GovHR USA is pleased to announce the

recruitment and selection process for City

Manager for the City of Unalaska, Alaska.

This brochure provides background

information about the City of Unalaska and the

municipal organization, as well as the

challenges, opportunities and expected

qualifications for the position. If the idea of

becoming part of a dedicated team of

professionals serving and living in a community

with a thriving economy and quality of life like

no other interests you, submit a cover letter,

resume and contact information for five (5)

professional references to Stephen Veitch at

www.govhrusa.com/current-positions/recruitment.

Electronic submissions are required. Upon

submission applicants will be asked to

complete a City of Unalaska Employment

Application. The recruitment for this position

will remain open until the position is filled, with

the first review of resumes on November 15,

2017.

You may contact Stephen Veitch at (480) 216-

9203 or email any questions about this posi-

tion to SVeitch@GovHRUSA.com. Additional

information about the City of Unalaska can be

found on the City’s website: www.ci.unalaska.ak.us.

Thank you for your interest in this unique

opportunity!

GovHRUSA, LLC 630 Dundee Road, Suite 130 Northbrook, Illinois 60062 847-380-3240 Formal Applications should be submitted to: www.govhrusa.com/current-positions/recruitment

Stephen B. Veitch, Vice President

Executive Recruitment for

UNALASKA, ALASKA CITY MANAGER

Unalaska, Alaska

PROFESSIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Unalaska, Alaska (4,700) Unique, beautiful and dynamic

Unalaska is seeking a visionary and collaborative leader to

become its next City Manager. Located on an island of

the same name, situated in the Aleutian Chain 800 miles

southwest of Anchorage, Unalaska is the 12th largest city

in Alaska and the largest in the Aleutians. It is home to the

International Port of Dutch Harbor, which consistently ranks first or second in the nation for the size and value of

its seafood catch.

Unalaska’s 4,700 creative,

friendly, culturally

diverse and industrious

people enjoy excellent

schools, low crime and

no unemployment.

The City of Unalaska is a

professionally managed

and financially healthy

organization staffed by

166 talented, hardworking

and successful people.

It operates under the

Council/Manager form of

government. The City Council seeks candidates

for the City Manager

position who have vision

and resilience, and who will exhibit a collaborative and

welcoming approach with elected officials, residents,

community organizations, business and industry, and

employees.

The successful candidate will have the following

qualifications and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business

administration or related field. Graduate degree in

public administration or related field preferred.

• Ten (10) years progressively responsible experience

in council/manager municipal government, with five (5)

years at a management level. Experience as a city

manager, assistant city manager, or other executive

level position highly desirable. Rural community and

Alaska experience a plus.

• Strong experience in budgeting and financial planning,

utilities management, public works administration,

project management, community development and

economic development highly desirable.

• Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication and

team-building skills essential.

• Knowledge/experience in human resources and

employee relations, environmental protection, emergency planning and operations, maritime law and

marine operations desirable.

Starting salary $150,000 +/- DOQ/E. Attractive benefits

package including health insurance (medical, dental,

vision, audio) at no cost to employees and dependents,

and participation in the Alaska Public Employees’ Retire-

ment System (PERS). Alaska does not have a state

income tax.

Apply online with resume,

cover letter and contact

information for five (5)

professional references to

www.govhrusa.com/current-

positions/recruitment to the

attention of Stephen Veitch, Vice President,

GovHRUSA, 630 Dundee

Road, Suite 130,

Northbrook, IL 60062.

Tel: 847-380-3240. Upon

submission applicants

will be asked to

complete a City of

Unalaska Employment Application. The recruitment

for this position will remain

open until the position is filled, with the first review of

resumes on November 15, 2017.

COMMUNITY BACKGROUND

Unalaska is a dynamic and thriving community situated in

a breathtakingly beautiful setting in the Aleutian Islands off

mainland Alaska. Located 800 miles southwest of

Anchorage, and 50 miles from the Great Circle route,

Unalaska is the 12th largest city in Alaska, and the largest

the Aleutians. Unalaska is a vibrant mix of industry and

history connected by 27 miles of roads linking its port to its local businesses and residential community. Unalaska

occupies one of the busiest and most prosperous

stretches of coastline in Alaska. Its economy is based on

commercial fishing, seafood processing, fleet services and

marine transportation.

