Ohio University will pay at least $90,000 to an Atlanta-based firm in the search for a new vice president of university advancement and president & CEO of The Ohio University Foundation.
The university will pay the fee to Parker Executive Search Firm in a series of three installments over the course of the search, according to a contract signed by OU President Duane Nellis on Aug. 29. If the search parameters are modified in a way that would require additional work from the firm, the firm notes that it is entitled to additional compensation.
In addition to the $90,000 fee, direct expenses will be billed to the university on an “out of pocket” basis. Those expenses could include travel and interview expenses for search consultants, fees incurred during teleconference calls with the committee, and research and delivery services.
“We made every effort to hold reimbursable expenses to a minimum and estimate that our expenses will be no more than 12% of the total fee,” the contract states. “However, this number varies depending on the number of Search Committee meetings at which the consultants are asked to be present and other variables related to dynamic travel situations.”
According to the contract, advertising, background investigations, committee interviews, committee travel and candidate travel expenses will be invoiced separately. The suggested timeline for the search will also be provided by the firm.
Citing Ohio public records laws, the firm said it will cooperate with the university “with respect to its obligations under that provision,” but unless otherwise instructed by the university, will use “reasonable commercial efforts” to maintain confidentiality in the process.
Parker Executive Search Firm will assist the 20-member search committee, which was appointed in July and is co-chaired by Patton College of Education Dean Renee Middleton and Scripps College of Communication Dean Scott Titsworth.
Last year, the university shelled out about $150,000 to Chicago-based search firm Witt/Kieffer in the search to find a replacement for former OU President Roderick McDavis.
Tom Davis was named interim vice president of advancement and president & CEO of The Ohio University Foundation in June, following the departure of Bryan Benchoff, who had served in the position for about six years. The OU Foundation serves as the fundraising arm of the university and is responsible for all private gifts. It currently controls an endowment of about $536 million.
Another executive search is underway for a new executive vice president and provost — a position currently held by David Descutner. The seat was left vacant following the departure of Pam Benoit, who accepted a position at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in May. Nellis announced the creation of a 22-member search committee for the position in September.
University Spokesman Dan Pittman said the official search for Descutner’s replacement has not yet begun.
