Recruitment process consulting for Charitable foundations: hiring programme officers who can judge
A foundation hires few people, and each one shapes how grantees are treated. The process should test judgement, curiosity and respect, not just a CV, and should be quick enough not to lose good candidates.
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Foundations often hire through the network of trustees or the founder's circle. This brings trust but narrows the pool, and the result can be a team that thinks alike. The usual interview asks about experience and ambition. It rarely asks how the person would respond to a proposal with a weak budget but a strong idea, or how they would give a hard message to a grantee they like.
A better process is built around the job. It begins with a sharp description of what the officer will own. It uses a short exercise, such as reading a sample proposal and noting questions and risks. It includes a conversation with a trustee or two, but is led by the chief executive. It checks references with care, and it makes the offer quickly. Where the role is senior, it may use an outside search to widen the pool.
How to set it up
1. Define the role and what good looks like
Write the portfolio, the decisions the person will make and the qualities needed, such as curiosity, patience and clear writing.
2. Widen the pool
Beyond trustee networks, reach NGO leaders, researchers, former programme staff and practitioners from the sectors you fund.
3. Use a work sample
Ask shortlisted candidates to review a sample proposal and talk through it. Observe the questions they ask and how they treat the applicant.
4. Interview with a panel of three
The chief executive, a senior colleague and a trustee. Agree the questions in advance and score them separately before comparing notes.
5. Decide and offer promptly
Hold reference calls and finalise within a week of the last interview. Explain the pay logic in the offer, drawing on your benchmarking.
Check these first
Before changing anything, find out what is true today. These take an afternoon and use your own records.
- Count how many of the last five hires came from a trustee or founder network.
- Look at the interview questions and see whether any test judgement.
- Ask a recent hire what they thought of the process.
- Measure days between the last interview and the offer for the last hire.
GullyHR can do this with you. Read how we approach recruitment process consulting in general, or share your requirements and we will tell you where to start.
Questions owners ask
For senior roles, one or two can join a panel, but the chief executive should lead hiring of staff below them. This keeps the lines of authority clear after the person joins.
Use a real or sample proposal, or a dilemma from your past, and ask the candidate to talk it through. Listen for the questions asked, the risks seen and the tone toward the grantee.
For the chief executive or a head of programme, or whenever your network has not produced a strong shortlist. A search widens the pool and brings a fresh view, though it takes time.