Unalaska sits in the heart of the healthy and robust North

Pacific/Bering Sea fisheries zone. It is home to the

International Port of Dutch Harbor, the only deep draft ice-free port from Unimak Pass west to Adak and north to

City Manager

the headwaters of the Bering Straits. The Port provides

year-round protection for disabled or distressed vessels as

well as ground and warehouse storage and transshipment

opportunities for the thousands of vessels that fish or

transit the waters surrounding the Aleutian Islands. The Port of Dutch Harbor consistently ranks first or second in

the nation in the quantity and value of the seafood catch

landed.

Unalaska is home to 4,700 creative, friendly, culturally

diverse and industrious people who enjoy excellent

schools, low crime, year-round outdoor activities, and no

unemployment. Although remote, Unalaska is most assuredly not isolated. Additional information concerning

Unalaska’s population, economy, education, health care,

climate, leisure activities, community organizations,

transportation and shipping, utilities, government, and

taxes, can be found in the Unalaska Community Profile at

www.ci.unalaska.ak.us/citymanager/page/community-profile .

UNALASKA AT A GLANCE

Population: 4,376 (2010 Census);

approximately 4,700 (current estimate)

Incorporated: March 3, 1942

Current City Budget: $78 million

Land Area: 212.68 sq. mi. (111.82 sq. mi. land; 100.88 sq. mi. water)

Households: 927 (2010)

Average Household Size: 2.46 (2010)

Average Family Size: 3.17 (2010)

Mean Annual Temperature: 40.9 °F

THE MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION

The City of Unalaska is designated as a first-class city and

is located within the Unorganized Borough. It operates

under the Council/Manager form of government. The

Mayor and six members of the City Council are elected at

large for three-year overlapping terms. The City Council is responsible for setting vision, establishing policy,

approving an annual budget and associated

appropriations, and appointing a professional City

Manager who advises the Council, implements policy and

oversees the operations of the local government.

The City Manager appoints all department directors and

works closely with elected officials and City staff to

develop a culture of high performance and excellence in

delivery of public services. In addition to the Offices of the

City Manager and City Clerk, City departments include:

Administration; Finance; Planning; Public Safety; Public

Works; Parks, Culture & Recreation; Public Utilities; and

Ports and Harbors.

Current authorized personnel strength is 166 FTE and the

total budget for FY2018, including proprietary funds, is

approximately $78 million.

CHALLENGES AND

OPPORTUNITIES

The next City Manager can expect to work closely with

elected officials, City staff, and other community

stakeholders on a wide variety of challenges and opportunities, including (not listed in order of importance):

• Team-building and strategic planning among elected

officials, City staff and other stakeholders.

• Maintaining and enhancing relationships among the

City, the Ounalashka Corporation, the Unalaska City

School District and the Qawalangin Tribe.

Unalaska, Alaska

• Developing and maintaining a sustainable City

long-range financial plan and budget.

• Overseeing the completion of major capital projects,

including the Unalaska Marine Center ports project.

• Partnering with all stakeholders to ensure availability

of sustainable healthcare facilities and services in the

community.

• Continuing constructive relationships with the fisheries

industry and promoting sustainability of open water fisheries.

• Community and economic development, including

diversification of the local economy and growing and

enhancing Unalaska’s housing stock.

• Maintaining effective relationships with State and

Federal governmental entities, and dealing with

challenges presented by intergovernmental revenue

issues.

• Addressing issues with the frequency and reliability of

air service to Unalaska/Dutch Harbor.

• Enhancing internet service access and speed.

• Development of alternative energy sources.

• Addressing environmental concerns including landfill

capacity, DOD remediation, bio matter disposal,

accumulation of industrial debris, and inshore water

quality and fish habitat.

• Electric, water and wastewater utility planning,

operations, expansion and upgrades.

• Capital maintenance of infrastructure and municipal

property.

