Facing a limited local and industry talent pool, Donor Network of Arizona (DNA), the state’s nonprofit organ procurement organization (OPO), turned to Duffy Group to fill their Director of Quality & Regulatory Affairs role. Recruiters leveraged Duffy Group’s proprietary five-step process to quickly secure a passive candidate who was willing to relocate — and had the leadership to drive process improvements and ability to get up to speed quickly with industry regulatory requirements and best practices as evident by a track record in these responsibilities in the same or a similar environment, ensuring the organization could continue its impactful work of supporting donor families and saving lives.

The Challenge

DNA wanted to ensure that they had the best candidates to consider finding a leader with the desired qualifications and who would also be a great fit for their award-winning culture by supplementing its own internal recruiting efforts with an additional pipeline of candidates. While other recruiting firms offered only contingency fee or exclusive fee models, DNA turned to Duffy Group for its Duffy Recruitment Research™ approach with an hourly fee structure.

• Candidates needed experience in organ procurement, tissue banking or similar fields, as well as leadership experience.
• The Phoenix-metro area lacked candidates with the niche expertise required.
• Although the role was hybrid, it required the candidate to reside in the local area, further narrowing the pool.
• A previous job posting garnered only a few applicants, and prescreening revealed a lack of qualified candidates. The one promising candidate withdrew late in the process.

These challenges underscored the need for a recruitment approach that could uncover hidden and passive talent aligned with the specialized expertise and DNA’s mission-critical goals.

The Scenario

After successfully placing two other directors with the organization, DNA expanded the partnership with Duffy Group to include the critical search for a Director of Quality & Regulatory Affairs.

With the role vacant for six months, DNA was navigating a delicate balance of rapid growth and the need to evolve the quality function for the current and future needs of the organization in the face of a changing regulatory landscape and increased competition — all of which made filling this position essential to their success. They required a tailored recruitment strategy to navigate the complexities of their mission-driven work and specialized industry.

The Solution

Duffy Group approached this search with a deep sense of purpose, fully embracing the life-saving mission of organ donation. The industry provides an extraordinary opportunity to save lives — a mission that resonates deeply and inspires candidates when framed with compelling storytelling — a key element of Duffy Recruitment Research™.

This proprietary five-step process ensures that every phase of the search, particularly “position promotion,” highlights the organization’s mission and connects with candidates on a meaningful level. Duffy Group combined research and powerful storytelling to find candidates who were a cultural and professional match.

Through a comprehensive intake process with DNA’s CFO, HR Director and HR Manager, Duffy Group gained critical insights into the role’s past and its evolving direction. One of the most significant hurdles was identifying candidates willing to relocate to Phoenix.

The Outcome

Duffy Group’s strategic approach yielded outstanding results:

• 112 passive candidates were identified nationwide.
• Four qualified candidates were submitted and three were interviewed.
• The search was completed in just 2.5 months.

The DNA team was thrilled with the quality of talent presented. The hiring leader quickly formed a strong connection with the successful candidate during their first interview.

This individual, based in the Southeast United States, was an experienced professional eager for a larger leadership opportunity. Late in the process, they received an unexpected offer from another organization, but DNA’s proactive approach — arranging an in-person visit to Phoenix — helped solidify their interest.

Duffy Recruitment Research™, which integrates storytelling into the position promotion phase, had already set the stage, powerfully showcasing DNA’s life-saving mission and aligning with the candidate’s values. The visit deepened their connection to DNA’s mission and leadership team, ultimately resulting in an accepted offer.

Filling this position will assist DNA with their strategic focus on process improvement and change management, addressing a key gap in the function they were looking to enhance.