Our client, an investment management group with c.$145 billion under management, had decided to move into the world of social housing. In 2021, our client set up a subsidiary as a registered for-profit housing association. When NSCG were approached to deliver the Executive Search for the Asset Director role, we hit the ground running to identify the correct candidate to take on the challenge.
Discover the full case study below.
To enable them to provide a compliant, high-quality service, they were looking to recruit an experienced asset manager, with a good understanding of contract management, legal and regulatory asset compliance and customer liaison. The successful candidate would need excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to work at both a strategic and operational level.
Part of our challenge was that the ideal candidate was likely to come from a larger housing association but be happy to move into a smaller, more commercially focussed team in what was – in effect – a start-up venture.
NSCG carried out a wide-ranging search, identifying and engaging with over 100 potential candidates working for housing associations, local authorities and other organisations providing regulated housing services.
The main focus of the assignment was to identify people willing (and able) to take a step away from a successful and relatively secure career in social housing into a more commercially focussed organisation, with limited resources and the need to develop systems and processes “from the ground up”.
As such, carrying out competency and situational interviews, backed with psychometric assessment, was needed to get a strong feel as to whether (and how) candidates would cope in this different environment.
- NSCG was able to provide a strong shortlist of 4 candidates, with the candidate we placed (after a comprehensive selection process) having a background in the legal profession, followed by 15 years in social housing in strategic asset management, customer safety, and compliance roles. In addition, she had a keen eye for detail, a proactive approach, and excellent stakeholder management skills.
- The candidate was unsure at times during the process whether the move was right for her, as there was an element of risk involved in such a change of career direction, but after introducing her to all the key executive team members, she felt both comfortable and excited by the opportunity.
The appointed candidate settled into the role really quickly, getting to grips with what was needed from a systems, compliance and contract management perspective.
The client stated that 3 months after joining, she has developed an excellent understanding of their business model and has helped position our client’s business so that it can grow effectively, safely, profitably and in line with regulatory and legislative requirements.