Some recruitment searches go exactly to plan. Others require something more: the willingness to pause, reflect, and start again with better information. Our work with Tearfund was the latter, and we think it's one of the best examples of what genuinely consultative recruitment looks like in practice.

The brief

Tearfund came to us looking to appoint a Head of Partnerships. It is a strategically significant role, responsible for leading and growing high-value partnerships that sit at the very heart of what Tearfund does. We launched the search with a proactive combination of market mapping, direct headhunting, and targeted advertising. The kind of thorough approach we bring to every senior search.

We spoke with a good number of candidates and found genuine interest in the role. But as the process progressed, something became clear. While there were credible people in the mix, the overall calibre was not consistently matching the level of strategic leadership the role genuinely required.

Honest advice over easy answers

This is the moment that defines a recruiter. We could have pressed on, presented what we had, and hoped for the best. Instead, we paused.

We went back to Tearfund with an honest assessment of what the market was telling us. As advisers as well as recruiters, we felt it was important to share that picture clearly, even if it meant going back to the drawing board. The brief needed sharpening.

Together, we worked through the job description in detail. We refined the strategic scope of the role, clarified what leadership accountability really meant in this context, and articulated the level of organisational influence the successful candidate would need to carry.

We also brought salary benchmarking data from across the charity sector to the table. The original banding, we were able to demonstrate, was effectively closing the door on director-level candidates before the conversation had even begun. Alongside the salary adjustment, we recommended repositioning the title from Head of Partnerships to Director of Partnerships, to better reflect the seniority, accountability, and strategic importance of the role.

"Charisma kept going to get us the one."

A stronger search, a stronger shortlist

To Tearfund's great credit, they listened. The revised salary and updated title were approved, and we relaunched the search.

The difference was immediate. The strengthened positioning opened the market in a way the original brief had not. We began to attract a calibre of candidate that truly matched what Tearfund needed, and the depth of interest improved significantly alongside the quality.

We were able to present a much stronger shortlist, with three closely matched candidates progressing through to final stage interview. Each one brought a genuine combination of strategic thinking, senior relationship experience, and the kind of leadership presence the role demanded.

The outcome

A successful appointment was made. Tearfund's new Director of Partnerships brought with them strategic clarity, senior relationship leadership, and renewed momentum to the partnerships function.

It is exactly the kind of outcome that makes this work matter. Not just a filled vacancy, but the right person in the right role, positioned to make a real difference.

What this tells you about working with Charisma

We are not in the business of telling clients what they want to hear. When a search is not working, we say so. When the brief needs revisiting, we say that too. And when the market is telling us something important about salary, title, or positioning, we bring that evidence to the table and work through it with you.

That kind of honesty takes a certain confidence, and it requires clients who are willing to engage with it. Tearfund were exactly that, and the result speaks for itself.

Whether you are just beginning to think about a senior appointment or are mid-search and wondering if something needs to change, we would love to talk it through with you.

Get in touch with the Charisma team