LATE DISTRIBUTION
FOR COUNCIL - JULY 27, 1999

A26

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: July 20, 1999
Author/Local:Estelle Lo/7610
RTS No. 00926

CC File No. 1370

Council: July 27, 1999

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager, Corporate Services Group
SUBJECT:	Recruitment: Director of Information Technology

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council approve the hiring of an executive search firm to undertake a national search to recruit the Director of Information Technology at an estimated cost of $50,000 (plus applicable taxes): source of funding to be Contingency Reserve.

B. THAT Council delegate approval of the appointment of the successful executive search firm to the General Manager, Corporate Services Group.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council approval is required for appointment of consultants to contracts exceeding $30,000.

Council approval is required for the allocation of funds from Contingency Reserve.

PURPOSE

This report seeks Council approval to hire an executive search firm to undertake a national search for the Director of Information Technology position.

BACKGROUND

The Director of Information Technology has moved on to a position in another corporation.
An interim Director has been appointed until a new Director is recruited.

DISCUSSION

The Director of Information Technology position is technical and highly specialized in nature. Given the strategic and tactical senior management role that the Director of Information Technology plays in the organization, it is appropriate to undertake a comprehensive search for a replacement as soon as possible.

The normal recruitment process is to have staff solicit responses from executive search firms and have Council approve the appointment of a specific firm to do the recruitment. In this particular situation, between the notice of resignation and the Council summer break, there is insufficient time to go through this normal process.

In order to proceed quickly with the recruitment in August, we are seeking Council's approval of $50,000 (plus applicable taxes) for the recruitment and to authorize the General Manager, Corporate Services to appoint the successful executive search company for the recruitment. Once Council approves the recommendations, expressions of interest will be sought from executive search firms specializing in information technology and telecommunications systems and selection will be based on the following criteria.

Criteria for evaluating submissions will include: municipal sector experience; experience in recruiting senior information technology management positions, both in the public and private sectors; qualifications of the consulting team and research resources; reputation for successful searches, both internally and externally; ability to access candidates on a nation-wide basis; an understanding of the corporate culture and the City of Vancouver, thoroughness of the search process; fees and guarantee.

CONCLUSION

It is recommended that Council approve the hiring of an executive search firm to undertake a national search to recruit the Director of Information Technology at an estimated cost of $50,000 plus taxes. Due to the summer break and the need to fill this position quickly, it is also recommended that Council delegate the appointment of the successful executive search firm to the General Manager of Corporate Services. The source of funding for this assignment will be Contingency Reserve.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver