Deputy Chief Administrative Officer

Why Guelph:
**What we offer**

We offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits to meet the needs of our diverse employees. Many of our positions offer:

- Paid vacation days, increasing with years of service
- Paid personal days;
- Hybrid and flexible work arrangements;
- Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, including 100-per-cent employer matching;
- Extended health and dental benefits, including Health Care Spending Account;
- Employee and Family Assistance Program;
- Parental leave top up program;
- Learning and development opportunities including tuition assistance
- Employee recognition programs.

Position Overview:
The City is seeking a visionary and results-driven leader to serve as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO), Corporate Services. This executive role provides strategic leadership across key municipal functions, including Human Resources, Information Technology, City Clerk’s Office, Legal and Court Services, Internal Audit, and Strategic Communications and Community Engagement. This role also has executive oversight responsibilities for the City’s wholly owned subsidiaries: Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc. and Guelph Junction Railway.

**Key duties and responsibilities**
- ** Strategic Leadership**: Provide oversight for Corporate Services, ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment with Council direction.
- ** Council and Executive Team Partnership**: Build strong, trusting relationships with Council, the CAO, and senior leaders, offering strategic guidance on corporate initiatives, risks, and impacts.
- ** Employee Engagement and Development**: Lead with integrity, fostering a positive, high-performance culture through communication, coaching, and mentorship.
- ** Regulatory Compliance and Service Excellence**: Ensure all Corporate Services functions meet legislative requirements while driving continuous improvement and innovation.
- ** Policy and Operational Oversight**: Develop and assess corporate policies, management procedures, and work systems to enhance service delivery and accountability.
- ** Stakeholder Engagement**: Establish and maintain effective relationships with Council, staff, external agencies, businesses, and other levels of government.
- ** Financial Stewardship**: Manage and monitor complex departmental budgets, ensuring financial accountability and cost-effectiveness.

**Qualifications and requirements**

**Education and Experience**:

- Post-secondary degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Extensive senior leadership experience in municipal government or a similar public-sector environment.
- Completion of a master’s degree and/or professional designation related to Corporate Service function(s) is preferred.
- An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

**Leadership and Strategic Skills**:

- Demonstrated ability to build trust, drive innovation, and achieve results through action-oriented effective leadership.
- Excellent relationship-building skills with Council, government agencies, and community stakeholders with the ability to navigate complex political environments, providing sound policy advice and fostering positive intergovernmental relationships.
- Exceptional ability to communicate the City’s vision, policies, and strategic direction in a compelling and engaging manner.
- Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences through presentations and public speaking initiatives.
- Proven ability to manage change and lead large-scale transformation initiatives effectively.
- Excellent problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
- Proven track record in developing, coaching, and mentoring individuals at all levels within the organization, using a people-first approach.
- Demonstrated experience in fostering inclusive workplaces, enhancing service delivery, and leading equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives and strategies within municipal or public sector environments.

**Technical and Regulatory Knowledge**:

- Skilled in managing large budgets, optimizing resources, and implementing cost-effective financial strategies.
- Skilled in developing and implementing corporate policies, performance metrics, and operational strategies.

**Hours of work**
35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m and 4:30 p.m. This position is eligible for hybrid and flexible work arrangement options (as per current corporate policy).

**Pay/Salary**
Non-Union Grade 13: $208,528.32- $260,660.40

**How to apply