Winnipeg, MB – Recruitment of the City of Winnipeg's next Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) took another step forward today with the selection of an external consultant to assist the recruitment committee, Mayor Brian Bowman announced today.
“This is an important step in the process of recruiting the city’s next chief administrative officer,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “I am pleased to have this consultant in place and that we continue to move closer to finding and recommending for Council’s consideration the next senior leader of our public service.”
Harris Leadership Strategies has been selected to assist with the recruitment effort.
They were one of ten applicants to reply to the request for proposals which closed April 11, 2019. Submissions in response to the request for proposals were reviewed and evaluated according to the City of Winnipeg’s standard procurement policies and procedures.
The consultant met with the recruitment committee for the first time earlier this week. The consultant is responsible for providing support and assistance to the recruitment committee who is also conducting its work under the guidance of the City of Winnipeg’s Human Resources department.
The consultant’s key responsibility is to conduct a national search as part of sourcing candidates for the position of CAO. As part of sourcing candidates, the consultant is responsible for a host of services including:
- Supporting consultations with individual Councillors on what they feel are important leadership qualities for the next CAO;
- Updating the CAO job description based on feedback received;
- Establishing screening and interview selection criteria;
- Preparing advertisements;
- Receiving and screening applications;
- Creating interview material;
- Identifying a minimum of five qualified, screened candidates; and
- Conducting additional background checks and final reference checks on a preferred candidate.
The recruitment committee will be responsible for conducting candidate interviews together with the assistance of the City of Winnipeg’s Human Resource department.
The recruitment committee is inclusive of both Executive Policy Committee (EPC) members as well as non-EPC members and includes Mayor Brian Bowman, Councillor Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan), Councillor Ross Eadie (Mynarski), Councillor Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry), and Councillor Matt Allard (St. Boniface).
The recruitment committee is tasked with recommending to EPC the City of Winnipeg’s next CAO. Executive Policy Committee is then mandated by provincial legislation through The City of Winnipeg Charter to recommend appointments of statutory officers, including the CAO, to Council for their consideration.
The City of Winnipeg’s current CAO is scheduled to retire May 24. Executive Policy Committee unanimously recommended on May 7 that Council consider appointing Michael Ruta as interim CAO and Paul Olafson as interim Chief Financial Officer. These recommendations require Council approval and are on the agenda for today’s Council meeting.