Breaking Down the Recruiting Brick Wall: How to Build More Effective Hiring Practices
This article is the first in a three-part series looking at how your organization can improve its hiring processes. Like what you see? Then check out parts two and three when you finish reading this one.
How effective are your hiring strategies, really? And how can you make sure you’ll keep employees once you’ve hired them? As the economy continues to improve, businesses need to make recruiting and retaining employees a priority in order to remain competitive. But where do you start?
Today 180one kicks off a new series to help you when you’ve hit a recruiting “brick wall” and your standard practices just aren’t working anymore.
In this three-part series, we’ll give you the tools to build better hiring processes and effectively source, recruit, interview and select the right candidates for your organization.
First, let’s take a look at the market data.
As the market continues to improve, you need the right practices in place to make sure you hire and keep the best talent for your organization, and this series will enable you to do just that.
For Post 1, we’ll show how important planning is to executing any search and provide you the tools to lay a strong foundation for your recruiting strategy.
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – attributed to Abraham Lincoln
Unfortunately, most organizations head straight to job boards to post their open roles without first identifying the goals of the position and what candidates need to be successful. Taking time to “sharpen your axe” and create a specific plan for success before you start sourcing and recruiting, though, will increase the efficiency of your search and ensure that you find the best person for the position.
Crafting a well-defined job description that lists the roles, responsibilities and other “hard skills” required to get the job done each day is a standard practice that all organizations should do when kicking off a new search. However, most job descriptions don’t necessarily address the “soft skills,” such as leadership and communication style, needed to succeed in the role and at the organization.
To make sure you identify candidates with both the “hard” and “soft” skills needed, take time at the beginning of the search to create a Candidate Success Profile.
This document will serve as a guide throughout the search that enables you to assess all of the candidates’ skills and determine their potential for success within your organization.
Let’s look at an example of what this process might look like for your company.
Your organization is resistant to change (obstacle), so you need a candidate who not only has an understanding of your industry’s best practices (hard skill) but also has the ability to come into an organization as an outsider and earn buy-in from other employees to implement those practices (soft skill). Will the successful candidate need to listen and build relationships first? Or will the right candidate need to flex a heavy hand and enforce new policies and procedures immediately?
Different organizations require different leadership styles, so defining success and building your Success Profile at the beginning of your search will help you find the right fit for your organization’s needs.
Sample Success Profile
Need help setting up your Success Profile document? Below is a sample of a simple profile to get you started. Remember that you can expand or minimize your profile depending on the scope of the role. Just make sure to focus on the key areas this person will need to be successful.
In the Next Post…
Now that you’ve identified the profile of the ideal candidate for your open position, it’s time to go out to the market and find the professionals who meet that description. Head over to Post 2 of our series to explore how to source and recruit the right candidates for your organization. Then read Post 3 to learn how to use your assessment tools to make the best hire possible.
Director of Product Management ABOUT THE COMPANY A-dec is the premium leader in the dental equipment industry, designing and manufacturing products that span dental chairs, lights, handpieces, furniture, air management, infection control, and delivery systems found in dental offices and operatories. With over 1300 employees and headquartered in Newberg, Oregon, A-dec’s familial culture and values have been attributed to their commitment to the Newberg community and its employees through various investments and programs. ABOUT THE POSITION Reporting into the SVP of Product & Technology, the Director, Global Product Management leads teams that manage all A-dec products, including dental furniture, consumables, and core equipment (chairs, units, lights). They direct the strategic vision and purpose and are responsible for the long-term financial performance of A-dec’s product portfolio. Critical functions for this position include roadmap development, voice of the customer process, portfolio execution, roadmap execution, and the product section of the company’s business strategy. