The challenge

A major state government department needed to hire for a Director-level role. The challenge? The talent pool was incredibly niche, and after six months on the market, the role was still sitting empty.

This was not a brief for a one-size-fits-all approach. They needed a partner who could navigate complex selection criteria across capability, experience, cultural fit and emotional intelligence – and deliver a tailored search strategy with real confidence in the outcome, right through to offer.

They needed PeopleScout.

The solution

We started with a timely, end-to-end search solution that touched every stage of the recruitment process. Combining broad national market intelligence with a clear view of the sector, we ensured our search strategy was grounded in where the talent already lived.

Working with a multipronged search approach, we left no stone unturned. Anonymous advertising helped us protect discretion in a tightly defined market. Multiple search routes let us stay on target while remaining flexible.

Throughout the process, we kept the approach transparent, adaptable and fully compliant –  resulting in a successful appointment without compromising on rigour.

Results

The outcome spoke for itself. A targeted national search identified 50 potential candidates, giving the department access to a broader and more relevant talent pool than previous efforts had uncovered. From there, we carried out a market-led review of ad response and refined the approach to get better results.

That work led to six new shortlisted candidates and, ultimately, a successful hire in just 10 weeks from vacancy brief to verbal acceptance. Full background, reference and compliance checks included.