Job DescriptionJob Description:Company Description Located in northwestern Alberta, on Treaty 8 Territory, the County of Grande Prairie is home to a mix of urban and rural vibrant communities and immense opportunities. Our foundation is the people who live and work here: friendly, innovative, creative, and welcoming. The natural resource-rich area serves as a home to a diverse economic base that includes forestry, energy, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing, as well as tourism, hospitality, and retail. It also offers a playground for locals and visitors, with an abundance of indoor and outdoor recreation and cultural activities to suit any age. Meet the County Council, find information on upcoming meetings learn more about its initiatives and plans, and stay up to date on the latest news. As laid out in the Strategic Plan we work to achieve the vision of The County of Grande Prairie No. 1. First in building sustainable, prosperous, and safe communities. Learn more about our history, and upcoming events, or read all about our services and amenities to appreciate why our residents give us top marks for quality of life. Vision, Mission, and Values The County of Grande Prairie has a long-term commitment to strategic planning guided by its Vision, Values, and Mission. Vision The County of Grande Prairie No. 1. First in building sustainable, prosperous and safe communities. Mission The County of Grande Prairie builds on its natural environment and the entrepreneurial spirit of its citizens to provide opportunities for all. Values The County of Grande Prairie Council commits to the following values and maintains high standards of ethical and professional conduct by beingTrustworthyTransparentRespectfulCollaborativeJob Description The Opportunity Reporting to the County Manager/CAO and as a member of the County's Senior Management Team, the General Manager, Corporate Services and Strategy plans, organizes, directs, controls and evaluates overall operations of the Corporate Services and Strategy area of the County and supports the County Manager in Council strategy and advocacy execution. The service area consists of Legislative Services, Communications and Marketing and Economic Development functions. As the General Manager of Corporate Services and Strategy, you will play a critical role in shaping the strategic direction of the service area and driving its growth and success. You will be responsible for overseeing a team of professionals, developing and implementing business strategies, and providing visionary and strategic leadership for the organization aligning with Council's strategic priorities. Council's key strategic themes for focus include:Effective Transportation Networks: Understand and measure efficiencies in the transportation network.Fiscal Management: Develop a sustainable financial framework to build safe and prosperous communities.Economic Development: Build vibrant, prosperous, and sustainable communities by facilitating connections with our partners and stakeholders to encourage economic and community development.Effective Land Use Management: Manage land effectively by balancing the need for growth while minimizing conflict through land-use planning.Community Wellness and Safety: Foster community wellness and safety by being collaborative partners in the development and delivery of programs and activities.Governance and Leadership: Innovative leadership with a strong commitment to customer service that best fits resident and business needs Key Roles and ResponsibilitiesSupport the County Manager in the Council Strategic Plan facilitation process by providing executive leadership on strategic and operational planning initiatives.Provide leadership and strategic direction in setting short and long-term goals for the organization and the Corporate Services and Strategy service area with Council and the County's Senior Management Team.Support the County Manager with advocacy initiatives as required and the advocacy contract if applicable. Support the County Manager in maintaining and negotiating the intermunicipal agreements, programs and initiatives and maintaining those agreements and related documentation.Work with directors, supervisors and staff to achieve objectives of the service area as well as work collaboratively to advance the County as established in the County's Strategic Plan.Collaborate with other department heads to drive cross-functional initiatives and execute business plans and strategies to achieve both departmental and County-wide objectives.Attend Council meetings and regularly report to Council on the activities of the Corporate Services and Strategy area.Support Corporate Services and Strategy directors and staff in establishing yearly budgets for their departments and in monitoring to ensure budget projections are met.Through the legislative services team, ensure compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements related to municipal meetings, census, elections and all legislative functions.Support the Communications and Marketing department in coordinating and providing internal and external communications and marketing services to the County.Support the Economic Development department in developing and supporting the County's strategic economic development and advocacy priorities.Represent the County in various meetings, negotiations and other official functionsMaintain knowledge and awareness of the operations of all service area functions/departments, facilitate two-way communication and provide professional support and recommendations to operational leaders.Foster a culture of excellence, teamwork, and continuous improvement within the service area.Participate in policy and procedure development for the service area and the County.Serve on committees as directed by the County Manager.Ensure compliance with the Municipal Government Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.Review, draft and maintain the County's bylaws.Qualifications The Person Education Requirements & Qualifications Education and Experience:Formal post-secondary education (degree) in a related field, for example, business administration, political science, economic development, communications and marketing, or lawRecognized professional designation in a related field preferredCLGM (Certified Local Government Manager), or similar accreditation is preferredMinimum ten years of public administration experience, five years in a senior leadership position, preferably in a field related to corporate strategy, advocacy, or economic development servicesWorking knowledge of Municipal Government ActExcellent leadership and team management skillsDemonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic plansAbility to work collaboratively in a cross-functional