Request for Proposals – Executive Recruitment Consultant

Deadline for submission of proposals: September 17, 2025, 5:00pm EDT (Eastern Daylight Time)

RFP# VPSHR223

The complete RFP and instructions for submission are available here.

Questions related to this RFP will be accepted until Friday, September 5, 2025. Answers will be posted at the bottom of this page no later than Friday, September 12, 2025.

The Voluntary Principles Initiative (VPI) is requesting proposals from a consultant to support the organization to hire the first Executive Director of the VPI.

Purpose and Context

In March 2025, the VPI Board made the decision to hire the first Executive Director of the VPI, and subsequently created an Executive Search Committee.  Reporting to the VPI Board of Directors, the purpose of the Executive Search Committee is to lead a global search for an Executive Director of the VPI, to evaluate and interview candidates and recommend a shortlist of candidates to the VPI Board of Directors.

The Executive Recruitment Consultant is expected to support the Executive Search Committee in fulfilling the following principal responsibilities:

• Developing a job description, position profile and advertisement for the position of Executive Director
• Recruitment of candidates to provide a strong and diverse applicant pool
• Development of an interview guide and candidate evaluation guide
• Screening candidates, conducting preliminary interviews and reviewing references; and
• Recommending a shortlist of three candidates for final selection by the Board of Directors

The Executive Search Committee is expected to provide a shortlist of candidates to the Board by Monday, November 17, 2025.

Eligibility requirements

Any individual, or consultancy firm is eligible to bid, so long as demonstrates:

• Experience in executive recruitment, ideally non-profit executive recruitment.
• High degree of fluency in English.
• Proven ability to draft documents and communicate in English, with a high degree of proficiency.

Bidders must meet all of the above eligibility requirements.

Proposals must be submitted by e-mail no later than Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 5:00pm EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) to tenders@voluntaryprinciples.org.

Background

The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR or simply Voluntary Principles) are an internationally recognized set of principles that guide companies on how to conduct their security operations while ensuring respect for human rights.  To promote the implementation of the Principles, the Voluntary Principles Initiative (VPI) was created. The Initiative is comprised of over 75 Members and Observers including companies, governments, and non-governmental organizations that share best practices and mutually support the implementation of the Principles.

The new Executive Director will help the VPI sustain its position as the global leader in security and human rights. As the first permanent employee of the VPI, the Executive Director will lead the transition of the organization from a contracted to a permanent staff.

The Executive Director will report to the VPI Board of Directors and be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Initiative and for managing the VPI Secretariat staff.