Search Success in the Charity and Not-for-Profit Sector
Finding leaders who create lasting impact
Purpose-led organisations need more than experienced executives. They need leaders who can balance commercial thinking with mission, inspire stakeholders, navigate complexity and lead transformation with confidence.
For almost two decades, we’ve partnered with charities, healthcare organisations and research institutions to appoint senior leaders who deliver meaningful change. From Chief People Officers and Finance Directors to CTOs and Chief of Staffs, we help organisations secure the leadership they need to move forward.
Why charities choose Practicus Search
We understand purpose-led organisations
Hiring into charities and not-for-profit organisations isn’t the same as hiring commercially. Every appointment needs to balance purpose, governance, stakeholder expectations and long-term organisational impact.
We access hard-to-reach talent
Many of the best leaders aren’t actively looking. Our retained Search approach enables us to engage passive candidates who align with both your values and your ambitions.
We don’t just fill vacancies
We partner with boards and leadership teams to shape roles, challenge briefs where needed and identify the leadership capability your organisation really needs.
Learn more about our Search offering
Featured Search Successes
Confidential National Animal Welfare Charity
The challenge
Following the retirement of their technology leader, this national charity wanted to rethink the role rather than simply replace it. They needed a strategic technology executive capable of modernising digital capability while carefully managing an internal succession process.
Our approach
We partnered with senior stakeholders to redefine the position at Chief Technology Officer level, developed a compelling market proposition and managed a fully retained executive search alongside three internal candidates.
The outcome
- Executive Search campaign delivered
- Comprehensive candidate pack and market engagement strategy
- Strong executive shortlist presented
- Internal and external candidates managed through a fair, transparent process
- Organisation positioned for long-term technology transformation
What this demonstrates
Our ability to support succession planning, organisational design and executive leadership appointments, not simply candidate replacement.
Institute of Cancer Research
Appointing a leader who could deliver from day one
The challenge
The Institute of Cancer Research needed an operational HR leader to replace its outgoing Chief People Officer while maintaining continuity within a highly respected research institution.
Our approach
We focused on identifying leaders who combined strategic people expertise with strong operational delivery, stakeholder management and long-term organisational fit.
The outcome
- Successfully appointed a Chief People Officer on an initial six-month assignment
- Appointment converted into a permanent leadership role
- Excellent client feedback
- Ongoing strategic partnership established
What this demonstrates
We identify leaders who create immediate impact while building lasting organisational value.
NHS Professionals
Securing transformational technology leadership
The challenge
NHS Professionals required a CIO-calibre IT Director to lead technology transformation and prepare the organisation for future growth.
Our approach
Working closely with stakeholders, we developed a bespoke candidate pack, carried out detailed market mapping and assessed candidates on transformation capability, leadership style and cultural alignment.
The outcome
- Shortlisted seven external candidates and one internal candidate
- Delivered comprehensive market intelligence
- Successfully appointed an experienced transformational leader
- Strong stakeholder engagement throughout the process
What this demonstrates
Our ability to identify leaders who deliver immediate results while building long-term organisational capability.
More Search Successes
| Organisation | Challenge | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Greenpeace | Strengthen executive financial leadership | Appointed a Finance Director who identified significant financial risk and helped deliver a financial turnaround within 12 months |
| RNLI | Build strategic people leadership during organisational change | Delivered an exclusive executive search resulting in an exceptional leadership appointment |
| Clean Air Fund | Scale internationally while building people capability | Supported international growth and appointed multiple senior leaders, including Chief of Staff |
What our clients say
“I found Practicus great to work with. They quickly understood our requirement, worked at pace, provided a diverse and high-quality shortlist and we made an appointment first time.”
Paul Norris, CFO
Institute of Cancer Research
“Having worked with Practicus recently… they really understood the needs of the role and how to ensure there was a strong organisational and cultural fit.”
Jacquie McLelland, HR Director
Clean Air Fund
“Practicus have supplied the RNLI successfully across a range of leadership roles… most importantly, they deliver where it matters most.”
Kevin Barnard, Recruitment ManagerRNLI
Looking for your next executive leader?
Whether you’re appointing a Director, C-suite executive or transformational leader, the right Search partner makes all the difference.
Our Search team helps boards, CEOs and leadership teams define the brief, engage exceptional talent and secure leaders who create lasting impact.