team environmentExceptional communication and interpersonal skills Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:Organizational Management: An understanding of the various departments within Corporate Services and Strategy and the County of Grande Prairie.Stakeholder Relationships: Ability to build strong personnel by establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees, supervisors, senior management, the Council, stakeholders, and the public.Politically Astute: knows and understands governance, legislative, and regulatory processes and has the ability to read the political implications of recommendations and action. Strategic Management: Effective senior management skills. Ability to strategize new projects and execute seamlessly to finish.Financial Acumen: Maintains and applies a broad understanding of financial management principles to ensure decisions are fiscally sound and responsible.Communication: Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.Digital Knowledge: Effective use of computers.Advocacy: Ability to provide support to Administration and Council in building solidified relations with provincial and federal governments to advance the County's strategic priorities.Government Compliance: Ensure all work-related information is kept confidential as per policy and in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Comply with records management practices as stated in the Records Management Policy. Core Competencies Leadership Skills - Leads by example and stands behind personal actions; takes informed risks in pursuit of continual improvement. Able to lead and manage operations and be effective and responsive in implementing strategies that address business requirements and align with the company's strategic plan. Inspires enthusiasm, creates positive employee engagement, models standards of professionalism, and ensures that direct reports deliver timely and exceptional results. Demonstrates utmost integrity in community advocacy and stakeholder relations. Resource and Financial Management Knowledge - Proven ability to work in a fiscal environment of growth with a significant number of financial transactions. Timely and efficient in all budgeting, financing, and information reporting. Politically Astute - Able to build new relationships, navigate existing relationships, and manage change with an awareness of stakeholder motivations and interests. Interpersonal Skills – An outgoing individual who works well with people from all disciplines and is sensitive and empathic to diverse needs with a proven ability to integrate teams. An ability to motivate and work with the community and stakeholders. Encourages inclusivity, with the ability to interact with various groups and people of all backgrounds. Coaching and Mentoring Skills - An exceptional leader who expects quality performance and can coach and develop people; identifies and mentors future leaders. Encourages personal and professional growth through challenging assignments and continuous improvement. Relationship Building Skills - Establishes and maintains positive, collaborative working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the County. Communication Skills - Solid, dynamic communicator with the ability to establish relationships. Articulate, uses language skillfully to influence others; communicates appropriately with diverse audiences and stakeholder groups; communicates effectively in multiple media; understands and considers others' motivations and feelings; attentive listener; empathic; receives information openly and fully, taking account of informal and unspoken or unwritten elements of communication. Stakeholder Relations - Understands and utilizes the power of developing and maintaining a network of relationships to achieve goals; contributes and shares information and insight for mutual (longer term) gains; uses networks effectively; builds strong partnerships internally and externally. Organization and Planning - Able to identify, evaluate, and develop actions needed to reach goals. Ability to recognize emerging issues through environmental scanning and objective rationale. Create, collaborate, and execute business and corporate initiatives on time and budget. Problem-Solving – A solutions-driven individual with the ability to manage conflict. Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem. Decision Making - Ability to assess situations objectively to determine the importance, urgency, and risks, and make clear, timely decisions in the best interests of the County. Recognizes priorities and changing approaches. Shows common sense and intuitive judgment abilities. Able to make effective operational decisions. Results Orientation - Is proactive and responsive. Holds self and others accountable for achieving results. Approaches responsibilities with a high degree of energy and passion and is committed to continuous improvement. Analytic Thinking - Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. Adaptability - Ability to adjust to changing environment, schedules, and priorities.Additional Information What We Offer: The County of Grande Prairie provides a competitive compensation package, including benefits and participation in the Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP). We actively support professional development opportunities and foster an engaging work environment. Work Schedule: This is a full-time, permanent, senior management position that entails a 35-hour work week, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, with an hour unpaid lunch break. From time to time operations require additional hours of work other than regular hours followed by office or other personnel due to nature of the position. This posting may be open until a suitable candidate is found, with the first review of the applications submitted by 4:30 pm on May 9, 2025. Annual Pay: $181,304 to $213,298 As part of the County of Grande Prairie's commitment to provide a safe and healthy workplace, we encourage and support a scent-free environment. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The County of Grande Prairie recognizes and values the principles of fair hiring practices. We are committed to a respectful and inclusive workplace and welcome applications from all qualified individuals. Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] and we will work with you to meet your needs.This posting may be used for future vacancies or to fill more than one positionThis posting may be open until a suitable candidate(s) is/are found. Please note that once your application is complete, you will receive a confirmation email. If we require any additional information we will contact you. Due to the volume of applications received we can only answer questions at the interview stage.