Brief for Government Relations Role
A leading independent UK energy company, specialising in unconventional sources of exploration, sought a Head of Government Relations. The company’s operations, particularly in fracking, have attracted significant negative media coverage and aggressive lobbying from environmental groups and local communities. This newly created role was designed to lead communication and political strategy, build a robust stakeholder strategy, manage planning and community issues, and oversee agency support. Reporting directly to the CEO, this position was critical for navigating the complex political landscape and improving public perception.
The Challenge
The company had never recruited in Public Affairs and Government relations before and was facing regulatory and political critical impact on the sustainability of its business.
The primary challenges were:
- Urgent need to find the Head of Government Relations. The company had previously engaged another global search firm that delivered pedestrian candidates, leading to an urgent need for a highly networked and capable individual.
- A complex environment to navigate due to the controversial nature of fracking, the role required a candidate with strong political acumen and the ability to manage high-stakes communications and stakeholder relations.
- Ensuring a strategic fit as the role required a unique blend of skills to address both strategic and operational challenges in a highly contentious environment.
Our Approach
To address these challenges, we implemented a strategic and focused approach:
- Client engagement: we conducted a detailed assessment to understand the requirements of the role, why the previous shortlist had not met the standards, and who had been approached.
- Market expertise: leveraging our extensive market knowledge and contacts built over 20 years, we specifically targeted key individuals with the necessary expertise and network.
- Proactive search: our search combined proactive headhunting, leveraging our network for recommendations, and utilising our deep industry insights to identify and assess suitable candidates quickly for Head of Government Relations.
The Outcome:
Within one week, we delivered three fully screened, high-calibre Head of Government Relations candidates to the client, all of whom were capable of meeting the demands of the role. The timing of the offer and acceptance was critical, impacting both the potential start date and overall financial remuneration for the candidate. We managed this process swiftly, ensuring a successful outcome without compromising the quality of profiles we had presented.
Conclusion:
Our ability to understand the client’s urgent needs, combined with our extensive network and market intelligence, allowed us to deliver exceptional candidates in a short timeframe. This case study highlights our expertise in providing tailored recruitment solutions for complex and high-stakes roles, ensuring the right cultural and professional fit as Head of Government Relations for our clients.
Hanson Search is a leading talent advisory and executive search consultancy with consultants based across the UAE, UK, USA, and Europe. We specialise in business-critical roles that drive revenue, reputation, and risk, with dedicated teams in Communications, Government Relations, Financial Communications, Public Affairs, Marketing, Digital Marketing, Sustainability, Investor Relations and C-Suite recruitment.
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