3. City Manager Hiring ProcessCity of Kalispell
201 1 St Ave E. P.O. Box 1997
Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997
(406) 758-7000 Fax (406)7757
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Terry Mitton, Director of Human Resources
SUBJECT: City Manager Hiring Process
MEETING DATE: October 27, 2008
BACKGROUND: Several documents need to be approved by the Council prior to the
beginning of the hiring process for a new City Manager. Enclosed for your perusal are the draft
job description, application supplement, interview questions, and potential advertising venues.
RECOMMENDATION: Council examine each of the attached documents for discussion
Monday evening.
CITY OF KALISPELL
Job Vacancy
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Class 1 Job Title: City Manager
Department: City Hall
Union: Non -Union
F. Determines work procedures, prepares work schedules, and expedites workflow; studies
and standardizes procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations.
G. Issues written and oral instructions; assigns duties and examines work for exactness,
neatness, and conformance to policies and procedures.
H. Maintains harmony among workers and resolves grievances.
I. Performs or assists subordinates in performing duties; adjusts errors and complaints.
J. Prepares a variety of studies, reports and related information for decision -making
purposes.
K. Appoints and removes all department heads, officers, and employees of the city, except
members of the City Council.
L. Sees that all laws and ordinances are faithfully performed.
M. Prepares and submits a preliminary annual City budget. Administers the adopted
budget of the City.
N. Advises the City Council of financial conditions and current and future city needs.
through coo ativeArn and individual efforts.
B. Communication
a. Provides suggestions, advice and support to Mayor, City Council, department
heads, the.r: ity employees, employee teams, and the City customers.
b. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing with the Mayor and City
Council, department head, City employees, and employee teams.
c. Works cooperatively with all City employees toward the common goal of
providing high quality services.
d. Exhibits excellent interpersonal and human relationship skills.
C. Management
a. Participates in development and mentoring of co-workers to achieve a cohesive
work unit consistent with the City's mission, vision, and values.
b. Is accountable for the delivery of quality services and work product as a part of
the overall City-wide strategic direction, goals, and objectives.
c. Contributes to a superior work culture through participation in training and
mentoring to develop leadership, management and technical skills in all City
employees.
d. Works with department heads, other City employees, employee teams
developing and implementing programs and objectives to improve departmental
and City-wide efficiency.
e. Effectively manages multiple assignments and priorities to ensure the fulfillment
of projects, tasks and responsibilities.
f. Assists in the preparation of, and adherence to, opo ational and budgets and
exhibits good stewardship of the organization's resources
g. Maintains the highest standards of risk managr:rt, employee safety and risk
avoidance.
D. Technical tasks
a. Performs all job duties in compliance :kith the established rules, and regulations
and the City of Kalispell.
b. Promotes safe work practices and en ures com pliance with City safety policies of
all employees.
c. Provides oversight and Qtion in the e loprrent of operating procedures,
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:
A. Graduation from an accredited four --year college or university with a Masters degree in
public administration, political science, business administration or a closely related field,
and five (5) years of experience in municipal administration or a comparable combination
of education and experience is required.
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B. Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
a. Technical knowledge of municipal operation is required. Ability to work with
diverse city Council by focusing policy options.
b. considerable knowledge of modern policies and practices of public
administration; working knowledge of municipal finance, human resources, public
works, public safety, and community development;
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee
encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations
may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.
SELECTION GUIDELINES:
Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview and reference check;
other job related tests may be required.
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may
be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the
position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
Kalispell is an Equal opportunity Employer. In compliance with the American with Disabilities
Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified .i.ndr*duals with disabilities
and encourages both prospective and current employees to disqu potential accommodations
with the employer.
The job description does not constitute an employmentareement betn the employer and
employee and is subject to change by the employer a e needs of the employer and
requirements of the job change.
POSTED:
CLOSES: open until filled with preference g Ive -Joth.bs who apply by
NOTICE!
ONLY CANDIDATES SELECTED FOR- INTERVIF' =WILL BE CONTACTED.
A CITY APPLICATION CAN BE OBTAIINE 3 ' FROM HUMAN RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT 1111ITFI T TY F K
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HE ,. ; .. O A,�SPEE AVENUE EAST, KALISPELL
MONTANA, PHONE; (40.61. '�8 7 CAR T f.� X LISPELC: oB SERVICE, 427 15t AVENUE
EAST KALISPELL ITANA ` `::PHONE6)758-6200 R NLINED O AT THE CITY OF
KALISPELL'S WEB TE AT: W' W.XALISPE L1,COM .
Human Resources a-m'ail: t)er � l alisr)ell bm
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City of Kalispell
City Manager
Application Supplement
INSTRUCTIONS:
Please provide a narrative answer to the questions below. Attach additional sheets of paper if necessary.
Your response to these questions will be reviewed separately from your application, so you must repeat any
information that may appear on those documents rather than writing "see my application". Be thorough, but
brief and concise. As appropriate, be specific about duties, employer, and employment dates.
