Colac Otway Shire Council makes steps toward recruitment of new CEO

Published on 07 March 2018

Colac Otway Shire Council is progressing in its recruitment of a new CEO and aims to advertise the position before the end of March.

As part of the process, Council has engaged a new recruitment firm and also a probity monitor who is responsible for providing advice and guidance on the procurement process.

At the Ordinary Council meeting on Wednesday, Councillors voted to form a Special Advisory Committee to support the decision-making process.

The Special Advisory Committee will include a Council-appointed probity monitor, Mr Philip Shanahan.

Mayor Joe McCracken said Mr Shanahan has thirty years’ experience as a CEO and has worked with more than twenty Victorian Councils on setting key performance indicators for CEOs, as well as providing advice regarding other general employment matters relating to the appointment of a CEO.

“I, as the Mayor, will chair the Committee, all Councillors will be members and Council’s Manager of People, Performance and Culture will also attend meetings with Mr Shanahan.

“McArthur Management Services come well recommended to us as a recruitment firm with 48 years of experience and a specialist division for government.

“The establishment of a Special Advisory Committee will strengthen our commitment to openness and transparency and has been implemented by other Councils who have undergone the process of recruiting a CEO. It’s now seen around the industry as best practice and it shows good governance for us to adopt the same approach,” Cr McCracken said.

“Councillors will continue to make the final decision on the appointment of a CEO however Mr Shanahan’s expertise throughout the decision-making process will be highly valued,” Cr McCracken said.