Industry
International and Public Affairs
Location
Brussels, Belgium
Number of Employees
120+ employees
CLIENT OVERVIEW
Our client is an international institution based in Brussels that supports cooperation among governments, public authorities, civil society, and other institutional partners.
Operating within a highly international and policy-driven environment, its team manages advocacy, research, and stakeholder-engagement initiatives across Europe. Its work requires close coordination with decision-makers and institutions at national and regional levels.
CHALLENGE
As the organization expands its policy portfolio and stakeholder network, it needs to appoint a Director of Policy and External Affairs to lead its public-affairs strategy and strengthen its institutional relationships.
The role requires more than policy expertise. The successful candidate must be able to represent the organization at a senior level, manage a multicultural team, and build consensus among stakeholders with different priorities.
The ideal profile would combine:
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Senior experience in policy, government affairs, or international relations
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Knowledge of European and international institutional environments
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A strong network across government, public-sector, or multilateral stakeholders
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Experience leading diverse policy and external-affairs teams
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Excellent communication, negotiation, and diplomatic skills
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Fluency in English, with French, Dutch, or another European language considered valuable
Competition for leaders with this combination of policy knowledge, institutional credibility, and management experience would make the search particularly challenging.
SOLUTION
Avomind conducted a focused executive search across international institutions, European associations, public-affairs organizations, policy bodies, and internationally active nonprofit organizations.
After consulting with senior stakeholders, Avomind defined the competencies required to succeed in the organization’s complex external environment. The search would then combine targeted market mapping with confidential outreach to both active and passive candidates.
Candidates would be assessed against several core areas:
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International and European policy expertise
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Government and institutional stakeholder engagement
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Leadership of multicultural teams
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Public representation and strategic communication
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Consensus building and diplomatic judgment
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Motivation to contribute to the organization’s mission
Avomind then managed the process from talent identification through evaluation and offer support, providing the client with a carefully selected shortlist rather than a high volume of broadly relevant profiles.
OUTCOME
The search enabled the organization to identify a Director of Policy and External Affairs capable of strengthening its influence and deepening relationships with key institutional stakeholders.
With the right leader in place, the organization is able to:
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Strengthen its policy positioning and external representation
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Build closer relationships with governments and international institutions
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Improve coordination across policy and public-affairs activities
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Provide stronger leadership to its multicultural team
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Increase its influence within the European and international policy landscape