Interim Management in the Public Sector
Interim management jobs in the public sector can either be project based, to deliver a set of specific objectives or to fill a gap in an organisational structure which may have occurred following an unexpected resignation, maternity leave or an internal secondment. The minimum duration for an assignment will be about three months, but they can last up to a year.
What are the Alternatives to Using Interim Management in the Public Sector ?
There are several other options which are available to clients; when they’re considering the appointment of interim managers in the public sector.
- management consultants
- permanent recruits
- internal candidates
A management consultant is accountable to the consultancy, advises the management and makes recommendations. Interim management specialists are accountable to clients, have line management responsibility, report and then implement.
Why do Public Sector Organisations Typically Use Interim Management Services?
The interim management industry has grown predominantly from the private sector, and has been actively adopted within the public sector more recently. Often the reasons that public bodies use the approach shares much in common with the reasons that private sector businesses use the interim management approach. These reasons include:
- rapidly bringing a difficult situation under control and/or bringing about a turnaround
- holding a more routine line management position in the event of say, maternity leave
- managing specialist projects and delivering changes and performance improvements that stick
- holding a position in an organisational restructuring until the future becomes clear
- mentoring staff
What Does the Public Sector Look For From Interim Management?
For some assignments previous experience of working in the public sector is a pre-requisite. This is particularly true with local government clients for example, which is a fairly unique environment. However, within central government departments and some of the specialist government agencies, clients are often actively looking to inject private sector expertise; in which case experience of working in the public sector isn’t always a pre-requisite.
How Are Interim Management Services Sold Into the Public Sector?
Professional procurement practises have become well established in the public sector and interim management service providers are increasingly invited to tender a selection of candidate cvs for specific roles.
In other cases the process is less formal and not unlike the process used in the private sector. The overall timescale is typically less than five days and begins when the public sector client identifies the need and contacts an interim management agency. The provider takes the brief from the client and prepares a specification. The interim management provider selects a long-list of potential candidates from their database of “pre-screened” candidates which may include private as well as public sector interim managers and checks each candidate’s availability and interest in the assignment, their expected daily rate and whether a contract between the agency and the interim manager already exists. If it doesn’t, the interim management agency puts the requisite contractual agreement in place. The list of candidates is then refined and any additional interviewing, referencing etc. is undertaken. Short-listed interim mangers are then presented to the client, with the interim management agency’s contractual conditions and are then invited to meet with the client; after which the client makes their selection.
What Makes a Successful Interim Management Job in the Public Sector?
The approach of the individual is key to making interim management jobs successful. Decision making in the public sector can be protracted not least because of the involvement of numerous stakeholders, so sensitive interpersonal and relationship building skills are an important part of influencing. Whilst its important to be flexible its also important to be persistent and challenging in a constructive “can do” manner. |
