Describe the problem in one sentence
Say what is happening in the business. Perhaps delivery cannot keep up with sales, or the leadership team lacks a reliable cash-flow forecast. Leave the long wish list of qualifications for later.
Define a visible outcome
What should be different after three months? It could be an agreed funding plan, shorter lead time, clearer positioning or a team able to run a new process itself. Choose one or two outcomes leaders can actually assess.
- Current and desired state
- Who decides and who executes
- Which constraints are real
Be realistic about time
Half a day a week will not suit work that calls for daily check-ins and leadership of a large team. Give an approximate number of days, start date, location and decision timeline. If you are still exploring the need, say so.
Separate needs from preferences
Sector experience may be essential for one role and much less important for another. The same goes for a previous title, network or technical background. Be clear about what success requires and what would simply be helpful. The shortlist can then be broader and more relevant.
- Essential: experience the work depends on
- Helpful: experience that could shorten the learning curve
- Learnable: your internal processes and tools
Be clear about authority
Say which decisions the leader can make and which need approval. Name the person they will work with inside the company and agree when progress will be reviewed. The brief can be short, but it should give someone enough direction to take responsibility.