When specialist support makes the difference - and when you might be fine without it.
It’s a fair question.
When your council needs to appoint a new CEO or senior executive, the instinct can be to wonder: Can we do this ourselves? And sometimes, if you have a strong internal candidate and absolute confidence in our process, the answer might be yes.
But more often than not, the value of specialist recruitment is in what you don’t see straight away: the quiet work of discernment, judgement, and depth of experience that only comes from doing this, day in and day out.
Most councils recruit a CEO every five or so years. At Leading Roles, we’ve recruited more than 60 CEOs and 200+ senior executives in local government since we began, across councils of every size, shape, and challenge. It’s what we do, all the time. And that difference shows.
What We See That You Might Not
When you live in the recruitment world every day, patterns emerge.
We see what candidates say they will do, and what they actually go on to deliver. We see the promises made in interview rooms... and how they play out in the real world of community expectation, political complexity and operational leadership.
This depth of insight shapes every recommendation we make. We don’t just shortlist people who look good on paper, we shortlist the people we quietly believe will succeed in your specific context. Because we’ve seen who succeeds. And who doesn’t.
But What If You Have a Strong Internal Candidate?
You may. And sometimes they are absolutely the right choice. But here’s what we gently advise:
Put them through the same rigorous process as external candidates.
Why? Because your council, and your community, deserves to know they are the best available leader, not just the most familiar one. The only way to know that for sure is to go to market. Compare. Assess. And let your internal candidate rise to the top, or not, on merit, not convenience.
When an internal candidate is tested and chosen after open competition, they start the role with the full confidence of council, staff and community behind them. When they’re simply ‘given’ the role, that confidence can be quietly missing.
A Process that Reduces Risk — and Builds Confidence
At Leading Roles, we use robust and transparent methods to help you make the best decision. This includes:
Capability frameworks tailored to the role, not generic checklists, but real-world leadership capabilities for the complex environment of local government.
Comprehensive assessments, from interviews to psychometrics, leadership profiling and reference triangulation.
Sector-wide reach - our networks across local government in Australia are deep and current. When you’re clear about what you need, we know where to find it.
Judgement born from experience - the quiet, careful insight that comes from over 90 CEO and senior executive appointments.
It’s not about flooding you with candidates. It’s about filtering with care, so you see only those who truly fit your organisation, your councillors, your culture and your community.
So… When Might You Not Need Us?
If your role is junior, well-understood, or you have a small talent pool you can confidently access, you may not need external help.
But when the role is senior, complex, politically sensitive, and crucial to the future of your council, that’s when specialist recruitment becomes more than useful. It becomes essential.
It’s Not About Us. It’s About Getting It Right.
At the heart of this, is your decision and the weight of what a CEO means to a council.
Leadership in local government is different. It asks for more: vision, courage, judgement, diplomacy, operational rigour. The right leader will shape not only your organisation, but how your community feels about its future.
That’s why we take the time. Why we listen carefully. Why we sometimes tell councils to slow down or look again.
And why, when it matters most, councils come to us.
Because getting it right is worth it.
Want to know what the market really looks like for your next CEO or executive appointment? Let’s start with a conversation. Email or call today; hello@leadingroles.com.au 1800 088 000