multi-discipline. The roles will also provide advice across the directorate and to the Director General and Minister.
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 Future Leadership team met with key stakeholders to complete a comprehensive brief for the multiple appointments. It was identified that the Clinical Chiefs would need to bring a relational style, with credibility and the ability to step onto the national stage and influence across the region. A big part of these roles will be to deliver on reform work and provide strategic professional leadership and policy direction for the health system through influence and negotiation. The Clinical Chiefs will collaboratively drive continuous improvement across the health system supporting innovative models of care.
It is important to note these are not operational roles as currently exist in health services. Success will come through influence, negotiation and collaboration, with the positions leveraging policy and legislation. The real skill for the appointees will be in leading change to achieve outcomes.
The searches for the four appointments utilised multiple avenues to identify suitable qualified candidates including Future Leadership’s known referral partner network, candidates from recent and aligned searches, digital advertising and engagement with the medical colleges to tap into their memberships. A number of internal candidates were also managed through the process. The Future Leadership Capability Framework was a key component of the process, with all shortlisted candidates completed a psychometric assessment which provided insights into each candidate’s relative strengths and work preferences. This also provided suggested behavioural interview questions for the interview panels.
The processes were run concurrently, with Future Leadership working closely with our client to coordinate multiple interview panels, reference checking for preferred appointments and provide support for offer negotiation.
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.
Adaptability and Resilience
Demonstrates positivity, curiosity, and the ability to pivot when confronted with change, pressure, adversity and disruption. Responsive to strategic environmental, social and corporate challenges and opportunities.
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.
Sustainability, Ethics and Integrity
Prioritises the environment in making decisions and leading others. Operates with integrity and aligns self to a high standard of social, cultural and professional standards of conduct. Adheres to moral and ethical principles. Draws on values to inform behaviour.
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.
Critical Thinking
Gathers and examines different data points, testing for assumptions and gaps in logic; reframes problems and presents well-reasoned insights considering diverse perspectives. Analyses, interprets and objectively evaluates information enabling judgements.
The Outcome
All four roles were successfully appointed, with the appointees commencing across April / May 2024. The appointees bring with them diverse backgrounds and experiences from outside the Directorate, further enhancing the organisation’s ability to support a values-based healthcare approach, fostering collaboration and bringing a service focus.
The inclusion of psychometric assessment in the process, along with a debrief from the Future leadership organisational psychologist, supported the appointment of a group of highly functioning executives who would work together to shape strategic thinking, support the stewardship function of the directorate, and bring an interdisciplinary mindset
Future Leadership gave expert guidance throughout the process. From my first contact to find out more about the position and the key skills through to the last interview stage, the Future Leadership team anticipated what would be needed for me to put my best responses forward. Their personal approach was warm and engaging and the high level of communication meant I understood all steps and the timing in the recruitment process. They even checked in during a slight delay to keep me informed so I wasn’t worried about delays.
