Oxford HR - Managing Director, The Americas

Managing Director - The Americas

About Oxford HR

Oxford HR is a leadership consultancy focusing on executive search and organisational effectiveness and dedicated to serving the needs of the for-purpose and not-for-profit sectors in a wide variety of sectors.

In particular we work with clients in climate and conservation, education and health and across the international development landscape. We identify, support and promote the leaders, thinkers and doers that can help our clients make a real difference.

Oxford HR is an ambitious, fast growing and multicultural firm with a strong commitment to championing diversity and building resilience in leadership teams. Our hubs are in the UK (Oxford and London), Europe (Amsterdam), Africa (Nairobi, Kenya) and Asia (Singapore) with associate consultants and researchers across Canada, Bolivia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Belgium, India, Morocco, France, the Netherlands, South Africa, Senegal and Australia. We currently have around 90 staff and Associates. This has doubled in size in the past twelve months and we expect this rapid growth to continue.

In particular over the coming months we expect to establish a presence in the USA to help build our work in the Americas more broadly.

As an organisation we are aiming to become B-Corp certified, and our culture is based around openness and transparency.

The Role

Title: Managing Director - The Americas

Reporting to: Group CEO

Profile Summary

The USA is a global leader in running, funding and supporting for-purpose organisations around the world. Oxford HR is a world leader in supporting these organisations in recruiting and developing their leadership teams – and we are now ready to launch our business in the US and across the Americas.

As Managing Director you will lead on our leadership services for the for-purpose sector and be responsible for business development, building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and other stakeholders, creating opportunities for the Organisational Effectiveness team to offer ongoing organisational and leadership support services, and implementing Oxford HR’s strategy across the region. Your role is key to the contribution and growth of Oxford HR’s brand.

We already have a presence in Canada and in Latin America with Associates working on projects across the region. However, our ambitions are significant – to join up the work we are already undertaking globally with a new base in the US and to turbo charge our growth as a consequence of this.

Key Responsibilities

1. Business Planning

• Establish achievable goals for the business across the Americas that are ambitious, challenging and stretching, commensurate with the scale of our vision for the region

• Lead on the development and implementation of the regional business plan, setting and monitoring objectives, targets and KPIs

• Contribute to the ongoing reviews of the business at a strategic level and add value to thinking about wider issues of business ethics, developmental activities and organisational issues

• Identify and clarify priorities, including the views of stakeholders

• Ensure proper time is given for consultation around the decision-making process

• Ensure that contributions are realistic in terms of time and resources

• Develop and manage financial targets and budgets

• Create opportunities for the OE team to provide organisational development and leadership development services

2. Business Development

• Lead on business development in the region

• Building on the existing client base, identify and develop new clients

• Maintain and strengthen relationships with existing clients

• Promote and develop Executive Search, Organisational Effectiveness, Leadership Consultancy, Interim and other services, pricing and related offerings

• Design proposals, present and pitch to prospective clients

• Respond to requests for proposals and submit tender documents

• Draw up terms of business and manage contracts

3. Leading Executive Search Assignments

• Client management: liaise with and negotiate terms of business with clients

• Lead on the preparation and timely submission of proposals

• Work with researchers and admin staff to design search strategy, advertising and assignment management

• Conduct interviews and reference checks

• Create long and short lists in accordance with client needs and gender and diversity targets

• Manage candidates, providing timely and diplomatic feedback and maintaining relationships with high calibre candidates

4. External & Internal Representation

• Speak and write with confidence, authority, knowledge and insight on the region, Oxford HR practice areas and executive search methodology

• Influence and guide clients and candidates on assignments and roles

• Influence and guide the senior management team on internal organisational matters

• Guide clients on the importance of investing in ongoing support services

• Attend conferences and meetings representing Oxford HR’s vision

5. Manage finance & budgets

• Ensure cost effective operations in order to achieve targets

• Draw up and manage sound budgets

• Financial reporting when necessary

• Approve expenses and invoices from the region’s staff and associates

6. Internal communication and relationships

• Maintain open lines of communication with HQ and key staff

• Recruit, develop and motivate talent across the region to achieve high levels of performance and satisfaction within your team

