PECKHAM & McKENNEY Executive Search Services, City Administrator, City of Carmel-by-the-Sea: KEY ACTIONS OF THE SEARCH PROCESS & PROJECT SCHEDULE (14-week process)

ABSTRACT: At the 3 May 2011 City Council meeting, the City Council unanimously voted to adopt a Resolution authorizing an agreement with Peckham & McKenney for recruitment services for the next City Administrator. KEY ACTIONS OF THE SEARCH PROCESS and PROJECT SCHEDULE (14-week process) are presented, as reproduced and adapted for the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea from the City of Belmont’s Staff Report regarding a Professional Services Agreement with Peckham & McKenney for City Manager Executive Recruitment (February 2010). Briefly, the proposed project includes a series of three scheduled meetings with the City; "the first to develop the Candidate Profile, the second to recommend finalists, and the third to facilitate finalist interviews." The process, including city council selection and hiring of the new city administrator, is anticipated to be completed between August 12 - 26, 2011. Note: The Resolution included a time period extention to sixteen weeks or four months; the reproduced and adapted version, as follows, is based on the conventional 14-week period.

PECKHAM & McKENNEY
Executive Search Services

City Administrator
City of Carmel-by-the-Sea

KEY ACTIONS OF THE SEARCH PROCESS

• Project Organization – This phase provides for the development of a detailed Candidate Profile. We will meet individually with the Mayor and members of the City Council, as well as others you identify, to discuss the issues and challenges facing the City. The desired background and experience, leadership style and personality traits, skills and abilities will be discussed. We will also discuss expected parameters of the search, the search timeline, and schedule future meeting dates. Typically, we devote significant time to this phase of the recruitment in order to become fully knowledgeable of the organization and community. If desired by the council we will also meet with staff, the executive management team, Commission members, and residents. In addition, we ask for a tour of the community in order to more fully understand current and future projects as will as gain a stronger familiarity with the community.

• Recruitment – Our recruiting efforts will focus on direct and aggressive recruiting of individuals within the search parameters established during the Project Organization phase. We believe direct recruiting produces the most qualified candidates. We know how to identify the “hidden” candidates, including those passive candidates who may be resistant to considering an employment change. In addition, as attractive brochure will be prepared to market the organization and position to potential candidates. Advertisements will be placed in industry publications and websites, and our firm will assume responsibility for presenting your opportunity in an accurate and professional manner. All resumes received will be promptly acknowledged, and we will personally respond to all inquiries.

• Preliminary Interviews/Recommendation – As resumes are received, supplemental questionnaires will be sent to candidates who appear to meet the candidate profile. Following the filing deadline and a thorough review of the resumes and questionnaires received, we will conduct preliminary interviews with those individuals most closely matching the candidate profile. Preliminary reference checks will be conducted and a written recommendation of finalists will be personally presented to the Mayor and City Council. Once the City Council has selected finalists for further consideration, all candidates will be notified of their status.

• Final Interviews/Selection – During this phase, finalists will be interviewed by the City. We will provide both advice and facilitation assistance during the final interview process. Interview materials, including suggested interview questions, evaluation and ranking sheets will be provided for the City’s convenience.

• Qualification – Once the final candidate has been selected, our firm will verify, at your discretion, professional work experience, educational histories, criminal, civil, credit, motor vehicle records and second “tier” references. This comprehensive process ensures that only the most thoroughly screened candidate is hired. In addition, negotiation assistance will be provided.

• Follow-Up Meeting – The commitment we make to our clients continues after placing a successful candidate. Six months after our placement’s start date, we will schedule a follow-up meeting or call with the City Council in order to discuss the placement’s progress and the Council’s satisfaction.

PROJECT SCHEDULE (14-week process)

ACTIVITY & TIME FRAME
I. Project Organization (Two Weeks) (estimate May 9 –May 20, 2011)
• Kick-Off Meeting to discuss Candidate Profile and formalize project schedule

• Finalize Candidate Profile with City of Carmel-by-the-Sea

• Develop advertising and recruiting plan

• Prepare marketing brochure

II. Recruitment (Six Weeks) (estimate May 23 – July 1, 2011)
• Identify/recruit individuals within the parameters of the Candidate Profile

• Advertise, network, and electronically post in appropriate venues

• Respond to all inquiries and acknowledge all resumes received

III. Preliminary Interviews/Recommendation (Three Weeks) (estimate July 5 –July 22, 2011)
• Review candidates’ resumes and supplemental questionnaires

• Conduct preliminary interviews with leading candidates

• Conduct first-tier reference checks

• Present written recommendation of finalists to Mayor and City Council

• Notify all candidates of search status

IV. Final Interviews/Selection (Two Weeks) (estimate July 25 – August 5, 2011)
• Design process and facilitate finalist interviews with City

• Mayor and City Council selects candidate

V. Qualification (One Week) (estimate August 8 – August 12, 2011)
• Conduct background checks and second “tier” references

• City conducts site visit to community of selected candidate

• Negotiation assistance

• Follow-up with City Council and candidate six months after placement.

ADDENDUM:
NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 2, 2010

CONTACT: Cora Dino – (650) 637-2988

City Council Seeks Community Input on City Manager Recruitment
Belmont, CA

"All are welcome and those who are unable to attend the forum but wish to provide feedback can do so by contacting Ms. Peckham via email at bobbi@peckhamandmckenney.com or (916)-391-2233."