Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)

Position Details:

Employer: Town of Grimshaw

Location: Grimshaw, AB

Industry: Municipal Government

Position Outline:

The Town of Grimshaw (www.grimshaw.ca), home to over 2,600 residents, is the gateway to the Mackenzie Highway and home to Mile Zero.  The Town is a vibrant, welcoming community that offers something for everyone, from young families to active seniors.

At the heart of Grimshaw, you'll find the Mile Zero Regional Multiplex, a true community hub.  This facility features a field house, arena, fitness center, walking track, and a concession….as well as the municipal library, theater, atrium, and it is home to both the public and Catholic schools - a unique partnership that highlights our community spirit and togetherness.

Grimshaw is a friendly, family-focused, and progressive community with a long history of innovation in agriculture and the oil industry.  Our focus is on economic development, ensuring a bright and thriving future for all.  In addition to all the outdoor, sports, and civic amenities, we offer a variety of great businesses and restaurants, which make the town an ideal place to explore, shop, and dine. 

We invite you to discover everything that Grimshaw has to offer, whether you’re planning to visit or call it home.

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is the administrative head of the municipality, ensuring that the policies and programs of the Municipality are implemented.  The CAO is accountable to ensure that residents of the Town of Grimshaw receive high quality sound daily services.  The CAO advises and informs an elected Mayor and six (6) Councillors of the operations and affairs of the Municipality, and performs the duties and exercises the powers and functions assigned to the Chief Administrative Officer by the Municipal Government Act (MGA), legislation, or as assigned by Council.

The CAO oversees an annual Operating Budget of $8M, a Capital Budget of $1.9M, and seven direct reports (see Org Chart below).  

The CAO is accountable for the following:

• Key Advisor to the Mayor and Council
  • Implementing and enforcing the directives and policies of Council.
  • Working in close liaison with the Mayor and Council, keeping them informed of the operations of the Town.
  • Providing leadership, support, resources, and background information to Council so they can make sound decisions in the best interests of the community.
  • Attending all regular, special, and committee meetings of Council, many of which may be held during the evenings, weekends, and/or after hours.
• Leadership/Management
  • Certifying compliance to legislation, and conducting thorough due-diligence regarding policies, procedures, and operations.
  • Serving as a liaison and advocate between the staff and Council.
  • Developing training plans for employees to ensure that all staff are cross-trained and updated on all systems.
  • Liaising with all other levels of government (i.e., local, provincial, and federal) as required, and promoting and encouraging regional cooperation with the Town’s neighbours.
  • Initiating and ensuring the provision of a robust customer service training program.
  • Planning and ensuring that staff have performance targets, and that Town services and projects are executed on time and on budget (i.e., water, sewer, streets, buildings, equipment, airport, etc.).
• Economic Development/Growth Focus
  • Working closely with the Mayor and Council, the Lac Cardinal Regional Economic Development Board, and regional partners to implement and carry out an economic development focus in order to promote local businesses, and attract new businesses/industry to the Town of Grimshaw. 
  • Promoting an “open for business” mindset, and strive for new and innovative practices.
• Financial
  • Ensuring that the annual budget is developed around basic program performance criteria, correlating with the strategic plan.
  • Developing and managing the annual operating and capital budgets, a 10-year capital plan, an asset management plan, grants, and financial reporting to Council on revenues and expenditures.
• Human Resource Management
  • Coaching, mentoring, training, and directing employees to meet strategic, budget, operating, and customer needs.
  • Establishing, promoting, and maintaining comprehensive personnel policies and programs covering the selection, compensation, development, retention, and appraisal of all Town employees.
  • Ongoing review of the Town’s organizational and departmental structure, and recommend to Council changes to improve operating effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Ensuring performance appraisals are conducted for all staff on an annual basis.
• Strategic Planning
  • Providing leadership and guidance to the Town’s strategic planning process.
  • Ensuring that the proper resources (human, equipment, and other) are accessible and available for the effective delivery of services.
  • Developing a program budget format and five-year infrastructure plan.
  • Making recommendations to Town Council on program cost-recovery policies.
  • Developing measurable objectives for the annual maintenance programs for all infrastructure.
• Public Relations
  • Maintaining the continued successful relationship with the general public, regional partners, businesses, and industry based on mutual trust and confidence.
  • Ensuring that customer service (both internally and externally) is a focus and remains a top priority.
  • Coordinating the prompt and proper handling of all requests, inquiries, and complaints from the public in a timely fashion.
• Administration
  • Handling all correspondence resulting from decisions of Council.
  • Ensuring the preparation and enforcement of all required bylaws and resolutions, and reviewing them regularly.
  • Issuing tax notifications, discharge preparations, approvals, and signing authority.
  • Overseeing the records management system, and guaranteeing its safekeeping.
  • Coordinating the provision of special and contracted services to the Town, such as assessment, legal, engineering, and consulting.
  • Making sure that applications for development permits are processed and comply with current by-laws, land use by-laws, and associated development regulations.
  • Ensuring the implementation of a Health & Safety program and policy requirements including maintaining a safe and secure workplace environment.
• Other Responsibilities
  • Director - Disaster Services.
  • Development Officer
  • Advisory to Grimshaw Centennial Park Society.
  • Advisory to the Community Services Advisory Board.
  • Business Licensing Issuing Officer.
  • Media liaison.

The CAO will possess the following to be successful:

• Excellent and proven leadership, management, and human resource capabilities.
• Superior verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated analytical, problem solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, work within tight deadlines, and exceptional time management skills.
• Ability to lead and work within a team environment and lead by example.
• Proven customer service focus to the general public, staff, and Council.
• Ability to perform duties in a non-partisan and confidential manner.

The ideal candidate will possess a post-secondary education in public administration, business, or a related discipline.  A certificate in local government, a CLGM designation, or a combination of relevant training and senior leadership experience will be considered.  This includes:  

• Five plus years executive leadership experience in a public sector environment with a proven ability to build, mentor, engage, and motivate a complex/dynamic organization with multiple operations and diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in the provisions of the Municipal Government Act (MGA) would be desirable.
• Solid understanding of budgeting and municipal finances.
• Demonstrated high standards of ethics, integrity, respect, accountability, and upholding the public interest.

A competitive compensation package will be provided to the successful candidate.  This includes an attractive and competitive base salary, a comprehensive municipal benefits package, as well as enrollment in LAPP (Local Authorities Pension Plan).  Details will be discussed in further conversations.

James Davies                               

Managing Director

DCG Executive Search Services Ltd.

Phone: (780) 758-9796

E-mail: [email protected]

Web: www.daviescg.com