Specifications include, but are not limited to: • Consult with the WVU Board of Governors, the Search Committee, key university constituency groups (i.e., faculty, staff, students, alumni, etc.) and other stakeholders to gain an understanding of the history, structure, culture, operations, and needs of the University. • Support the Search Committee in the development of selection criteria. • Conduct focus groups to aid in establishing the desired qualities and/or selection criteria for the next President. • Identify key issues and challenges the University faces in filling the position. • Develop a plan for engaging key stakeholders. • Evaluate the competitive strengths and weaknesses of the national market for the position opening. The firm will provide market intelligence regarding salary and other compensation necessary to attract the best qualified candidates. • Develop and execute a comprehensive recruitment strategy to identify a qualified, diverse candidate pool. • Prepare communications and collateral materials including position description, search profile, announcements, and supporting materials that will be used in marketing the search. • Provide WVU the current market trends and general salary expectations for a university President for similar land-grant, R1 research, and comparable sized universities. • Qualify, evaluate, and screen applicants to develop a list of leading candidates to present to the Search Committee. • Obtain references and verifications of professional qualifications for qualified applicants. • Assist the Search Committee with the evaluation of the candidates and providing summative evaluations of perceived strengths and weaknesses of top qualified candidates. • Assist the Search Committee in determining which top candidates to recommend to the WVU Board of Governors. • Assist the WVU Board of Governors with the valuation of the candidates and providing summative evaluations of perceived strengths and weaknesses of the top qualified candidates. • Support and assist the Search Committee and the WVU Board of Governors during all candidate interviews, including arranging candidate interviews, designing recommended interview questions, preparing the Search Committee and Board for interviews, executing the interview process, and assisting in the assessment process. • Manage all search-related administrative services, schedules, timetables, and logistics for the recruitment and selection process. • Develop a “landing page” or “dashboard” to host candidates’ complete questionnaires and resumes that is password protected and accessible to designated staff. • Assist the WVU Board of Governors in developing and negotiating an offer of employment and transitioning the new President into the position. • Provide professional notification to all candidates of decisions made, including candidate notification for those who have been eliminated from consideration. • Assist the WVU Board of Governors in the public relations and communications strategy related to the presidential search. • Guarantee each placement for a period of eighteen (18) months, beginning on the start date of the appointment. If a placed candidate is terminated by the institution during the first eighteen (18) months of employment, Firm will conduct a new search to replace the candidate for no additional fee to WVU, charging only actual expenses incurred. • The placed candidate will be considered “off-limits” for future recruitment by Firm during the placed candidate’s initial contract term at WVU. • Maintain confidentiality of communications with candidates, the search committee, and the WVU Board of Governors. • Provide these services in accordance with industry best practices and in a fair, impartial, and structured manner to ensure that WVU receives the best candidates for the position. • Provide a plan for mitigating a failed search. • Provide other customary and/or necessary services the University may require in connection with the search. • Firm shall maintain all documents relating to the search effort according to the WVU retention schedule and shall make those documents available to WVU upon its request.