Diversitas Consulting

Strategic Considerations for Executives

Receiving the Offer

Congratulations—you’ve reached a pivotal milestone in your executive career journey. Receiving a job offer can bring a mix of emotions: excitement, relief, or even pressure to act quickly. While it may be tempting to celebrate and wind down your search, it’s critical to maintain focus and ensure this offer truly aligns with your goals, values, and long-term career vision.

At this stage, avoid the common pitfall of prematurely ending other conversations or interviews. Circumstances can change unexpectedly—offers may be rescinded due to internal shifts, mergers, or budget cuts. Remain engaged with other opportunities until your new role is formally confirmed, and you are ready to transition.

Evaluating the Offer Strategically

An executive-level contract is often multi-faceted, involving more than just base salary. You’ll want to conduct a comprehensive evaluation that includes:

• Base Salary, Bonus Structure & Equity: Are these aligned with market benchmarks and your expectations? Consider the total remuneration package, including long-term incentives.
• Benefits & Perks: Review superannuation, health and wellness programs, car allowance, club memberships, professional development support, and other executive benefits.
• Termination Clauses & Non-Competes: Pay close attention to exit provisions, notice periods, and post-employment restrictions. These can significantly affect future career moves.
• Reporting Lines & Authority: Is your position clearly defined in terms of responsibility, team structure, and access to decision-making? Will you be empowered to lead effectively?
• Cultural Fit & Strategic Alignment: Revisit your Job Target Checklist and ensure the role meets at least 80% of your non-negotiables, values, and desired career outcomes.

Engaging an employment lawyer with experience in executive contracts is highly recommended at this stage. This ensures you fully understand the implications of all clauses—particularly around bonuses, performance metrics, and exit conditions.

Negotiation—This Is Your Leverage Moment

The offer stage is your strongest negotiation position. You have been identified as the preferred candidate, and the organisation is invested in bringing you on board.

Before accepting:

• Clarify any questions about the strategic direction of the business, board dynamics, leadership expectations, or cultural challenges.
• Explore flexibility on key terms—be it salary, start date, bonus structure, location, or additional responsibilities.
• If interviewing elsewhere, notify other recruiters of your offer. This may accelerate timelines, surface counteroffers, or affirm your market value. However, avoid using offers purely as leverage unless you are prepared to walk away.

Maintain perspective: A higher salary shouldn’t override cultural fit, leadership alignment, or long-term opportunity. Over-negotiation can also lead to future pay stagnation or mismatched expectations.

Handling Multiple Offers

If you’re fortunate to have multiple offers, apply an objective decision-making framework. Score each opportunity using your Executive Job Target Checklist, mapping each role against:

• Leadership scope
• Strategic impact
• Career advancement potential
• Organisational culture
• Remuneration and recognition
• Alignment with your purpose and values

Use this process to reduce emotion-based decisions (e.g., escaping a poor current situation) and anchor yourself in facts and future vision. You may uncover critical follow-up questions that help clarify your direction before committing.

Bear in mind: Executive offers typically have short turnaround windows (48–72 hours). Move decisively, but not hastily.

Before You Resign—Get It in Writing

Do not resign from your current role or make any public announcements until:

• You have received a formal, signed offer letter.
• All contract terms have been reviewed and agreed upon.
• You have confirmed your official start date.

Delays or changes between a verbal offer and commencement are not uncommon, particularly during internal restructures, mergers, or shifts in leadership. Secure the details before stepping away from your current role.

Transition Planning—Take a Strategic Pause

Once the contract is signed and logistics confirmed (such as relocation or onboarding schedules), take time to recharge. Job searching at the executive level is intensive—mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Where possible:

• Plan a brief break between roles.
• Use this time to reflect, reset, and prepare for the new leadership challenge ahead.
• Address logistical considerations such as relocation, schooling (if relevant), or executive health checks.

Your first 90 days in a new leadership role are critical. Enter with clarity, energy, and focus.

A Final Word of Encouragement

Navigating executive job offers and contract negotiations is both an exciting milestone and a significant responsibility. This moment marks the beginning of a new chapter—one filled with fresh challenges, opportunities for impact, and the chance to lead with greater purpose and presence.

Take the time to make decisions that serve not just your next role, but your longer-term leadership journey.

If you would value support in reviewing your offer, negotiating with confidence, or transitioning successfully into your next executive role, we invite you to connect with Diversitas Consulting, executive coaching to help you clarify your strategy, align the offer with your goals, and step into your next chapter with clarity and confidence.

Reach out to discuss how we can support you.