Job Description
About the City of Hamilton
Contribute to the City of Hamilton, one of Canada’s largest cities - home to a diverse and strong economy, an active and inclusive community, a robust cultural and dining scene, hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails and natural beauty just minutes from the downtown core, and so much more. Join our diverse team of talented and ambitious staff who embody our values of sensational service, courageous change, steadfast integrity, collective ownership and being engaged empowered employees. Help us achieve our vision of being the best place to raise a child and age successfully. #BeTheReason
About the City of Hamilton
The City of Hamilton is a dynamic urban centre, home to approximately 560,000 residents, a diverse economy, bustling cultural scene, vibrant neighbourhoods and a unique natural environment.
Hamilton is located within close proximity of Toronto and the Niagara Peninsula in Canada’s most populous province, and has strong transportation networks, internationally renowned educational institutions and hospitals and a well-educated labour force. Home to Canada’s largest integrated steel producers, Hamilton’s economy is driven by manufacturing, health care and life sciences, goods movement and agricultural industries. A day in Hamilton can include a stroll on the waterfront, a hike on the famous Bruce Trail, a game at Tim Hortons Field, and visits to waterfalls and conservation areas.
The City strives to be the best place to raise a child and age successfully, and works to provide high quality, cost conscious public services that contribute to healthy, safe and prosperous communities.
Like many cities, Hamilton is working to address challenges of affordability, sustainability, and liveability so it can take care of its residents, build its culture and economy and remain a great place to live, work and play.
About the Role
The City of Hamilton is looking for a strong and inspiring City Manager to lead its public service and help deliver quality services to residents at a unique and important moment in time.
Accountable to the Mayor and City Council, the City Manager will help fulfil the potential of one of Canada’s most dynamic cities, supporting the recently approved strategic priorities of sustainable economic and ecological development, safe and thriving neighbourhoods, and the working of City Hall and transparency in municipal government.
A strong implementer with a passion for municipal issues, the City Manager will help deliver innovative solutions, increase responsiveness and support a culture of accountability and customer service throughout the public service.
The candidate will motivate and guide the organization by providing strategic leadership and ensure the impactful use of public funds through the Corporation’s departments, programs, and services in accordance with the policies and strategic plans established by Council.
The ideal City Manager is excited to demonstrate the impact of effective public service in a mid-sized city, understands the unique challenges of municipal government and is motivated to deliver solutions and foster a culture of excellence and achievement on behalf of Hamilton residents.
What You Bring
The ideal candidate cares deeply about cities and how they are run. We’re looking for a strong leader of people, someone driven to unite public service staff in a shared mission and deliver real results for Hamilton residents.
As Hamilton continues to grow and contend with complex municipal issues, the City Manager will collaborate with the Mayor and City Council to develop impactful solutions through innovative service delivery and meaningful change and transformation.
With experience in complex environments inside or outside of municipal government, you are a multidisciplinary thinker and have held a variety of roles that inform your holistic approach to decision making.
You believe deeply in the role of government but strive to improve its delivery, efficiency and implementation. You understand how to work with elected officials, front line staff and a variety of stakeholders to deliver results in the best interest of the public. Our candidate understands that public trust is driven by accountability and transparency and that strong customer service is part of the job.
With exceptional visioning and leadership abilities, you can effectively manage staff in a results-oriented, unionized setting and know how to build diverse, motivated and high performing teams with strong systems of internal and external communication, and proven abilities to respond in a crisis.
You are as comfortable talking to other levels of government as you are to community organizers, and you see clear communications and strong interpersonal skills as essential to your role.
With a deep understanding of municipal issues, the City Manager will help support Hamilton’s intergovernmental relationships, advocate for funding, and ensure responsible and sustainable financial management and stewardship of public resources.
To address the needs of Hamilton’s diverse population, you bring experience working collaboratively with Indigenous communities in the spirit or Reconciliation and a commitment to supporting the well being of vulnerable populations.
You are not someone who will say “this is how we’ve always done it” but will ask questions, focus on outcomes and ensure that City Council is provided with comprehensive information and evidence-based recommendations as they move the city forward through a variety of challenges and priorities.
Most of all, you’re excited about what Hamilton has to offer and how you can help and are looking for a role that will allow you to demonstrate the impact of local government and build a high performing public service that works hard on its city’s behalf.