CEO
for Youth Moves
Youth Moves, a Charity with a 20-year legacy of empowering young people in Bristol, is poised for an exciting new chapter. The organisation helps develop confidence, skills, and abilities, opening doors to future success. They create exciting new opportunities, deliver new experiences and transform communities – helping young people live their best lives.
As Youth Moves embarked on an ambitious project – developing the first state-of-the-art Youth Zone ('224') in the Southwest. In collaboration with OnSide and Bristol City Council – they recognised the need for exceptional leadership. This 35,000-square-foot facility is anticipated to engage 4,000 to 5,000 young people annually. Youth Moves required a Chief Executive who could guide them through a period of significant growth and impact.
They sought our assistance with the search campaign based on our track record for helping expanding organisations develop their leadership. We were thrilled to partner with Youth Moves and learn more about their transformative work.
The search was complex due to the ongoing planning of 224, and the collaboration between Youth Moves and OnSide. The CEO would oversee the Youth Zone and also be part of OnSide’s Chief Executives peer group. They needed a strategic leader with excellent hands-on management skills. The Chief Executive had to be adept at building relationships with a variety of stakeholders and motivating teams to achieve results. Above all, they needed to be passionate about the Charity’s mission and could ensure young people would be at the heart of the project.
Vanessa Moon, Moon’s Founding Director led the campaign. We combined targeted advertising with modern headhunting practices to find the best-qualified candidates. Our search covered a wide range of industries due to the multifaceted nature of the role, including education, charity and sports. This produced a large pool of candidates that was whittled down through a rigorous selection process. Vanessa oversaw interviews with the resultant shortlist. There were some exceptional candidates with a diverse range of expertise. Following the interviews, we provided a report on the individuals best suited to the role, explaining each candidate’s strengths, shortcomings and potential impact. We’re delighted that Youth Moves appointed one of our recommended candidates, Matt Justice.
Mr Justice brings a wealth of experience from leadership positions across the Charity and sports sectors. As Head of Children & Youth Services for the West of England Centre for Inclusive Living (WECIL), Mr Justice built and developed strong partnerships to provide support and opportunities for young people with disabilities. His operational management expertise and inclusive leadership style impressed our interview panel. Furthermore, his passion for helping young people live their best lives will ensure the Youth Zone fulfils its potential.
“Vanessa made the recruitment process easy and straightforward, providing us with a selection of top candidates who perfectly matched our brief.”
“In this campaign, we sought candidates with diverse backgrounds and skill sets across various industries. This resulted in a highly competitive pool of talent, making the selection process challenging. We were pleased with Youth Moves’ positive reception of our recommendations and delighted that one of our proposed candidates was appointed.”
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