• Addressing challenges in recruitment, retention of City

staff, as well as staff succession planning.

• Comprehensive review of municipal policies and

procedures.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATION

CRITERIA

The Unalaska City Council is seeking candidates with

high integrity, a welcoming and collaborative approach,

and an orientation toward results to serve as the City’s

next City Manager. The following education, experience,

leadership, management style and personal traits have

been identified as important attributes for candidates to possess and demonstrate.

Education, Experience,

Knowledge and Skills

• Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in public

administration, business administration or a related

field. A graduate degree in public administration or a related field is preferred.

• Candidates should have 10 years progressively

responsible experience in council/manager municipal

government, with at least 5 years at a management

level. Experience as a city manager, assistant city manager, or other executive level position is highly

desirable. Experience in a rural community is a plus,

as is experience in an Alaska municipality.

• Candidates must have proven experience in

creatively solving complex problems involving multiple stakeholders.

• Candidates must have strong interpersonal and team-

building skills, strong oral and written communication

skills, and strong public speaking and presentation

skills.

City Manager

• Candidates should have experience engaging in

strategic planning processes among diverse stakeholders in the community. Familiarity with

Indigenous Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations is

a plus.

• Candidates should have extensive experience in

municipal financial planning and budgeting, management of municipal utilities, municipal public

works administration, contracts and project

management, and economic and community

development.

• Candidates must have experience in municipal

human resources management, recruitment, retention

and development of staff, collective bargaining and

succession planning.

• Candidates must have experience in intergovernmental

relations at the State and Federal levels, including administration of grant agreements and grant funds.

• Candidates should have experience developing and

implementing policies, procedures and processes,

and a commitment to improvement in processes and

systems.

• Experience in a coastal community and familiarity

with marine operations and maritime law is desirable.

Management Style and

Personal Traits

The ideal candidate will:

• Be a person of humility who exhibits highest standards

for honesty and integrity.

• Be a person who welcomes diversity of opinion.

• Be a person who is energized by challenges and

brings a creative and results oriented approach to

solving problems; a person who thrives in a place

where there is real opportunity to make things happen.

• Be a person who leads with an open style, views

stakeholders as partners, and deals with all in a

professional, fair, straightforward, and responsive

manner.

• Be a critical thinker able to distill information with

clarity and who provides considered advice and a steady voice.

• Be a person who believes in and has a history of

organizational transparency and encouraging the

involvement and input of staff.

• Be a person who embraces cultural diversity and is

naturally collaborative, with a desire and ability to work

effectively with all stakeholders.

• Be a person who exhibits a calm, disciplined and

communicative demeanor.

• Have a management style that involves delegation of

responsibility and authority, accountability for

achievement of goals and objectives, while encouraging staff and helping them to be successful.

• Be a patient, resilient, and visionary leader with the

ability to focus on the “big picture”, anticipate problems

and opportunities, and understand current and past

practices without being constrained by them.

• Be a person who will appreciate the history of

Unalaska and the partnerships that exist in the

community, including in unique partnership with public

education and the essential role played by non-profit

organizations.

Unalaska, Alaska

• Be a good listener.

• Be a person who meets people “where they are” and

is committed to nurturing and developing talent in

others.

• Be a person who enjoys working in a family

atmosphere, in an organization that prizes teamwork

and whose members genuinely care for one another.

• Be a person who will be visible and involved in the

community and who recognizes the value and importance of “quality of life” resources and activities.

• Be someone who embraces the realities of island life

and is comfortable with the need to travel frequently

on behalf of the City.

• Have a sense of humor.

• Be someone who enjoys the outdoors and will relish

the opportunity to live and work in a truly amazing

place.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The starting salary for the City Manager is anticipated to

be approximately $150,000, dependent upon the qualifica-

tions and experience of the candidate selected. The City

of Unalaska offers an attractive benefits package, includ-

ing health insurance (medical, dental, vision, audio) at no

cost to employees and dependents, and an annual air

transportation allowance. The position participates in the Alaska Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS).

Alaska does not have a state income tax.

Photo Credit: Andrew Chiles

City Manager

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