By Ruza Zivkusic
SHORTLISTED candidates for Brimbank City Council’s chief executive officer position are expected to be interviewed next month.
Sitting on the council’s interviewing committee are the mayor Margaret Giudice, deputy mayor Kathryn Eriksson and councillors Sam David, Miles Dymott and Costas Socratous.
Council’s long-standing CEO Marilyn Duncan’s contract expires on 30 March, Cr Giudice told Star.
The position is being advertised nationally with Sacs Consulting.
An advertisement that appeared in a daily newspaper two weeks ago said that the high-profile position would take responsibility for the administrative and managerial activities of council and include the management of more than 920 employees.
The person appointed would be a “central point of liaison” and play a key role in issues such as “sustainable beautification of the city through to attracting new business opportunities and additional government funding”, it stated.
The successful candidate would also need to have a “strong experience in senior management, proven leadership skills and a capacity to interact effectively across levels of government”.
No details of the value of contract were included but a council spokeswoman told Star that the salary would be negotiated with the candidate.
A “creative vision” and “interpersonal abilities to extend to sound negotiation and marketing skills” was also a must, the advertisement stated.
Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association member John Hedditch said it was vital the successful candidate had engagement skills with residents by understanding the problems of a disadvantaged community.
“We’ve had a very introspective, inward looking council for the last period of time, they’ve been focused on themselves and their budget and haven’t focused on the community and the cries for help,” Mr Hedditch said.
“With a $100 million budget you don’t put a surfer in charge or a political mate who hasn’t got the skills in charge, otherwise it just becomes a mess,” he said.
Cr Eriksson told Star that the interviewing process would be “fair” as councillors sitting on the committee had the “best interest for the community”.
“I have to say that the mayor was very fair to us, she sent a note about the committee and asked people to express an interest if they wanted to be on the committee,” Cr Eriksson said.
