Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 04-11-06 Workshop — reading text

search. The Commission recently approved a plan to allow Baenziger and Newmyer to whittle down the list to a final five. They and their spouses will be flown to Lake Worth for two of days and interviews. schmoozing Buta new Commission could change the plan if it wants to, and at least one Commission candidate questions the process. Former Commissioner Retha Lowe, who is running for the open District 1 seat, said the Commission should have a more active role. " I want to see all the applications, not just the top five," she said. Baenziger said most candidates want to know what the Commissioners are like. He said he tries to be honest yet positive. Politics in the town can be a little bit ugly," he said he tells job candidates. But the political candidates seem to vent at each other rather than at the manager." alex_ clifton@pbpost.com -- Copyright (c) 2003 Palm Beach Newspapers, Inc. CB& A Note: The Lake Worth City Commission, including Ms. Lowe, selected Paul Boyer, fonnerly City Manager of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to be its next City Manager on April 1, 2003 and he has been working in that capacity since late May, 2003. Both the City and Mr. Boyer remain excited to be working together as a team. 46-  CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH Proposal for Executive Search Services for the Position of FINANCE DIRECTOR March 27, 2006 Search Consultant: Tom D. Freijo, Ph.D. Senior Vice-President THE MERCER GROUP, INC. 44 4th Street S. W. Winter Haven, Florida 33880 863) 299- 3571 or 863) 289- 0665 Fax: ( 863) 299- 6737  I. INTRODUCTION It is our understanding that the City of Fort Walton Beach is seeking " turn-key" executive search services and support in connection with the recruitment of a Finance Director. Services required include position analysis and preparation of a position profile; recruitment for the position; inviting potential candidates to apply; reviewing and screening applications; conducting preliminary interviews and background checks of selected candidates; recommending a list of final candidates; coordinating final interviews; negotiating; and following up. II. OUR APPROACH The Search Consultant recommends a seven ( 7)- step search process as follows: 1. Position Analvsis The Search Consultant will have extensive consultation with the City and key staff to determine the City of Fort Walton Beach' s vision/mission, goals and objectives, needs and issues, requirements of the job, and to obtain information about the environment within which the position functions. Based on those meetings, the Search Consultant will prepare a draft position profile and review it with the City. The final position profile will include information about the City of Fort Walton Beach, the Finance Department, major issues to be faced, the position, and the selection criteria established. 2. Recruitment Process The Search Consultant will first review our database to determine those candidates whom the Search Consultant may already know and/or already have on file who may meet the City of Fort Walton Beach' s specifications. Although this process is valuable, the Search Consultant will rely most heavily on our own contacts in the field and on our own experi- ence. In other words, through " networking," the Search Consultant will conduct a nationwide professional search for the best qualified candidates and invite them to apply for the position. The Search Consultant will place ads in professional journals and/or websites to encourage applicants to apply. 3. Resume Review The Search Consultant will review and analyze each applicant' s background and experience against the position description criteria. The Search Consultant will acknowledge all resumes received and keep candidates informed of their status. 4. Candidate Screeninf! The Search Consultant will be responsible for screening the applications received. Through this process, the Search Consultant will identify those applicants whose background qualifications most closely match the criteria set forth by the City. 5. Selection of Semi- finalists Based upon a review of applicant materials and preliminary interviews, the Search Consultant will identify a set of candidates to recommend to the City for further consideration. In a work session with the Search Consultant, the City will review these candidates and identify a set of 6- 10 semi- finalists. 6. Backf!round Investif!ations The Search Consultant will personally interview each semi- finalist using various interview techniques. The Search Consultant will closely examine their experience, qualifications, and achievements in view of the selection criteria and our professional expertise in evaluating the quality of such qualifications and achievements. The Search Consultant also will request that all semi- finalists provide us, in writing, substantial information about their accomplishments and their management style and philosophy. 