City of Ballarat CEO hiring process starts

THE search for the people who are going to search for the City of Ballarat’s next CEO is on.

Last week mayor Cr Ben Taylor put out the call for “a suitably qualified and experienced recruitment agency” to help find the next executive leader of the municipality.

Cr Taylor said that 10 agencies, including three based in Ballarat had been alerted to the opportunity to pitch on the work.

Firms in the running are either on the City’s list of approved suppliers or the Procurement Australia directory.

“Together, these agencies will provide a comprehensive regional, national and international lens to recruit a high performing candidate who will lead the City of Ballarat for the next five years and deliver the vision of a newly elected council,” Cr Taylor said.

As one of its last acts before heading into caretaker mode, the current council will assess and select a firm to find candidates for the ongoing CEO role.

The next council will when run the interview and selection process, with the successful candidate earmarked to start in the top job in early 2021.

Whoever becomes the new CEO, they’ll have somewhat of a trial by fire.

Not only is there potential for a number of new councillors sitting in the chamber, they’ll be leading the City through the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and actioning the findings and recommendations from the current organisational governance and culture assessment being run by Susan Halliday AM.