Strategies for Hiring Non Profit Leaders Posted

As a leading executive placement firm in Woodland, CA, Pacific ExecSearch understands hiring leaders for non-profits is a challenging endeavor. It’s a process that takes a significant amount of time and energy. And regardless of how careful you are in your approach, there’s always some element of risk involved. It’s never possible to be 100% certain that the individual you ultimately decide to bring on board will be successful.

However, there are strategies you can employ that will help minimize this risk so you can make a smart hiring decision. Here’s a look at 4 of them:

Don’t Rush

If the leader you are replacing left in hurry, then it can certainly be a challenging time for your non-profit organization. However, don’t let this situation cause you to hire in a hurry. Doing so can lead to hiring mistakes that will wind up costing your organization more in the long run. Instead, make plans for interim leadership during the search process.

Build a Strong Search Committee

For most non-profits, the board has ownership over and the final say in the hiring process. But that doesn’t mean each member has the skill set to source quality candidates and hire effectively. As a result, it’s important to partner with an executive placement firm who has the proven processes and experience in place to pursue and place the candidate you need. In addition, a seasoned recruiting partner can help you develop a reasonable timetable, budget for hiring, and salary range.

Identify Your Non-Profit’s Needs

Before you begin the hiring process, determine the unique set of circumstances the leader you do decide to hire will face. What kinds of challenges will they need to overcome? What goals will they be expected to meet and in what timeframe? What kinds of skills, experience and personality traits are key to being successful in this role? The more you define what your needs are, the better the chance you’ll have of recognizing the strongest contender for the job.

Plan Out the Hiring Process

An executive placement firm will help you with each step of hiring, which includes:

  • Promoting the position to both active and passive candidates.
  • Screening candidates via resumes and phone screens.
  • Interviewing candidates to hone in on the strongest ones. This process typically includes multiple rounds of interviews.
  • Verifying references and credentials, and conducting background checks for the top-pick candidates.
  • Making a final hiring decision and extending the offer.

They can also save your non-profit a considerable amount of time by freeing you up to do what you do best, which is run your organization.

If you need more help hiring leaders for your non-profit, call Pacific ExecSearch. As a top executive placement firm in Woodland, CA, we have extensive experience in sourcing, evaluating and helping companies hire mission critical professionals for top positions.

To learn more about how we can help your organization, please contact us today.