Wastie shakes up city’s executive jobs

NEW City of Greater Geelong chief executive officer Ali Wastie is shaking up the organisation’s executive leadership less than two months into her tenure, restructuring the number of positions from five to four.

Last week, the city announced that it had opened applications for four executive director positions reporting to the CEO.

In a statement, Ms Wastie, who began her role on August 28, acknowledged the organisation had been through significant change over the past three years to improve organisational performance “but stressed there would be no reduction in frontline employees through this change”.

“While we’re exploring lots of opportunities to generate efficiencies, I do not have any mandate to cut jobs,” she said.

“There will be no reduction in our amazing frontline workforce through this process.”

The existing executive team and its portfolios will be redesigned into four positions:

• Placemaking: Focused on facilitating design, investment in and delivery of extraordinary places

• City Life: Focused on providing quality and value-for-money services to the community

• City Infrastructure: Focused on maximising the value of our assets, balancing quality and experience within the city’s financial capacity, and

• Corporate Services: Focused on becoming a high-performing organisation and governing ourselves with excellence.

All four positions are open to the market, with the incumbent executive leaders invited to apply.

Ms Wastie said the process to design the four directorates had been open and transparent, and had invited feedback from the entire senior leadership team.

“We’ve had an incredibly collaborative process with leaders to design which functions should contribute to each directorate, building on the changes implemented throughout the last three years.

“I encourage applications from existing leaders who feel they have the right skills and experience to be part of this next chapter for our organisation – be ready for a highly competitive process!”

She said Geelong was a “phenomenal” region.

“It’s the fastest growing in the country, Australia’s first and only UNESCO City of Design, and an amazing place to live, work, learn and play.

“Our organisation was recently recognised in AFR’s Most Innovative Companies as International Smart City of the Year. Our high-performing organisation is looking for leaders who are ready to take us to the next level.”

The city is seeking leaders who are “collaborative, inspiring, high-performing and ready to roll up their sleeves and deliver”.

“We have an incredible workforce who care deeply about each other and the people they serve, and a passionate council who really want to see us succeed,” Ms Wastie said.

“We’re very purpose-driven: working together for a thriving community.”