Executive Search
Search - Get the Right People on the Bus
Livingston Associates is the leading Public Media Executive Recruiting firm. We have conducted more than 140 searches for General Managers/CEOs, mid-managers and air staff. We combine profound, hands-on industry specific knowledge with more than a decade of world-class recruiting experience. We offer levels of search to fit your needs and budget, from full retained search (best suited for top executive positions) to our basic search. Livingston Associates uses the public media enterprises first and largest resume database, which serves as a powerful first step in the recruiting process.
Full Search
Our full, retained executive search services are built on four key principles.
- First, develop a partnership with the Board of Directors (or search committee) to identify critical skills and attributes for the position;
- Second, conduct a complete and thorough search locating qualified, highly motivated candidates that exceed the established requirements;
- Third, offer complete and detailed assistance throughout the search, interview and selection process;
- Fourth, continue involvement until the successful transition has been made and the new executive is fully functioning in their new role.
Jennifer Lawson, one of the most distinguished leaders in public television, was chosen by Howard University as the outcome of our search for General Manager of Howards WHUT (the only African American owned and focused public television station). Howard was so pleased with our work they brought us back to conduct the search for the Marketing and Communications Director for Howard University Hospital.
Our full searches utilize a unique approach weve perfected over several years, including a powerful tool for building a consensus-based, forward-focused vision for the ideal candidate for the position, then integrating the results throughout the entire search process. Our clients absolutely love this! For many organizations it engenders a kind of top-to-bottom (and bottom-to-top) conversation theyve never experienced before. Appropriate participation by the staff generates enthusiasm for the outcome. Often, an added bonus is larger organizational alignment. Call for more information!
Bringing it all together Iowa Public Radio
Iowa Public Radio (IPR) is a new entity in the public media landscape. IPR was formed from the combined operations of three of the state’s Iowa Regent-governed public radio stations. We were retained to facilitate the process of creating a Request for Proposals for a study that led to a decision to create the position of Executive Director for Iowa Public Radio. Livingston Associates then successfully recruited the first Executive Director in 2005. Due to the untimely illness and resignation of the Executive Director, we were also retained in 2008 to complete a new search for the second leader of this enterprise. IPR now maintains four branch operations, consists of 60 staff, has an annual budget of $6 million, and separate classical music and news programming streams serving most of the state.
Basic Search
Our basic search services are designed to provide the structure and methods of a search-firm led national search and at the same time meet the budget requirements of all public media organizations. The process is like purchasing an insurance policy when you cant afford a full search or one isnt called for. This fee-for-service search includes help with planning and executing the search, combined with our focused, proven outreach directly to prospective candidates. A key added value is our resume database of nearly one thousand potential candidates.