Save the Children

Save the Children is the world’s first, and largest, independent children’s rights organisation. Today Save the Children works in over one hundred countries to build a world where every child can thrive, be healthy, educated, safe, and look forward to a future full of promise. Save the Children has been working in Thailand since 1979 and registered as a Thai foundation in 2021. The organisation is delivering on an ambitious strategy at this critical point in time for children.

Client:  Save the Children

Service:  Exclusive Executive Search

Role:  Executive Director, Thailand

Placement:  2019

Challenge

The client’s brief to NGO Recruitment for its inaugural executive director came after two failed searches the client had conducted themselves. The mandate was to find an executive director of Save the Children Thailand Foundation who could inspire and engage a wide range of stakeholders, including staff and volunteers, government agencies, corporate and philanthropic donors, to commit to its mission to prioritise children’s rights, their voices, and their needs.


The primary challenge for the new executive director would be to work with the board, and the national and global Save the Children members, to grow Save the Children Thailand Foundation to become the leading independent children’s rights organisation nationally.



The role would be focused on building a high performing organisation, mobilising international and domestic resources, influencing the Royal Thai government on children’s rights and extending quality support services to the Save the Children International Sub-Regional Hub based in Thailand.

Solution

NGO Recruitment focused its search on Thailand and included Thai nationals who were living overseas. The advertising and marketing campaigns, backed with extensive mapping and headhunting activities, generated over 240 applications.


Behavioural, scenario-based and competency interviews screened for the track record our client needed. NGO Recruitment conducted detailed reference checks to ensure the integrity of all collected information and to make sure that the client’s new executive director could deliver on their challenging mandate.


The successful candidate was a strong match to the brief with experience leading programs for International Labour Organization and regionally across Southeast Asia for the European Commission and Aide et Action. Our candidate had child advocacy and M&E expertise gained in UNICEF and had delivered on challenging resource mobilisation targets in previous roles.


Save The Children was delighted to appoint its first executive director in Thailand.

Results

Over 240 applications were generated following an awareness campaign and direct outreach

170+ formal applications were reviewed

Save the Children accelerated their impact in Thailand by appointing a highly skilled executive director

Roles Recruited

Program Manager, Australia

Group Director, Strategy & Public Affairs, Australia

Office Coordinator, Australia

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