Mackie Myers were recently invited to tender to deliver a permanent recruitment campaign for a London based University in order to appoint a permanent procurement function. In this insight article we explore the case study in greater detail.

Challenge
The organisation had undergone a change programme to centralise their procurement activities and wanted to imbed the new structure with a permanent team. They wanted to appoint a new Head of Procurement and Procurement Manager who could enhance the strategic transformation as well as deliver BAU at a busy and challenging time for the organisation. Given the transformation, it was vital that successful candidates could command the respect of a diverse and challenging stakeholder group. Furthermore, the budgeted salary was slightly below market rate, compounding the difficulty of the search.

Process
Mackie Myers successfully tendered for the work, winning the mandate with a tailored delivery approach, a commitment to utilise new tech platforms to enhance engagement throughout the recruitment process, and a bespoke pricing model. We set to work on generating a long list of candidates through approaching our network, advertising and targeted headhunting activities. We conducted longlisting interviews and invited shortlisted candidates to complete short introductory videos to complement their CV’s. With Mackie Myers managing all of the logistics throughout, the shortlist panel then selected their preferred candidates for a panel interview before making appointments.

Solution
Both roles were recruited at the first time of asking to the preferred candidates. Our intimate knowledge of the client enabled us to effectively outline the challenge and opportunity of the roles, ensuring only the most suitable candidates where included. Our video shortlisting platform streamlined the shortlisting process for a large interview panel, reducing hassle for all parties whilst increasing engagement.  The recruits have worked out well for both parties. Due to the relationships and understanding of the department we have developed throughout the process, we have since appointed some interim resource to help the new team deliver critical strategic projects quicker.

For more insights into how we can tailor our recruitment approach and help you reduce time, hassle and money from your process, please get in contact: hello@mackiemyers.co.uk