We haven’t started advertising the positions yet: once we will then we will definitely be encouraging the community to apply, and we will provide a clear way for them to do so. Remember that there are a number of like-minded organisations out there, and individuals that will have enthusiasm and understanding of Wikimedia that are not currently part of the active community; as such, we’ll be throwing the net wide to make sure we find the best person for the job.

Why, precisely, are you using a professional recruitment agency for the job openings? Don’t get me wrong, some jobs will need a professional, but a comms guy or a chief exec should ideally be to someone with experience and enthusiasm for the Wikimedia movement’s work, and you’re unlikely to find many of those outside the community. This is exacerbated because you’ve managed to completely cut the community out of the hiring process; the “job descriptions” page gives absolutely no way for anyone to apply.