Case study - a collaborative exercise

HR Director recruitment campaign 2006

The HR talent review in 2006 identified that a significant number of HR Director vacancies would arise within a short time. The Cabinet Office decided for the first time to run one co-ordinated Civil Service campaign as the best route to raising HR capability and avoiding the risks of having several separate competitions running at the same time. The Cabinet Office set out the following success criteria following discussions with stakeholders:

delivering a field of candidates for each vacancy that was at least as good as the department could have obtained independently and a very good final appointment;
quality-assuring candidates on behalf of departments and the Civil Service before the final panels;
reducing significantly the cost and time commitments for departments;
realising the benefits of a joined-up approach and Civil Service branding by attracting more and stronger candidates, promoting HR within the Civil Service and avoiding 'unhealthy' competition between departments for the same talent;
engaging proactively and constructively with candidates throughout the process to ensure they had a positive experience;

The campaign covered nine HR Director posts at Deputy Director, Director and Director General level. The Cabinet Office project team worked in partnership with the Commissioners and with an external search consultant to run the campaign.

What went well?

The shortlists were stronger in comparison with other separately run HRD campaigns over the previous six months. read more

What could have gone better?

At Director General level, although preferred and reserve candidates were selected, offers of appointment were not taken up. read more

Would we do it again?

Yes. The Commissioners and the Cabinet Office felt that this was an effective way to recruit posts where there is a clear cross-departmental need, read more