Westcott Thomas - Executive Recruitment. Our primary focus is the Southern, Central and Northern Ontario region of Canada, but we commonly travel world wide to serve our diversified range of clients.

The key elements in the Westcott Thomas recruitment search strategy are to:

• work closely with the client to obtain a clear picture of the position, the environment and the requirements for a successful performance;
• develop the most appropriate Canadian, U.S. or European search strategy to meet the clients needs by utilizing research, industry contacts, database searches, confidential advertising, etc.;
• comprehensively interview candidates in order to present the client with a short list of qualified contenders;
• conduct thorough reference verification on the finalist candidate(s);
• manage the search to a successful conclusion, including regular follow-up after the candidate is hired.

Management Assessment

Management assessments offer substantial benefits to both the organization, and the individual. They are effective tools for:

• hiring and promotion decisions;
• individual career development and counselling process;
• succession planning systems

Westcott Thomas uses only thoroughly researched measurement techniques and employs proprietary Canadian test norms whenever appropriate. Our service includes a comprehensive written report, detailed feedback to candidates and follow-up consultation with report users.

360-Degree Assessment

We use a comprehensive, 360-degree assessment tool for experienced managers called Benchmarks that measures 16 skills and perspectives critical for success. Benchmarks offers an in-depth look at development by assessing skills (paper or online) developed from a multitude of leadership experiences, identifying what lessons may yet to be learned and helping the executive determine which specific work experiences need to be sought out in order to develop critical skills for success.

Through the Benchmarks process, participants:

• Learn how others perceive their strengths and development needs.
• Learn how they compare with similar managers in other organizations.
• Focus on skills and perspectives critical to being effective and successful.
• Design a plan that links needs to specific developmental experiences.

Unique Services

Additional services which utilize our broad experience base include customized services in the following areas:

• in-house selection systems development;
• organization planning & design;
• human resources consulting;
• seminars on human resource topics, development and facilitation.

Licensed programs:

• Stress Management
• Time Management
• Benchmarks
• Skillscope

Areas of Expertise

The Municipal Clients

A municipality is different in many ways from any other form of organization, not least in its human resource needs. When a vacancy occurs at the level of City Manager/CAO or Department Head, there are few equivalent experiences in other business sectors to which a firm can relate in order to conduct a search. A city council, for example, is quite different from a corporate board of directors. The functions of a mayor or city manager differ dramatically from those of a corporate president. The firm which undertakes a municipal search must recognize, understand and be able to work with those differences. Westcott Thomas does.

Drawing on its many years of municipal search experience Westcott Thomas has developed a highly specialized process for conducting a municipal executive search.

The Process

Although individual searches sometimes require additional components, the process generally follows the same pattern. Westcott Thomas will:

• Meet with individual council members (for CAO positions) and/or the CAO for other positions) to obtain a clear understanding of the position, culture, mandate, and requirements for successful performance.
• Using the collected input, develop a detailed qualification description and obtain agreement on the selection criteria.
• Work with the client to develop an effective selection process, including time frames.
• Place and handle responses from the advertisement, and make direct contact with suitable executives from our extensive database and resume files.
• Identify and contact candidates. This requires targeted municipal market analysis and years of municipal executive search experience to zero in on appropriate individuals with relevant experience.
• Screen candidates from all sources, interview the most appropriate, prepare a shortlist, meet with the client to review candidates' backgrounds and interview impressions.
• Check finalists' references and submit written reports.
• Conduct management assessments of finalists and present reports.

Throughout the process, Westcott Thomas assumes overall management of the search, working closely with the client. Regular update reports ensure all parties are kept involved and current at all times. The end result is a successful and timely conclusion, with a high-quality candidate.

The Other Services

Again building on the firm's specialized inside knowledge of the municipal sector, Westcott Thomas provides a complete set of high-quality human resources services tailored to the needs of municipalities. This includes management assessment, career development planning, and relocation counselling to meet current and future needs.