Shirley Parsons revitalizes a university’s EHS programs with a replacement Associate Vice Chancellor of EHS.
The Challenge
One of the largest universities in the Central USA (with over 20,000 staff and over 16,000 students) came to Shirley Parsons looking for assistance on an executive, retained search to replace their retiring Associate Vice Chancellor of EHS. This was a niche search that required somebody from a similarly sized university who had expert knowledge of key areas such as laboratory safety, biosafety and radiation safety, in addition to the leadership skills and strategic track record required for this key leadership position.
Our Approach
We have gained expert knowledge of the university sector through years of networking in this space, including attending CSHEMA (Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association) events, forums and conferences. This knowledge and network enabled us to quickly present a strong and diverse shortlist of 6 candidates interviewed for the position. Regular meetings and conference calls were held with the university’s “search committee” for this role (which included a wide array of stakeholders from different departments) to help guide them through an in-depth, multi-stage interview process.
The Result
A hire was successfully made for a candidate with 30+ years of experience within the universities sector, who relocated from a similar institution on the East Coast to take up this position. This candidate has already made significant improvements to the campus EHS team and programs, with early safety perception surveys showing an increased buy-in from staff.