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Creates the vision and purpose of Product Management. Leads all product management activities for the existing product lines within A-dec Builds and leads a diverse, high-performing product management team. Provides mentorship, support, and guidance, and encourages professional growth and development. Champions the strategic vision and purpose for Product Management across the organization. Implement strategic and tactical plans to meet the company’s objectives while exceeding customer needs. Maintains a constant pulse of dental equipment market developments, including consumer needs, competitive offerings, and brand position. Takes proactive measures to remain competitive with the existing portfolio. Follows industry trends and conducts capability analysis regularly. Executes competitive assessments and market research to gain market and buying preference and insights. Understands and articulates the voice of the customer. Makes tradeoff comparisons to drive decisions that deliver on success criteria. Accountable for concept development selection. Develop strategies in collaboration with Global Sales Team leaders to drive market share growth. Collaborates with Marketing Communications to plan, direct, and execute measurable global actions to drive brand awareness, preference, and demand generation necessary for achieving growth goals. Collaborates with Digital Product Management to ensure complete end-to-end solutions. Reviews revenue and profits on a weekly basis and suggests approaches to marketing and sales to drive growth. Responsible for overall product promotions and analyzing the revenue/net margin trade-offs. Accountable for the standard margins of the portfolio; pricing, positioning, and margins. Works across organizational boundaries to develop a cohesive strategy and ensures smooth execution of cross-functional plans within A-dec. Leads the future portfolio planning with their leadership. QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Extensive project management experience. Excellent presentation, communication, and customer skills. Proven leadership skills and effective problem-solving skills. Demonstrated experience in planning, budgeting, and developing business strategies. Ability to influence up, down, and across the organization. Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business management, or a similar focus. Five years of experience in product management. Five years of people leadership experience. Experience and understanding of the “Chief Engineer/Project Chief” methodology or practice. Preferred Experience Master’s degree in business administration. Experience with strategic planning and managing a category P&L in excess of $100 Million. Interested in Learning More? 180one has been retained by A-dec to manage this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Lisa Heffernan / 971.256.3076/ lisa@180one.com .
Chief Financial Officer ABOUT THE COMPANY Three Bears Alaska (“Three Bears” or the “Company”) is the retailer of choice in Alaska for all essential categories, offering local communities a product selection that is not too big, not too small, but “just right” – at prices that provide value and with great service by locals, for locals. The Company was founded in 1980 by Alaskans, for Alaskans – the store footprints, inventory, and pricing are designed to meet the region’s unique needs. Three Bears offers its customers three types of shopping experiences: signature “Mini-Warehouses” (50k+ square feet with a unique, rationalized merchandise assortment model featuring grocery, outdoor/sporting products and full-service pharmacies), Supermarkets (focus is on grocery) and Convenience Stores (offer a broader merchandise selection and better pricing than a typical C-store and serve communities where population densities do not support a full mini-warehouse). Three Bears is owned by Westward Partners in partnership with the founding Alaskan family. Westward Partners is a Seattle-based private equity firm that partners with lower middle market businesses across a variety of industries based in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Westward partnered with and invested in Three Bears in early 2022, and has worked extensively with the Three Bears management team to successfully turbocharge growth, more than doubling the store footprint over the past four years. At this point in time, Three Bears has shifted gears from a growth mindset to a focus on margin improvement and optimization. As the new stores begin to reach run-rate and Three Bears fully digests and acclimates to its significantly larger scale and methods of operating, management in partnership with Westward has begun to employ a host of profitability improvement initiatives. The new CFO will have a significant role in managing, executing, and tracking these initiatives, as well as the continual development of new initiatives. It’s an exciting time to join Three Bears for an analytically minded senior finance professional who has a deep understanding of how to maximize gross and EBITDA margins (and absolute EBITDA dollars) in a retail/grocery environment. POSITION SUMMARY As a key member of the executive team and reporting to the CEO, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will assume a strategic role in the overall management of the company. The CFO will proactively engage in all areas of the Confidential Company OR “Company”, to bring data and insights, and importantly serve as a key business partner to the CEO and other Senior Leadership. This leader will have primary day-to-day responsibility for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling all financial-related activities of the company. This will include direct responsibility for accounting, finance, treasury, legal, and compliance. