General Manager of Strategic and Communication Services

at  The City of Spruce Grove

ABOUT US

The City of Spruce Grove is a fast growing, dynamic city committed to building and maintaining a fiscally responsible community that serves our residents, attracts visitors, and promotes future growth.
The “Values, We Live By” are accountability, communication, leadership, integrity, and respect while we work towards maintaining a work/play balance.
We are an organization that cares, an organization that is committed to our city and committed to you. The City of Spruce Grove is committed to public service, where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best work. We believe that by working together in a spirit of collaboration and respect, we can achieve great things.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• Post-secondary Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Political Science, Communications or equivalent.
• Ten (10) years of related experience with at least six years in Senior Leadership roles.
• Ability to analyze and interpret administrative procedures, regulations, legal documents, and legislation.
• Advanced communication skills and excellent presentation skills.
• Excellent collaborative negotiation and problems solving skills.
• Highly developed level of interpersonal skills and diplomacy to interact with a variety of internal and external clients.
• Ability to work effectively and professionally with all levels within the organization and externally.
• Ability to effectively transfer ideas, concepts, and information into effective and efficient strategies.
• Ability to develop, implement and evaluate innovative plans.
• Ability to lead a multifaceted team environment.
• Strong customer service orientation and the ability to build positive, productive business relationships.

Leadership Competencies:
Thinking & Acting Strategically - sees beyond current situation, understands impact, creates alignment, links priorities to strategy, advises.
Building Influential Working Relationships - able to effectively build relationships with a wide range of partners internally and externally to the organization.
Optimizing Performance & Results - knows and understands how to set and achieve results, they build accountability with their teams, and maximize their team’s performance. They strive to improvement performance through innovation, while continually assessing risk and inspiring others.
Growing Talent & Workforce Capacity - fosters an inclusive workplace, and builds a learning culture that pursues continuous growth, and builds capacity within teams.
Fostering Innovation & Steering Change – able to identify issues, stimulates creativity, remains on the leading edge, and is agile in change management.
Politically Astute – knows and understands legislative and regulatory processes and has an intuitive ability to read the political implications of recommendations and actions; prepared to guide and mentor City leadership with solid and informed recommendations.

Asset Qualifications

• Municipal Administration Certificate Program.
• Certified Local Government Manager (CLGM).
• Experience in a senior leadership role within a municipal or public sector organization.

1. Strategic Management:

• Provide expertise, guidance and recommendations to City Manager, Council, and Organizational Leaders in all aspects of Strategic and Communications Services and business planning including the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services and policy development.
• Act as a key advisor and strategist in leading corporate matters such as the Strategic Planning and Policy, Communications, City Clerk Administration and Human Resource Management.
• Sponsor the development and implementation of the City’s corporate initiatives (programs, projects, etc.) supporting legislative, communications, human resources and policy and planning requirements.
• Oversee the development of Council and administrative policies, procedures, and other corporate directives.
• Model, support, and encourage a culture of collaborative and healthy workplace, personal accountability, team alignment, respect, recognition, and continuous improvement.

1. Operation Management

• Facilitate the development of long term and short-term planning process for the Division and ensure appropriate input from staff, board, and public into the Strategic Planning Process.
• Ensure that appropriate and timely planning occurs in all areas of the Division.
• Ensure that initiatives, programs, and projects align with the Corporate Strategic Plan, budget, community needs, and are current in terms of industry trends.
• Provide leadership in ensuring that human capital is managed effectively to meet the service delivery requirements of the division.
• Plan and implement division objectives that are aligned with corporate strategies in order to maximize service delivery.
• Act as a sponsor to various organization wide systems provided by the division.
• Ensure the organization is in full compliance with all relevant legislation and City Administrative policies.
• Seek out legal advice for initiatives, programs, and projects of the Strategic and Communication Services Division as required.
• Negotiate agreements and memorandums of understanding for the approval by the City Manager or Council.
• Facilitate multi-disciplinary work groups, convene, and arrange meetings, coordinate communication, motivate, and facilitate discussion and consensus with respect to the division and corporate mandates.
• Act as the principal advisor to the City Manager, Council, and Council Boards, Committees, and other groups regarding matters within the Strategic and Communications Services mandate.
• Sponsor the development of policies, procedures and programs reflecting the community needs and make recommendations to Senior Management.
• Provide input into planning documents that is consistent with organizational needs such as the Strategic Plan, People Strategy, Corporate Plan, Department business plans.

1. Financial Management

• Act as chief administrator and lead the division to ensure the maximization of service delivery and resources.
• Oversee and ensure the maximization of service mix and delivery including the development of capital and operational budgets.
• Oversee the development of annual Strategic and Communications Services Division work plans and operational budgets.
• Determine and prioritize the draft City budget – operating and capital.
• Review monthly financial reports and where required, take necessary corrective measures to remain within budget.

1. Supervisory Management

• Ensure leadership aligns with the City’s Strategic and Corporate Plans as well as values and guiding principles.
• Provide a high level of coaching, training, and mentoring to division staff in the achievement of their goals and projects on an ongoing basis as well as through the performance management process.
• Manage the daily operations of Strategic and Communications Services, setting goals and expectations for the team, making decisions regarding staffing matters, stressing the importance of teamwork, ensuring the overall efficiency of the services provided by the team.
• Provide the leadership to ensure the efficient and effective ongoing operation of the enterprise-wide programs and services provided by the division as well as continual enhancements to the programs and their processes.
• Receive and investigate complaints or concerns relative to the delivery of the division services and ensure appropriate information is provided or appropriate action taken.
• Respond to customer concerns and complaints using tact and understanding.

1. Government and Community Partner Relations

• Work with Council and the City Manager on developing, implementing, and monitoring the City’s governmental relations strategy and process.
• Develop briefing notes, attend meetings, and oversee follow up communication.
• Represent the City to select governmental, professional organizations and non-governmental agencies.
• Serve as information conduit and coordination point for projects and processes deemed strategic by Council and/or City Manager.
• Acts as an ambassador for safety and corporate culture for Strategic and Communication Services.
• Ensure that an effective balanced approach to public relations is maintained by the Strategic and Communication Services Division.
• Act as the City’s key liaison with appropriate agencies including other municipal jurisdictions, provincial departments and community stakeholders regarding matters related to Strategic and Communication Services.
• Prepare and deliver presentations, position statements and information sessions to employees, partner groups and Council.
• Facilitate discussions of the City’s policies and initiatives to solicit feedback from various partners.
• Understand and adhere to City policies, procedures and standards, whether written or implied, as amended from time to time.
• Contribute to a positive safety culture by acting in a safe manner at all times and complying with City safety policies for staff and contractors.
• Provide leadership for Health and Safety by making every reasonable effort to ensure the health and safety of staff within the section.
• Act as a steward of the City’s Corporate Culture through empowerment and support to staff.
• Provide the leadership to the administrative functions for the Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) when the City Disaster Response Plan is activated.
• Perform other related duties as required.