1) This position requires a Master's Degee in Public Administration Business Administration or a
closely related field and extensive experience in management, referabl in the public sector at the
local level of an Povermment• or gny e uivalent combination of experience and training which
provides the knowledge,_skills and abilities necessM. to perform the work. Please describe how ou
qualify for this position.
2) Describe Your managements le and rovide exam les of haw ou have encoura ed or anizat*
wide efficiencies and ens to ee res onsibili .
3) Please describe your experience in the negotiation, admu* iistration and jpjgMretation of collective
bargaininga eements and in the process4 of employee- grievances.
4) Mly do you think vou. would be a aood fit for the Ci of Kalispell?
CERTIFICATION
(Unsigned Supplements will not be considered)
I hereby certify that all information given by me on this and all attached papers I have prepared is true and
complete to the best of my knowledge. I am aware that_ any falsifications or misrepresentations may
disqualify me from any employment with the City of Kalispell, Montana.
(Applicant's Signature)
(Date)
Kalispell City Manager
Interview Questions
Applicant:
1. What did you do to prepare for this interview? Based on that preparation,
what do you believe to be the principal challenges facing Kalispell during the
next 5 years, and into the long term ?
2. What are your career goals and how will serving in this position fit into
achieving them?
3. What have you done to stay on top of the issues in the management (or:
public service, or: public administration) field? Has that work impacted your
approach to your profession? How?
4. What is the toughest group you had to gain cooperation from? How did you
do it?
5. Give us an example of how you have been successful at empowering a group
of people to accomplish a difficult task.
6. Describe a high morale work group you have been associated with. Who was
responsible for providing the motivation? How did they (you) do it?
7. At times, a situation comes up where we can really `make our mark' as leaders
in an organization. Please tell us about such a time for you. What were the
factors that led to that success? Interpreted as two questions, similar but
different.
8. What would you say are the most important attributes a candidate should
bring to this position and why?
9. Developing positive working relationships is critical for success. Give us an
example of how you have developed such a relationship with a co-
worker/supervisor or another firm, and how you used that relationship to get
the job stone.
10. Discuss a timewhen your integrity was challenged. How did you handle it?
11. Describe a situation in which you changed your mind after you publicly
committed to a different positron.
12. a. In what types of situations do you think it is inappropriate for a manager
to use democratic/ participative techniques in making decisions ?
b. Describe a situation you determined you had to address without
consultation with your trusted advisors.
13. Describe a time in the past when you have explored new or innovative
approaches as well as traditional ones when considering decisions about
delivery of services. What factors did you consider, what did you decide, and
why?
14. What types of decisions do you feel are beyond your authority in your present
(most recent) jab? What types of decisions do you feel are beyond the
authority of the Kalispell City Manager?
15. What values and experiences shape your thinking process? Give us an
example of how these values helped you resolve a difficult issue.
16. How would you react to the following situations?
ao The Commission directs you to take an action or make a decision with
which you personally disagree.
b. The Commission has made or is about to make a derision which, based
on information you have received from your staff, would be, at best a
questionable decision, and could even possibly be a bad decision.
17. Kalispell has been experiencing a steady growth for a decade and attitudes
about how to handle the growth vary in the community and on the
Commission. Describe the impacts of growth on a community and optimal
city government strategies and leadership for addressing those impacts.
18. Please describe your experiences at and successes in legislative lobbying.
19. Describe your experience in the following areas:
a. Transportation Issues;
b. Waste Issues;
C. Long range forecasting and planning;
d. Energy Issues;
e. Analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of organizational operations,
services, programs;
f. Developing cooperative efforts with government units, public/private
sector partnerships, privatization efforts, consolidation of services, and
related issues;
g. Capital Improvement Programs;
h. Overseeing big ticket operational projects while bringing capital projects in
on or under budget.
20. Is there anything you want us to know that we haven't already addressed, but
that you believe we should consider in making our decision?
21. If you were offered this position what factors will you consider before making
a decision?
22. The person occupying the position of City Manager must live within the
Kalispell City limits upon hire, or by no later than the first formal performance
evaluation, which is anticipated to occur upon the completion of 12 months of
employment. If you are selected for this position, do you agree to comply
with this requirement?
23. If you are selected for this position, when could you start?
24. Do you have any questions?
City of Kalispell
201 lst Ave E. P.O. Box 1997
Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997
(406) 758-7000 Fax (406)7757
POTENTIAL CITY MANAGER ADVERTISING VENUES
• HAGADGNE NEWSPAPER GROUP
o Includes eight Montana newspapers, six in Idaho, and three in Washington
■ ICM A NEWSLETTER
* JOBS AVAILABLE
o Nationwide listing of employment opportunities in the public sector
• MONTANA JOB SERVICE
• INTERNET WEB S ITE S
o Monster. com
o Kalispell. cons
ADDITIONS OR ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by Council.