Challenge

North Search was approached by one of the key bidders in the recently awarded South Australia Schools Public Private Partnership (PPP). This client engaged North Search to identify a Project Co-lead to be appointed in Adelaide should they win the bid. The brief was presented for a senior individual with Social Infrastructure PPP experience (preferably schools), either as a Project Director/CEO in an SPV or as Project Director with a Tier 1 Contractor.

Beyond the technical and experiential requirements for the role, the location of Adelaide was challenging. With only one major social infrastructure PPP executed in the market in the recent past, the local talent pool was extremely light.

Strategy

North Search moved quickly. The research team mapped social infrastructure PPP projects in both Australia and New Zealand over the past 10 years and identified key players within such projects. After an informed assessment of the market, specific targets were identified and engaged. Due to the sensitivity of the bid, we did not divulge the details of the project to prospective candidates until a final shortlist had been agreed. 

Result

Following a structured search, detailed interviews and testing processes, a preferred candidate was identified, and terms of future employment were agreed upon. The successful candidate had recently completed two major Schools' PPP projects for a Tier 1 contractor and was happy to relocate to Adelaide.

Despite the client bid being unsuccessful, we knew that we had identified the best candidate in the market for the role and were able to quickly build a relationship with the winning bidder who proceeded to engage the candidate in the same role.