In Your Shoes - Peter Caithness

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Peter Caithness is the Managing Director of Caithness Consulting, an Executive Search company based just outside Dundee. Peter is one of the most experienced Search Consultants in the country, with over 35 years’ experience, sourcing and introducing talented individuals, locally, nationally and internationally.

With a broad range of clients across the private and public sectors, Caithness Consulting can boast an unrivalled record of having filled every vacancy notified to them over the last 18 years across most Managerial Functions up to and including Chief Executive and Board Level roles.

Attractive Proposition

Having started back to work last Monday, following a great relaxing two-week holiday with my family, there was no gentle easing back into things as I headed for a meeting with my client, Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh to discuss taking on a new post of Head of Fundraising for the University.

Today it was down to business as I started to map out my recruitment strategy for this post. I reviewed the specification for the role, identified where we will place any targeted advertising, creating a draft advert and digital recruitment pack of the role for my client’s approval and started discussions with my researcher, pointing him in the right direction to identify potential candidate targets. Creating an attractive proposition for potential candidates and generating interest is essential to ensure a successful outcome.

Recruitment Process

Continued discussions with my client, Heriot Watt University, advising them how best to present their vacancy and agreed a timeline with them to the point of panel interview. Having an agreed structure to a recruitment process is essential.

Recently recruited an International Development Manager for Glasgow University. The successful candidate is a US citizen and as such requires a visa. Caught up with the candidate and advised the university as to the current status. At the same time arranged a meeting with the university’s Recruitment Manager to discuss future business.

Followed up several business leads which were running prior to going on holiday (Seems months ago now!)

Historic Opportunity

Started to map out our strategy as we have been invited to submit a proposal to recruit for a newly created post of Director of Development, on behalf of Renfrewshire Council, for Paisley Museum. The council are looking to raise £42M to transform Paisley Museum into an international-class visitor attraction as part of the city center regeneration project.

Something “Old” to Something “New”

Meeting with Danny Menzies, founder and Managing Director of Tatha Offshore. I am meeting him once more in my relatively new role of “Mentor” on behalf of D&ACC. Danny is establishing a new Recruitment Company that will focus on supplying sector specific skills and expertise to contractors involved in the new Oil & Gas Decommissioning Program, some of which are hoping to be based in Dundee. In my previous life I worked as both an HR Manager for a company who were part of Kestrel Marine and ran an engineering-based Recruitment Agency supplying engineering personnel to Davy Offshore when they were based in Dundee. As such I am hoping to pass on some of my experience and knowledge in this area to Danny.

Favourite Pastime

I like, when possible, to reserve a Friday morning for an early round of golf – the perks of being your own boss! I really look forward to this as it takes my thoughts away from work for a short while and allows me to focus on something else - and boy do I need to focus on my golf!

Back to the office in the afternoon with two candidate interviews arranged and some general administrative tidying up for the week and looking ahead to next week.