Retained Search & Talent Acquisition

A Continuous Discipline
Succession planning is an act of stewardship—far more than preparing for a vacancy. It’s about always cultivating readiness.

Beyond Preparation
We build frameworks that accelerate leadership transitions when the time is right.

Mission-Aligned Readiness
Our process helps institutions clarify needs, tighten loose ends, and prepare for discerned transitions.

Momentum Before the Posting
We quietly ignite interest behind the scenes, so your posting doesn’t just go live—it launches with momentum.

In partnership, we help institutions implement readiness frameworks, cultivate internal leaders, and leverage discernment tools that move transitions forward with confidence.

Laying the Groundwork, the ACELA Way Every great search starts with thoughtful preparation—long before the job post—anchored in mission and attuned to the community’s unique call.

Discernment Before Action
We help communities assess what’s needed next—not just in a role, but in leadership.

Stakeholder-Centered Preparation
Through leadership assessments, listening sessions, and planning tools, we help ensure clarity across your team.

Getting the House in Order
We assist in positioning your institution for maximum appeal—tightening communication, aligning priorities, and showcasing your strengths.

ACELA equips clients with proprietary readiness checklists, role clarity templates, and market positioning insights to ensure every search starts from a place of strength.

Stakeholders Deserve a Voice
Effective searches start with listening—on campus, in conversation, and in context.

Engaging the Community
Through interviews, focus groups, and surveys, we gather key insights and lived experiences.

Understanding the Heart of the Mission
We don’t just assess qualifications—we seek alignment with culture, charism, and Gospel values.

Insight to Alignment
This phase ensures your community’s voice shapes the leadership profile—not just a position description.

We provide institutions with listening session protocols, synthesis tools, and collaborative drafting models that align leader profiles with lived mission and community culture.

We Pursue—We Don’t Wait
We don't wait for applications to land in our inbox. We reach out to leaders who are called, not just available.

Relationship-Driven Outreach
Our network is built on decades of service, not job boards or algorithms.

Meeting Leaders in Every Season
We connect with those actively discerning, quietly curious, or preparing for future roles.

A National Network, Local Sensibility
We blend reach with respect—honoring the uniqueness of your community.

In partnership, we activate aligned talent through curated outreach, discernment-centered messaging, and a digital infrastructure tailored to Catholic education and ministry.

Multi-Layered Candidate Screening
We conduct structured live interviews, assess professional readiness, and review application materials to surface high-caliber, values-aligned candidates.

Mission Alignment & Culture Fit
We discern personal, professional, spiritual, and cultural fit—ensuring each finalist aligns with the leadership profile defined through the priorities and context of your institution.

Behavioral & Reference-Based Insight
Candidates are evaluated through confidential reference outreach and behavioral indicators that forecast leadership style and long-term impact.

Equipping Decision-Makers with Clarity
We equip committees, boards, hiring agents, and institutional leaders to make informed decisions—supported by detailed candidate portfolios, summary reports, and narrative insights that synthesize our full vetting process.

In partnership, we equip your team with discernment-based tools that clarify candidate readiness—without overwhelming the process.

Not a List—A Living Community
Our network isn’t transactional—it’s relational. These aren’t strangers in a spreadsheet. They’re leaders we’ve walked with, learned from, and watched make an impact.

Decades of Trust-Building
We’ve partnered with presidents, principals, board members, diocesan leaders, and mission-driven professionals from education, ministry, and industry. Some we’ve worked with directly. Others we’ve followed with respect.

A Broader Definition of Leadership
We elevate those who lead with integrity, not just prestige. Whether from a flagship institution or a humble mission school, we honor substance over flash.

A Magnet for Mission-Driven Leaders
Because our approach is relational and discreet, we attract leaders who may never surface in a public search—but who are willing to take our call, and listen.

We maintain a proprietary candidate ecosystem—nurtured, curated, and enriched through ongoing relationship, not just database entries. Our network lives and grows because we invest in people.

We Blend Discernment with Discipline
Rigor and relationship are never in conflict.

Human-Centered in a Digital Age
Technology supports our process—but algorithms never replace our personal touch.

Equipped, Not Automated
We use assessments, structured interviews, and coaching to elevate discernment.

Aligned from First Call to Final Hire
From candidate prep to final selection, we walk with all parties.

ACELA equips your team with interview guides, discernment-based rubrics, behavioral screeners, and reference protocols that ensure each decision is informed and mission-driven.

Confidence Comes from Clarity
Search committees deserve to feel supported, not overwhelmed.

Toolkits That Build Trust
We provide timelines, role maps, interview prompts, and scoring tools.

Discernment Across the Process
We guide committees in seeing beyond résumés—evaluating alignment, capacity, and mission fit.

Support That Endures
We don’t disappear after the hire. Coaching and onboarding counsel extend the impact.

Our proprietary search toolkits, coaching modules, and onboarding resources give your team structure, insight, and rhythm from the first planning session to the final transition.

Mission at the Core
We place leaders who embody faith, service, and vision—individuals who inspire trust and move the mission forward.

Breadth Across Catholic Institutions
Our placements span schools, dioceses, and ministries—presidents, principals, superintendents, CFOs, administrative and department heads, advancement and enrollment leaders, and mission executives.

Leaders of Impact
Our candidates are seasoned, values-driven, and ready to lead with integrity in complex Catholic environments.

Charism-Aware, Culture-Aligned
We honor your identity. Every placement reflects the spiritual, communal, and cultural context of your institution.

Whether the role is executive, operational, advancement, or formation-based, ACELA provides Catholic institutions with access to seasoned leaders committed to excellence and mission impact.