St. Albert's next city manager will be a visionary, a politically astute leader with superior management, communication and interpersonal skills and business acumen who is committed to the community, according to a job description posted online earlier this week.
After originally assigning different tasks for hiring its next chief administrative officer (CAO), city council has instead contracted headhunting agency Davies Park to find the replacement for Bill Holtby. The contract will cost the city $40,000.
"They are the premier headhunting firm for executives for these kinds of things," said Mayor Nolan Crouse.
Crouse said the decision to go with an agency was made approximately three weeks ago after a report from Coun. Malcolm Parker. In the days following the termination of long-time city manager Holtby, council decided to handle the hiring of its next CAO itself. Parker was tasked with finding candidates while Couns. Cam MacKay and Len Bracko would oversee the contract with Cathy Heron writing the job description.
Parker proposed hiring Davies Park to handle the search instead.
The job description lists 18 different traits and skill sets council is looking for in its next CAO, from self-confidence and good financial management skills to customer service and organizational skills. It does not list how much is being offered for salary, but instead says, "A competitive compensation package based on education, experience and skills is available and will be discussed further during interviews."
At the time of his dismissal, Holtby was making more than $200,000 per year.
The description, posted at daviespark.com, also says preference will be given to individuals with post-secondary degrees in business administration, public administration or another related discipline, as well as those who have demonstrated "a clear pattern of ongoing professional development."
The ideal candidate must also have "significant" senior management experience in both municipal government and the private sector.
In-house candidates
Crouse said the search would be national in scope, but that city employees such as members of the senior leadership team (SLT) could also apply.
"What we have told SLT is if anybody's interested, to apply through Davies Park," said Crouse. "Would there be the possibility? I think yes."
Holtby worked for the city for more than 10 years before being promoted to city manager.
When asked, acting city manager Chris Jardine, who has served in the role since Holtby's firing, hinted he might apply.
"All I can say at this point is that when I came to the City of St. Albert, one of the reasons I came here was because I did have that interest," Jardine said.
