Question 1

Other search firms have placed more Heads of School than The Finney Search Group. Shouldn’t that be a big consideration?

Accepted Answer

We are transformation-driven, not volume-driven. We carefully and purposefully select a limited number of Head of School searches each year. Our willingness to take on fewer searches allows all 5 FSG partners to devote extra time & effort to conduct a thorough & timely search for a transformational leader.

We measure our success by “How well our placements succeed”, not “How many placements we’ve made.” Our success with placing Heads of School is best articulated by our previous Trustees and Search Committee members whom we've assisted. Please contact us, and we'll gladly provide you with a list of prior Trustee clients who can provide referrals.

Question 2

Why should I consider a smaller firm like The Finney Search Group for our Head of School search?

Accepted Answer

Our smaller size works to your advantage. Unlike some larger search firms, we dedicate all 5 Finney Search Group partners to your search, which is why we carefully limit the number of searches we take on at one time.

Most search firms claim to have large networks. The Finney Search Group is no exception. However, it’s not the size of our network, but the quality of our network that sets us apart from other search firms. Our national network is comprised of “1%’ers” i.e. respected leaders who are priceless credits to their school communities. Many are so passionate about their work that they rarely take the time to look for other opportunities. We specialize in proactively reaching out to these leaders to tell your School’s story.

We do not subcontract the search management to junior staff members or to former Heads of School now working as independent consultants. We never outsource the search management process to consultants outside of our firm. We will, when appropriate, bring a consultant into the process as a team member. In all cases, our client schools get all 5 Finney Search Group partners working on their behalf. We call this our Total Team Approach.

Our team partners bring a wide range of diverse backgrounds & experience to the search process. Our backgrounds in independent school education, professional & youth sports, entrepreneurship, as well as corporate finance and even manufacturing enable us to view the hiring process and the critical "Candidate-School fit" from unique vantage points and perspectives.

Question 3

What  are your retention rates for Head of School searches?

Accepted Answer

Our retention rate for placing Heads of School is 100%. Our overall retention rate is 95% for all other positions. We have placed hundreds of candidates since our inception and consider these rates Best-in-Class. We define Retention Rate as remaining at the School where placed, for at least 5 years. These extraordinary results speak to our ability to listen and understand each of our client schools’ unique requirements, and match those needs with exceptional leaders of great character.

Question 4

How will The Finney Search Group ensure a diverse candidate pool?

Accepted Answer

Each member of our firm has undergone thorough and comprehensive training to mitigate the impact of implicit bias in the hiring process.
As our success in delivering diverse candidate pools has grown, our national network of diverse candidates has likewise expanded.
As part of the services offered for our Head of School searches, we offer 3rd-party training to our client schools' Search Committees on Implicit Bias in the Hiring Process.
Our Total Team Approach insures we always have multiple Finney Search Group partners assessing and vetting our candidates, in order to have more than one "set of eyes" at every stage of the process.
We go to great lengths to understand the skills and qualifications required for the position. We focus intensely on assessing candidates against those factors, while also considering diversity markers that are important to our client schools.
Rather than assessing a candidate's "cultural fit" to a school, we concentrate on whether a candidate is a "culture add" to the school, and how that person's values align with the school's values.
We are committed to ongoing training, reflection and discussion of the role of bias in the process of hiring.

For more information on our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging and our actual results in placing diverse candidates, please visit our website at: https://www.thefinneysearchgroup.com/diversity-and-inclusion

Question 5

What resources and specific assistance will you provide to the Search Committee?

Accepted Answer

We offer a range of services and assistance to Head of School Search Committees, some of which include:
Creation of a detailed timeline for the process
Support and guidance for the creation of a Job Position Statement
Support and guidance for the creation of a Head of School Search website page
Support and guidance for the creation and execution of a stakeholder survey
Optional training for Implicit Bias in the Hiring Process
Onboarding and transition support for the incoming Head of School

Question 6

How long should it take to complete a Head of School search?

Accepted Answer

A typical Head of School Search might last 12 – 18 months from announcement of the search to the selection of the new Head of School. However, The Finney Search Group has developed a successful accelerated process whereby the process is condensed to 6 – 8 months. For more information on how we’ve accomplished this in several of our most recent Head of School searches, please contact Sherm Bristow or Bo Dixon.

Question 7

Is The Finney Search Group a “national” firm?

Accepted Answer

Our firm serves client schools from across the entire U.S. Our focus is exclusively on the national independent school market. Of the hundreds of candidates we’ve placed in our 12+ year history, approximately one third of our placements are for Heads of School or Division Heads of School, more than one fourth are for Athletic Directors, and over 40% are for teacher-coaches, administrators or leadership staff.

Unlike other search firms, this is the sole market space in which we operate. Some search firms focus more attention on higher
education markets, or even industrial/commercial markets.

Our market scope as “an inch wide, and a mile deep.”

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SEARCH FAQ'S

Heads of School Seeking Leadership/Staff

Other search firms have placed more Heads of School than The Finney Search Group. Shouldn’t that be a big consideration?

Why should I consider a smaller firm like The Finney Search Group for our Head of School search?

What are your retention rates for Head of School searches?

How will The Finney Search Group ensure a diverse candidate pool?

What resources and specific assistance will you provide to the Search Committee?

How long should it take to complete a Head of School search?

Is The Finney Search Group a “national” firm?

Heads of School Seeking Leadership/Staff

What differentiates The Finney Search Group from other search firms in this market space?

What is your record when it comes to filling positions with people of color?

Who will manage my search from The Finney Search Group?

What kind of Retention Rates do you achieve?

What is the mission of The Finney Search Group?

Candidates Seeking Jobs

What does an executive search firm do?

Should I contact The Finney Search Group before I apply directly to the school?

How do I communicate with The Finney Search Group?