Lansdowne Executive Search Seeking Leader for Housing Alliance

March 25, 2020 – Dublin, Ireland-based Lansdowne Executive Search has been enlisted to find the executive director for the Housing Alliance, a collaboration of six of Ireland’s largest approved housing bodies (AHBs). Partner Sean McDonagh is leading the assignment.

Reporting to the Housing Alliance chair, the executive director will be expected to take a hands-on role in establishing the Housing Alliance and ensuring it delivers on its mission, said Lansdown Executive Search. The individual will be charged with managing the coordination of all activities for the Housing Alliance in accordance with its vision, mission and values. The individual must also help raise the public profile of the operation and develop strong external relationships across corporate and public sectors.

Candidates will be expected to possess a demonstrable record of achievement at the senior leadership level in a high-profile voluntary, commercial and/or public organization. They must also have a strong understanding of policy development/advocacy and be passionate about the role that social and affordable housing can play to meet Ireland’s housing needs.

As the public face of the Housing Alliance, the executive director should have highly developed communication skills and be capable of engaging and influencing a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, said the search firm. He or she must be a strong collaborator with the ability to harness the collective strength of the member organizations and have proven governance, finance and change management skills.

Affordable Housing

An interest in or previous history of involvement with social housing issues is desirable but not essential, said Lansdowne Executive Search

The Housing Alliance was formed to promote the delivery of social and affordable housing by larger AHBs, to address barriers and challenges to delivery, and to promote strong professional approaches to housing management. Members work collaboratively on a range of issues, while also retaining their independent status. The Housing Alliance’s six AHBs are: Circle Voluntary Housing, Clúid Housing, Co-operative Housing Ireland, Oaklee Housing, Respond and Tuath Housing.

Lansdowne Executive Search, founded in 2015, provides a range of senior executive search and interim management services, addressing all functions and industries, nationwide. The firm’s engagement model follows a carefully crafted approach to ensure the requirements for each assignment are thoroughly understood. Its process utilizes a comprehensive, systematic and responsive methodology. Combining these elements with deep market knowledge, the firm promptly identifies the best talent available to grow and develop client organizations, enabling them to achieve their strategic goals. Services also include advertised selection and executive coaching

Mr. McDonagh’s career has spanned over 20 years in domestic and international executive search, across a broad spectrum of industry sectors. He has a proven track record of building relationships with clients and managing assignments for the appointment of senior executives to large and complex organizations. A graduate of the National College of Ireland with a bachelor’s degrees in human resource management and management, Mr. McDonagh has a keen interest in the use of psychometric testing as part of assessment and development programs. He is qualified to British Psychological Society level A&B standard in psychometric assessment.

Experienced Recruiters

Lansdown Executive Search partner Tom Keane has held leadership positions in the search industry for the past 25 years. He spent 15 years with a leading Australian executive search firm covering the Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong markets prior to his return to Ireland. Mr. Keane has operated in the Irish market since 2005 across a broad range of industries and has managed a significant number of leadership level assignments. He has built a reputation as a highly professional, ethical and effective practitioner within industry. He holds a master’s degree in project management from the University of Technology Sydney.

Partner Luke Freeley has 25 years industry experience, gained across the executive search, professional services and technology sectors. He has managed a significant number of assignments across both the permanent and interim management areas of the market. Working across a wide variety of industry sectors, Mr. Freeley has a strong reputation as a thorough professional who operates with tenacity, discretion and professionalism. He holds a bachelor’s degree in applied physics and electronics from National University of Ireland, Galway.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media