Request for Proposals – Recruitment Agency to support appointment of next President of Interpeace

Overview

The Governing Board of Interpeace, through its Nomination Committee, is seeking a new full-time President to lead Interpeace over the next five years. This follows 17 years of success and significant growth of the organisation under the leadership of Scott Weber, who is stepping down at the end of his contractual term as President.

Interpeace is an international organisation for peacebuilding, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Its aim is to strengthen the capacities of societies to manage conflict practically and in non-violent ways, by assisting national actors in their efforts to develop social and political cohesion. Interpeace also aims to assist the international community (and in particular the United Nations) to be more effective in supporting peacebuilding around the world, by fostering policy and systemic change. For more information about Interpeace, please visit www.interpeace.org.

The President, reporting to the Governing Board, will be working at the forefront of building lasting peace by representing Interpeace and its mission internationally, providing strategic direction and leadership of the organisation, and fostering innovation and thought leadership about peacebuilding both internally and externally. S/He will ensure that Interpeace maintains a clear vision in order to provide unity and motivation within Interpeace as well as inspiration and commitment by its multiple stakeholders. S/He will be aware of the strategic changes affecting global peace and security, and be responsible for the continuous development and evolution of Interpeace as an organisation in response to changing contemporary needs and demands. S/He will also lead the organisation in acquiring resources.

This tender document is an invitation to specialist recruitment agencies to support Interpeace’s Nomination Committee in achieving a successful recruitment process that attracts and includes consideration of a rich diversity and choice of strong applicants. To that end, Interpeace is seeking a professional recruitment agency with deep expertise and experience in the identification globally of candidates taking into account Interpeace’s organisational values and culture as well as the opportunities offered by a choice that takes into account the importance of gender and geographical origin, leadership and senior management competencies, and the technical expertise required for the role (the Committee wishes to be able to consider the option of considering candidates with professional experience and expertise that is relevant if not necessarily directly related to peacebuilding policy and practice). This will involve executing a publicly advertised recruitment process under the direction of the Chair of the Nomination Committee, with the specific tasks set out below.

A draft job description for the role of Interpeace President is attached. The successful recruitment agency would be expected to assist at an early stage with finalising for publication the job description and associated person specification as well as the drafting of a relevant Interpeace organisational description dossier.

Service description (tasks)

The agency will report to the Chair of the Nomination Committee.

The Nomination Committee anticipates contracting the successful recruitment agency in order to commence the recruitment of the President from 10 October 2022 if not earlier (see procurement timeframe below) with the successful agency publishing and otherwise promoting the vacancy, seeking relevant candidates, receiving all applications, and long-listing.

Thereafter, the agency is expected to work with the Nomination Committee to achieve a short-list, conduct due diligence on applicants, set up face-to-face interviews for the Nomination Committee with the short-listed candidates, and organise face-to-face interviews for the final one or two candidates with the Governing Board.

The agency is expected to continue to support the Nomination Committee with the recruitment process until a suitable candidate is identified. Interpeace currently anticipates the recruitment process to be finalised by the end of March 2023, at which point Interpeace will assume responsibility for negotiating terms of appointment and finalising an employment contract with the President.

General conditions

The contractual agreement between Interpeace on behalf of the Nomination Committee and the agency will become effective upon signatures by both parties and will be valid for a period of one year.

General Terms and Conditions

1. The agency will finalise the recruitment dossier in coordination with the Nomination Committee.
2. During the entire period of the assignment, the agency will report directly to the Chair of the Nomination Committee.
3. In providing services, the agency and its personnel shall ensure to the best of its reasonable endeavours that it exhibits the highest professional standards and exercise due care, skill, and competence.
4. The agency shall render the services in a proper and timely manner.
5. The agency shall always comply with the relevant local labour laws and policies.
6. All reports and documents prepared during the assignment will be treated as the property of Interpeace.

Timeframe

The intended procurement timetable is as follows:

• Issue invitation to tender (this Request for Proposals): 24 August 2022
• Deadline for submission of questions by tenderers: 15 September 2022
• Tender submission deadline: 25 September 2022
• Presentations/clarification discussions with shortlisted tenderer completed: 30 September 2022
• Contract award and commencement: 10 October 2022

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

The recruitment agency must meet the following specifications:

1. At least 10 years of professional experience in the Human Resources sector, and specifically in recruitment and talent selection, preferably working with international non-governmental organisations. 2. Demonstrated experience in hiring leadership roles at the global level for international non-governmental organisations, ideally including for peacebuilding organisations or similar. 3. Ability to maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and professionalism and sound judgement. 4. Ability to work with senior leaders and managers, and to be considered a credible source of advice.

The Nomination Committee will use the information provided in the tenderer’s application to determine which agencies are most suited for short-listing and eventually being contracted. The Nomination Committee will focus on the criteria below:

1) Contract Implementation and Management Technical experience relating to the provision of recruitment services of leadership roles; Proven experience in global and diverse recruitments for international not-for-profit organisations; The nature of contract management/client liaison arrangements including procedures for dealing with complaints or problems.

2) Understanding and Approach Understanding of Interpeace’s requirements; Approach to providing the services; Capacity and approach to achieving the required strategic recruitment priority for the Nomination Committee of having a diversity and choice of high calibre candidates; Equality and Diversity considerations; Equal opportunity considerations.

3) Quality Assurance Ensuring that work is completed on time and to the required standards; Quality standards (accreditation); Management information requirements.

4) Resources, Including Staff Team proposed, including lead recruitment partner/consultant and that individual’s personal experience and success of recruitment of the kind envisaged as well as support members; Access to French as well as English speaking support capacities; Access to global networks in support of the agency.

5) Price with specification of all expected costs including advertising