Post on 29-Jun-2020
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
Un
ala
sk
a, A
lask
a
Org
an
izatio
na
l C
ha
rt