Our success in hiring executive leaders for impact-driven organisations follows a pathway that, at Oxford HR, we have refined over time shaped by our core values. From identifying top talent to supporting onboarding, we deliver an end-to-end service tailored to our clients’ needs.
Within every search, our process includes strategic mapping, proactive outreach, and genuine engagement. This ensures our clients access a qualified and diverse talent pool, while candidates gain a meaningful and supportive experience.
So how do we approach executive search?
First and foremost, we bring a deep understanding of the sector. Oxford HR has worked with both non-profit and for-purpose organisations for almost 30 years. Our consultants and researchers come from backgrounds aligned with the sectors we serve, giving us insight and networks that are invaluable to the search process.
We recognise the diversity of non-profits and mission-led businesses ranging in size, structure, geography, and focus areas. This helps us create tailored organisation lists and ask the right questions to assess alignment and ways of working.
Our knowledge of the sector, paired with a nuanced understanding of the role, enables us to identify both expected and unexpected candidates who bring diversity of thought and background. Purpose-driven leadership doesn’t always follow a linear path. We support candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and those who may not meet every listed criterion, focusing instead on transferable skills, lived experience, and leadership potential.
We also work with our clients to ensure their selection criteria are inclusive and reflect a broad range of experiences.
A unique aspect of our work is that our clients and candidates are united by a commitment to tackling global challenges whether it’s climate change, social justice, clean energy or food systems. We embed this into every stage of our process, spending time understanding the long-term vision of the client and the values of potential leaders.
While hiring in the impact sector may resemble other industries in process, stakeholder expectations particularly around lived experience and representation are distinct. Many clients require leaders with experience in the regions they operate in. This adds complexity, but we consistently deliver through targeted search strategies and authentic engagement.
In 2023, 53% of the leaders we placed were from the Global South reflecting both our commitment to diversity and our understanding of the sector’s needs.
Finally, open communication is key. We maintain clear, ongoing dialogue with clients, candidates, and sources throughout the search. We are consistently recognised for our transparency and responsiveness, which we consider hallmarks of our work.
Candidate feedback
“This was hands down the most supported I have felt through a recruitment process. The engagement from Oxford HR as a candidate was exceptional. From the initial pre-application conversation through to a post-appointment debrief, I felt fully informed and valued at every stage.”
“Oxford HR’s support throughout my application process was invaluable. I was particularly impressed by the transparency and responsiveness of the team—from the lead consultant to the thematic experts and support staff.”
For more information about our executive search service, contact Thibaut Mills: tmills@oxfordhr.com
Mia Indriani
Mia has over 15 years’ experience in research, teaching, and professional development training. She has master’s degrees in Ecology and Tropical Biodiversity from Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB)- Indonesia and in Strategy, Innovation and Organization from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She gained experiences working in the area of business strategy and sustainable innovation, marketing management and environmental management.
Mia started her career at School of Business and Management – ITB in Indonesia, while also taking part in management consultancies for state-owned companies. She is passionate about sustainable innovation, particularly in its business aspect, and people and organizational development.