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES Assist the CEO and management team in achieving the company's growth and profitability targets: Assist with the facilitation and development of the Company vision, strategy, and planning needed to ensure the success of the organization. Develop and manage financial strategy. Serve as a business partner across functional areas to inform key decisions. Exceed profitability targets through operational excellence and growth in new markets. Advise management on short-term and long-term financial objectives, policies, and actions. Provide reliable forecasting and business intelligence that fuels effective decision-making: Analyze the financial details of past, present, and expected operations in order to identify development opportunities in areas where improvement is needed. Develop analysis to evaluate entry into new markets. Study long-range economic trends and project their impact on future growth in sales and market share Utilize and add to existing analytical tools (data warehouse, PowerBI tools, etc.) to efficiently convey KPIs, reports, and financials in a timely manner at all levels of the organization Exercise good financial management practices and accountability: Ensure company financials comply with GAAP, while also producing useful financial data and KPI metrics to provide senior management with critical business insights. Run a proactive and efficient budget cycle, helping the company tie its investment thesis to its strategy, operational KPIs, and financial forecasts. Make KPIs the centerpiece of the company's performance planning and dashboards. Hold peers accountable. Develop and manage the capital structure Review, oversee and present monthly, quarterly, and annual financial performance reviews. Lead the company’s compliance function with a proactive and business approach, and standardize into business practices: Monitor financial activities to ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements are met Lead the company's compliance auditing program. Proactively identify and resolve potential compliance issues before they manifest. Maintain current knowledge of organizational policies and procedures, federal and state policies / directives. Manage contract renewals and new company contracts to ensure pricing and terms are aligned with business requirements. Manage and maintain contract database to ensure compliance. Develop and maintain internal control program infrastructure throughout the organization Effectively represent the company with external stakeholders: Develop and maintain relationships with banking, insurance, benefits, 401k, and external third-party audit and tax partners. Review, oversee and present financial statements, business activity reports, financial position forecasts, and reports required by regulatory agencies and external stakeholders. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE Bachelor’s degree (MA/MBA preferred) in Accounting or Finance. 15+ years of progressively responsible finance/accounting experience in a high growth grocery/retail organization. Knowledge of finance, accounting, budgeting, and cost control principles including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Experience in strategic planning and execution. Ability to analyze financial data and prepare financial reports, statements, 3-statement financial projections, write MD&As, and deep understanding of cash flow forecasting, down to weekly basis. Extensive experience developing multi-faceted bottoms-up company budgets through partnership with internal management team members throughout various levels of the organization, as well incorporating external input and feedback (i.e. a private equity sponsor). Experience managing a levered business and dealing with bank covenants. Demonstrable experience leading and achieving cost savings and profitability improvement initiatives that have made a material impact on the organization by increasing EBITDA over time. Experience and know-how for scaling a growing organization, and anticipating staffing, infrastructural and procedural requirements for a larger business. Ability to deliver board-level financial presentations that accurately summarize business for investors, bankers and vendors. Prior experience with a private equity-owned portfolio company or experience in leading a company through a successful exit is highly desirable. Experience managing the acquisition process and integration of complementary businesses. Experience implementing new accounting software and integrating with broader ERP systems. Knowledge of contracting, negotiating, and change management. Knowledge of automated financial and accounting reporting systems. Experience as a liaison between company accountants, state, and government entities for financial audits. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Accuracy and attention to detail is a must. High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results orientation. Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity, diversity and trust. Interested in Learning More? 180one has been retained by Three Bears Alaska to manage this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Tom Haley / 503.334.1350/ tom@180one.com
