Public Sector People

Recruiting temporary and permanent staff across Councils,

State Government, Federal Government, Not for Profit and Associated Bodies.

Public Sector People (PSP) is Search4’s dedicated government, public sector, and for-purpose brand. We are the only agency in Australia specialising solely in Local Government recruitment, now expanding into State Government. Our 30+ specialist consultants are dedicated exclusively to government and the wider public sector, supported by a coded database of 800,000+ candidates searchable by role type, LGA, and career history.

We have delivered 406 placements across 103 different councils, including 208 leadership appointments (51%) ranging from Managers, Coordinators and Leads to Directors and C-suite executives. Our 98% placement success rate overall, and 100% at the leadership level, demonstrates the reliability of our process.

Unlike traditional search firms, the consultant who wins the assignment also delivers it end-to-end, ensuring accountability, consistency, and trusted relationships. With a commitment to trust, transparency, and inclusion, our focus is not just placing great people, but building enduring partnerships that strengthen capability and advance community outcomes.

At Public Sector People, our Search services are built for the complexity and diversity of public sector and for-purpose recruitment. As expectations on government and community organisations grow, we help clients appoint leaders and specialists who can set direction, deliver outcomes, and navigate reform and change.

We offer three Search offerings, designed for different levels of leadership and impact:

Executive Search

For C-suite, Directors, and executive leadership roles where discretion, governance, and stakeholder influence are critical. We provide national headhunting, market mapping, optional behavioural/psychometric assessment, structured stakeholder management, and end-to-end support through to onboarding, backed by a six-month placement guarantee.

Leadership Search

For middle to senior leaders who drive service delivery, culture, and performance across portfolios. This includes senior functional leaders (corporate services, P&C, finance, digital, operations) and people/reform leaders (managers, coordinators, team leaders). Our process supports inclusive shortlisting, capability framework alignment, competency-based assessment, and post-placement follow-up, with optional leadership diagnostics.

Expert, Project & Restructure

For specialist hires, project teams, bulk recruitment, and restructure campaigns. We source subject matter experts in hard-to-fill disciplines, coordinate multi-role recruitment programs, and support organisational change with structured screening, panel coordination, reporting, and candidate care suited to sensitive transitions.

What we offer

Senior, Leadership and Executive Positions

Targeted candidate

approach and market mapping

Comprehensive Search Process

Premium Marketing

& Advertising

Candidate Skills Assessment

Candidate Behavioural Assessment

Competency-based

approach

Psychological Assessments

Offer Negotiation & Coaching

of Unsuccessful candidates

Ongoing Transition and Candidate Care

How we deliver

Our delivery is shaped by our vision, mission, and values, ensuring every recruitment experience is not only effective but meaningful.

• Our Vision: To be the most trusted recruitment agency in Australia.

• Our Mission: To do right by our clients, candidates, colleagues, and community.

We embed our core values into every project:

• Feedback – We actively seek and provide constructive feedback to enhance outcomes for all stakeholders.

• Care – We invest deeply in the success of our clients, the well-being of our candidates, and the professional growth of our team.

• Honest Communication – We commit to transparency, responsiveness, and clear expectations throughout every engagement.

• Focus – We deliver with intent, ensuring every action aligns with our client’s needs, project timelines, and community outcomes.

These values are lived daily by our delivery teams and guide how we build partnerships, navigate complexity, and deliver trusted recruitment services for government and the public sector.

Proven in Practice:

• 44% of hires come directly from our network (database, referrals, headhunting) – broadening candidate reach beyond job ads.

Leadership Capability Assessment

Our focused framework provides a consistent, evidence-based way to identify and assess leadership capability in the public sector. We evaluate:

• Strategic Thinking & Vision – Aligning teams with long-term organisational goals

• People Leadership & Team Culture – Building high-performing, inclusive work environments

• Stakeholder Influence & Communication – Managing complex internal and external relationships

• Change Leadership & Resilience – Leading through uncertainty and transformation

• Governance & Accountability – Embedding performance and compliance oversight

• Public Value & Community Orientation – Prioritising community outcomes and trust

This framework is adaptable to each government context and underpins confident, evidence-based appointment decisions.

Candidate & Client Experience

• Dedicated Public Sector People Search Team Member for every assignment

• Structured screening, interview coordination, and logistics management

• Pre-interview site reviews for accessibility, noise, and lighting

• Post-placement onboarding check-ins with clients and appointees

• Respectful and transparent management of all applicants, especially unsuccessful candidates

Our commitment

Commercial Confidence & Flexibility

• Transparent pricing and optional service add-ons (e.g. leadership testing, onboarding support)

• Flexibility for milestone or campaign-based billing

• 6-month guarantee on retained executive and leadership appointments

Client Partnerships & Past Success

We have a strong history of delivery across executive, leadership, and technical search assignments for government and public sector clients. Examples of recent work include:

• Executive Appointments: General Managers, Directors, and CEOs for metropolitan and regional councils, statutory bodies, and social infrastructure agencies

• Leadership Roles: Team Leaders, Program Managers, and Coordinators placed across infrastructure, planning, environment, finance, and people & culture functions

• Restructure Projects: Bulk recruitment campaigns supporting council reform, involving 8–20 concurrent leadership and specialist appointments

• Specialist Search: Strategic sourcing of hard-to-find candidates in areas like town planning, building surveying, asset management, and community development

By the Numbers:

• 406 placements delivered across 103 councils

• 98% overall placement success; 100% at leadership level

Our Commitment to CSR & Inclusive Partnerships

At Public Sector People, our purpose extends beyond recruitment. We are committed to creating positive social impact in the communities we serve. As part of the Search4 group, our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts focus on equity, inclusion, and access, in alignment with the values of our clients in government and the public sector. We believe that by partnering with organisations that address systemic barriers to employment, we can help build a more inclusive workforce, and a stronger Australia.

We design inclusive processes to support public sector workforce diversity:

Gender-neutral and plain language advertising aligned to government guidelines
Diverse search panels and standardised evaluation rubrics
Neurodiverse candidate accommodation
Active focus on reducing bias in the shortlisting and assessment phases

Strategic CSR & Charity Partnerships

We are proud to support and partner with a number of organisations whose missions reflect our own:

Fitted for Work – helping women experiencing disadvantage to secure and maintain meaningful employment through coaching, dressing, and career support
Diversity Council Australia (DCA) – providing evidence-based research, education, and tools to advance workplace diversity and inclusion across the country
The Field – a disability-inclusive job platform designed by and for people with disabilities, enabling equitable access to employment opportunities
Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia) – supporting neurodiverse candidates and promoting inclusive hiring practices for people on the autism spectrum
Supply Nation – connecting us with certified Indigenous-owned businesses and reinforcing our commitment to supplier diversity in recruitment partnerships

Public Sector People: Building Trust in Government Recruitment

As a proud member of the Search4 group, Public Sector People delivers value through insight, rigour, and results. Our model supports capability growth, inclusive appointment practices, and enduring leadership outcomes. Let us help you appoint the leaders and specialists who will shape the future of your government or public sector organisation.