New Chief Executive to be appointed at Brighton & Hove City Council

At this moment, the future of Brighton and Hove is being shaped almost as profoundly as it is by political elections – more so, arguably.

The position of council Chief Executive is up for grabs. The city is currently advertising for the person who will run an organisation that employs 8,000 people and spends around three quarters of a billion pounds a year delivering services to some 275,000 residents and 9,000 businesses: an organisation that can make or break the city’s future.

The choice of the new appointee will be critical: irrespective of the challenges imposed by shrinking government and revenue cuts, the stakes are high and the city needs an exceptional person with vision and an outstanding track record of delivery.

But the choice can only be as good as the candidates that present themselves. Long before shortlists and interviews start appearing, the city’s future will have been decided by the strength and diversity of the applicant pool.

Presumably, an advertising campaign will reach public sector people who are suitably qualified. However, there will be a number of potential candidates – particularly in the private sector – who will need to be targeted and ‘sold’ the opportunity. They may not be active in the job market or they may have pre-conceptions about running a local authority. The role of the headhunter is to identify these people and engage them in a conversation, addressing any issues they may have and gaining their commitment to come forward as a candidate if they fit the specification.

The council is right to engage external support with this key appointment but the headhunters they have chosen are experts specifically in the public sector. Indeed, all 50 of the vacancies they are currently managing are for public bodies.  This sends a worrying signal to the Brighton and Hove business community. What about experience of the private sector? Why is there no mention of supporting business creation and economic growth in the advertisement? How extensive are the headhunters’ private sector networks? Will they be targeting people outside the public sector? 

This could prove to be the most important decision made by the council’s political leadership. With so much hanging on it, they need to get it right, with the very best selection of candidates to choose from.  It’s essential that they and their advisers think outside the municipal corridors and beyond the usual suspects to reach people who will really drive the city’s economic growth.

By Michael Divers, Bold HR

Michael Divers is the Managing Director of Bold HR, based in Brighton.  Michael has helped many companies on their recruitment strategy for senior management jobs. Michael is an active member of Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce, one of the hundreds of businesses who join together to make our local economy strong.