1  The Search Consultant will make detailed and extensive reference checks on semi- finalists. In conducting these, it is our practice to speak directly to individuals who are now or have previously been in a position to evaluate the candidates' job performance. The Search Consultant will also verify past employment difficulties, if any, including any legal action filed against former employers. As part of our evaluation process, the Search Consultant verifies undergraduate and graduate college degrees. The Search Consultant arranges for credit checks, criminal checks, and internet/newspaper checks. 7. Interview Process Based on the preceding steps, the Search Consultant will recommend to the City a series of candidates to be interviewed. These candidates will be interviewed by the City and other individuals or groups whom the City designates. To assist the City and others in familiarizing themselves with the candidates prior to the interviews, the Search Consultant will prepare a detailed written summary on each finalist. The Search Consultant will also provide the City with recommendations relative to timing, sequencing, location, setting, format, and conduct of interviews with candidates. The search consultant will also assist each group of interviewers in preparing the questions they will ask candidates. The Search Consultant will arrange schedules for finalist interviews with the City and will coordinate the process. The Search Consultant will notify by letter all unsuccessful candidates who are not recommended for interview with the City of the fmal decision reached. The Search Consultant will keep the City closely informed and involved in decisions concerning the search process at all times. III. SEARCH SCHEDULE The search process will be completed within 60- 75 days of notice to begin. IV. COST PROPOSAL Our professional fee for the services outlined is a flat fee of $20, 000 which will include an professional fees and expenses related to the search. The cost for final candidates to travel to interview with the City and others is not included. Such costs are typically paid by the client on a reimbursement basis, directly to the candidates. These costs are extremely difficult to estimate because they depend on where the candidates are located. Typically, out- of-state costs run about $750 to $ 1, 000 per person. The Search Consultant will bill for services when the City has made its selection. V. FIRM QUALIFICATIONS AND STAFFING The Mercer Group, Inc. is an independent management consulting firm incorporated in the State of Georgia and operating nationwide. The firm was founded by James L. Mercer, a long- term publicmanagement consultant. The corporate offices are in Atlanta, with regional offices in East Lansing, Phoenix, Raleigh, Santa Fe, Dallas, Washington, and Winter Haven, Florida. The Mercer Group, Inc. provides exceptionally high quality management consulting services to state and local governments, transit authorities, health care providers, utilities, special districts, and private sector clients. Specialty practice areas include: executive recruitment, organization and operations analysis, productivity improvement, strategic planning, management systems, 2 compensation/classification/policy studies, privatization, budget evaluation services, government consolidation and organization development, training, and general management consulting. The Mercer Group, Inc. has conducted more than 400 successful executive searches in recent years. Dr. Tom D. Freijo, Senior Vice President, is in charge of the Florida operations of the Mercer Group, Inc. and can be located at our Florida Regional Office in Winter Haven, as follows: Tom D. Freijo, Ph. D., Senior Vice President The Mercer Group, Inc. P. O. Box 9328 Winter Haven, Florida 33883 Telephone: ( 863) 299- 3571; FAX (863) 299- 6737; e- mail: Freijo@Mercerfl. com Dr. Freijo will personally conduct the search for the City of Fort Walton Beach' s Finance Director. He is available to begin immediately. Tom D. Freiio. Ph.D.. Senior Vice President - Winter Haven Office Dr. Freijo, a former full professor at the University of South Florida, has over thirty years of consulting experience with governmental agencies. His areas of special expertise include executive search, planning, group facilitation, executive selection and evaluation systems, job analysis, and assessment centers. He is a certified job analyst, Targeted Selection trainer and administrator, and assessment center trainer and administrator, with extensive experience in all of these areas. Dr. Freijo is Senior Vice President of the Mercer Group, Inc., and directs the Florida Regional Office. As a former elected City Commissioner, Dr. Freijo brings a strong understanding of policy issues to the executive search process. His years of experience with community development and management help bring focus to the special characteristics of a community and the type of executive who is most likely to advance a public agency' s goals. Dr. Freijo recently conducted searches for the Town Manager of Ponce Inlet, Florida; the County Manager of Lowndes County, Georgia; the City Manager of Alachua, Florida; the City Manager of St. Pete Beach, Florida; the City Manager of Daytona Beach, Florida; the General Manager of Sun ' n Lake Improvement District of Sebring, Florida; the Executive Director of the Escambia County ( Florida) Utilities Authority; the Human Resources Director of the City of Sarasota, Florida; the Director of Traffic Engineering for Polk County, Florida; the City Manager of Melbourne, Florida; the