• Work collaboratively with other teams across the organisation

7. Recruiting a Team of Associates across the Region

• Liaising with Operations Director to produce an Associates plan for the region

• Identifying and assessing potential Associates in conjunction with the Operations Director

• Onboarding and supporting Associates and monitoring their ongoing contribution to the business

Oxford HR - Managing Director - The Americas

Person Specification and Qualifications

• Experience in executive search, leadership or management consultancy or as an established senior leader in a relevant for-purpose sector

• Proven track record of business development in a relevant for-purpose sector

• Experience working internationally, ideally multilingual

• Entrepreneurial outlook

• Strong client management skills

• Confidence in operational delivery: security, internal staff management, managing budgets & finances, policies & procedures, operational risk

• Excellent networks in the for-purpose sector across the Americas; networks in the public and private sectors would be advantageous

• Excellent cross-cultural and distance communications skills

• Strong people management skills, including coaching, mentoring and performance management

• An appreciation for the role of Organisational Effectiveness as part of Executive Search processes.

• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills

• Excellent influencing, negotiating, relationship building and networking skills

• Ideally fluent in Spanish. Portuguese also desirable

• IT literacy

Personal Attributes

• An ambitious person with a drive to succeed

• Knowledge and interest of regional geopolitics and its key players and needs

• Being able to work independently and as an active team member

• Commitment to international development and ensuring gender and diversity representation

• Alignment with Oxford HR’s values

• A strategic thinker: analytical, critical thinking, logical and systematic in approaching issues, considering alternatives and making decisions

• Collaborative, diplomatic, pragmatic, tactful, nonconfrontational but able to get a point of view across

• Adept at dealing with sensitive and confidential issues

• Strong awareness and understanding of cultural and external issues that are likely to impact Oxford HR

• Awareness of risk management and its importance to Oxford HR

• IT literate in the use of databases and MS Office products

• High levels of personal organisation, stamina and resilience: ability to work under pressure and manage a fluctuating workload

• Able to thrive in a growing and fast-paced environment

Oxford HR Values

Oxford HR’s values are aligned with those of the international development sector, and we are trusted to appoint leaders who are not only technically competent but who are also aligned in terms of organisation’s culture and goals and committed to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the priorities in the Agenda 2030. More specifically we believe in:

Continuous improvement – we measure and evaluate what we do, get feedback and improve upon it. We use technology to support our work and ensure our team are constantly learning and developing their skills. We innovate wherever we can to secure our approach is the best possible for any project we undertake. We’re open to criticism. We’re naturally curious.

Collective and personal expertise – we believe no one person has a monopoly on the right answer and ensure we work collectively on our projects and challenges. We share knowledge and focus on disseminating ideas and expertise across the whole organisation. We hire people who are steeped in the backgrounds they’re delivering services in, who are professional and resourceful, and constantly eager to learn and committed to their own personal development.

Care – for our staff, our associates, our clients and candidates and for the sectors we work in. We work globally, across many cultures and constantly strive for a culturally sensitive response in all our projects. Our culture is non-hierarchical, and we regard staff and associates as equal parts of our Oxford HR family.

Cultural sensitivity - we recognise the under representation of certain minority groups in leadership roles and want to challenge that wherever we can. We relish having a diverse workforce.

Ethical and transparent – we uphold principles of ethical recruitment including openness and transparency in our dealings with candidates and clients.

How to Apply

To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button in the job landing page and complete our online application form. Please provide a CV and statement, which should be prepared before applying as they will be requested in the application process. The statement should be no more than 2 pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. Please relate your skills and experience to the person specification.

Closing Date

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Selection Process

All candidates will receive feedback. Shortlisted candidates may be required to undertake additional assessments and tasks prior to the final interview.

Diversity and Inclusion Policy

Equality and diversity are at the core of Oxford HR’s values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

Queries

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email mlaguna@oxfordhr.co.uk

Our Clients