BP Germany

 

CHALLENGE

As BP continues to make significant moves towards green energy, Pangea Talent Solutions recently supported its hiring efforts by sourcing a regulatory affairs manager. 

Back in 2021, Oliver Fallows, Senior Consultant at Pangea reached out to BP with a candidate that would have been a good fit for a General Manager role in Germany they were recruiting for. From this initial outreach a relationship began, and in early 2023, Ollie’s details were passed onto Barry Sole, the project product manager for BP in Germany. Sole was looking for a Regulatory Affairs Manager in Hamburg; someone who understood the heavy German regulations and could meet with government organisations to lead advocacy for BP’s green energy initiatives. 

This was a new position for BP and threw up several factors that needed navigating. There was a limited number of candidates available that would have the skills Sole was looking for as green energy regulatory affairs is a particularly niche role. German talent too, particularly from West Germany, rarely considered relocation for new opportunities. Experience also showed Ollie that candidates in this region, often remain close to their hometown, and it can often be difficult to persuade candidates to move. Additionally, BP’s strict recruitment process relied heavily on candidates applying directly through their website. Candidates that were found by headhunters such as Pangea, were required to upload their details through a portal meaning that Ollie needed to widen his pool of suitable candidates and allow for additional time to pass CVs through the process. Ollie’s 
recruitment hinged on understanding both employer and candidate motivations. By highlighting BP’s potential for positive impact, it was possible to attract talent passionate about the cause, as well as interest in the regulatory affairs role.

SOLUTION

Due to the niche skills required for the role Ollie bypassed traditional job advertising and actively headhunted top talent. Ollie sought individuals whose goals resonated with BP’s green targets of sustainability and utilisation of existing resources and infrastructure. It led him to search and find candidates within the EV market and those involved in EV charging.

Whilst working with BP it was clear to Ollie, the business had a thorough interview process and whilst useful to them, Ollie adapted a streamlined process document to help the candidate navigate this structured interview process.

"We were incredibly impressed with Pangea Talent Solutions’ understanding of this unique role and the German market. Oliver’s proactive approach and ability to identify the perfect candidate were instrumental in our success. Alexander’s expertise and passion for green energy have been invaluable."

Barry Sole, Project Product Manager, BP Germany 

RESULTS

September 2023 Oliver Fallows found the perfect candidate for BP, who was excited to make a move into the green energy sector. He had previously worked in a similar advocacy position for a major competitor, developing and implementing a compliance strategy and acting as a liaison between regulatory agencies and the business. His ability to understand the challenges BP face, mean he’s now a vital player in driving BP’s EV and green hydrogen growth. Ollie was also able to negotiate a shorter notice period with the successful candidate’s previous company, easing his transition into BP too. The candidate started the role only eight weeks after the search began.

Following this successful placement Ollie is now recruiting for a Hardware Product Manager (Netherlands) and a Construction Engineer (France).

"The speed and efficiency of Pangea Talent Solutions’ recruitment process were truly remarkable, from the initial consultation to Alexander’s start date, the entire process took less than two months. This swift turnaround was crucial for us to maintain momentum with our green energy initiatives."

Barry Sole, Project Product Manager, BP Germany