Corporate Controller ABOUT THE COMPANY With roots going back to the 1960’s, Forest City Trading Group (FCTG), may have started as a small lumber yard run by two immigrant brothers, but has since grown into North America’s largest wholesale lumber product distributor. FCTG facilitates the distribution of products across 6 continents through our network of 12 operating companies and over 750 employees. The company’s impact is far-reaching, especially when considering that one in every ten houses today is built using products sourced and sold by our operating companies. As proponents of forest sustainability, FCTG actively supports suppliers who use sustainable forest management practices that promote forest sustainability and result in long-term environmental, social, and economic benefits. POSITION SUMMARY Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Corporate Controller is a senior finance leader and trusted business partner to the CFO and management team. This role owns the integrity of the Company's accounting, reporting, and control environment while advancing the finance function through improved processes, disciplined decision-making, and effective deployment of technology. This is a hands-on leadership role. The Controller will operate in the details with responsibility for managing the full accounting cycle for corporate and operating companies, commodity position accounting, physical and financial settlement, and daily treasury operations—while building a scalable, high-performing finance organization. The role also operates in a matrixed environment, requiring strong influence skills to align and uplevel financial operations across Operating Companies, and partners closely with the trading desk, risk management, operations, legal, and external auditors. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES Leadership & Culture Build, lead, and develop a high-performing corporate accounting and finance team Foster a positive, accountable culture at the corporate and Operating Company levels Hire, develop, and retain talented accounting, treasury, and shared services professionals Serve as a stabilizing force during system change, organizational growth, or market volatility Assess subsidiary finance capabilities; develop structured plans to up-level talent, processes, and controls Business Partnership & Cross-Functional Influence Serve as a key finance partner to the CFO, Operating Company Controllers, and operations leadership Lead through influence in a matrixed environment—aligning subsidiary Controllers around corporate standards without relying on direct authority Translate financial information into clear, actionable insights for corporate and subsidiary audiences Collaborate with the trading desk to ensure accounting treatment aligns with economic reality and business intent Technical & Functional Oversight Financial reporting and accounting, including trader compensation, commodity futures, and mark-to-market accounting Daily treasury operations and internal cash/collateral management Tax coordination and oversight, including pass-through partnership structures Budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning Internal controls, risk management, and policy oversight Foreign exchange and cross-currency hedging for international procurement and sales Shared services leadership: expense approvals, vendor setup, purchase order controls, and finance policies Decision Support & Systems Apply cost-benefit and ROI thinking to financial and operational decisions Drive automation of routine reporting workflows to free capacity for higher-value analysis Lead ERP implementation and optimization; evaluate best-practice accounting policies as the business evolves Subsidiary Finance Uplift Establish a structured approach to evaluating financial maturity across Operating Companies Develop and maintain a corporate finance playbook that subsidiary Controllers can adopt and execute Provide hands-on coaching and technical guidance to Operating Company finance teams Drive consistent consolidation standards, intercompany accounting, and reporting cadences across subsidiaries Identify and escalate risks in subsidiary financial operations before they affect corporate reporting integrity KEY ATTRIBUTES Trusted Leader & Business Partner: Close thought partner to the CFO; credible with Operating Company Controllers, traders, and senior management. Leads with integrity, sound judgment, and practical business sense. Relationship Builder & Matrix Navigator: Builds trust-based relationships across corporate and subsidiary teams. Leads through influence rather than direct authority in a matrixed environment. Subsidiary Uplift Leader: Assesses and elevates Operating Company finance capabilities through coaching, playbooks, and structured engagement—raising the bar on controls, talent, and reporting quality. Hands-On & Detail-Oriented: Ensures accuracy and follow-through across all finance processes. Process & Technology Focused: Continuously seeks better ways to operate. Leverages ERP and other tools to improve efficiency and data quality; leads system implementation and optimization. Positive, Accountable Leader: Creates a high-accountability finance culture at both corporate and subsidiary levels. Leads by example and develops strong teams. IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE Leadership Track Record: Demonstrated ability to build high-performing finance teams Matrix Leadership: Proven success in influencing and driving change without direct authority over Operating Company teams Relationship Builder: Naturally builds trust across organizational levels—someone subsidiaries want to partner with, not just report to Strategic and Tactical Range: Operates at a senior level strategically and at the transactional level when the business requires it Technology Proficiency: Demonstrated curiosity and initiative in experimenting with and adopting emerging technologies (including AI) to enhance financial reporting, forecasting, and process efficiency Change Leadership: Comfortable reassessing processes and building scalable financial infrastructure from a hands-on starting point Integrity & Judgment: High personal integrity and sound judgment in ambiguous, fast-moving environments Interested in Learning More? 180one has been retained by Forest City Trading Group to manage this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Tom Haley / 503.334.1350/ tom@180one.com
