OPPORTUNITY PROFILE
Associate Commissioner, Community Services
THE ORGANIZATION STRATHCONA COUNTY
Set in the centre of Alberta’s energy and agricultural heartland, Strathcona County is a young,
successful and inviting community of more than 92,000 residents. Strathcona County is made up of
the urban area of Sherwood Park and a large adjacent rural area of farms, acreages and smaller
hamlets. With a focus on social, environmental and economic sustainability, Strathcona County is
committed to balancing the unique needs of its diverse community.
Although referred to as a County, the region is classified as a “specialized municipality” by the
Government of Alberta. This classification provides for the unique needs of a municipality that
includes both a large urban centre and a significant rural territory and population. As a specialized
municipality, Strathcona County consists of the urban area of Sherwood Park and an extensive rural
area of eight hamlets that includes Antler Lake, Ardrossan, Collingwood Cove, Half Moon Lake,
Hastings Lake, Josephburg, North Cooking Lake and South Cooking Lake.
A thriving industrial base that boasts 75 percent of all petrochemical refining activity in Western
Canada contributes to Strathcona County being recognized as a growing economic force in Alberta.
This economic foundation supports innovative programming and a high quality of services and
infrastructure for its citizens.
As a community, Strathcona County is fortunate to have a high percentage of well-educated social
and economic movers and shakers and independent risk takers, who demonstrate leadership and
innovation.
The County is home to many quality recreation facilities that offer swimming, skating, fitness and play
opportunities year-round. Multi-use trails link parks, playgrounds and community-gathering spaces
for everyone to enjoy. And nestled next to one of Canada’s premier national parks, spectacular
regional recreation areas, and provincial attractions makes Strathcona County an immensely
comfortable and enjoyable place to live.
With all that it has to offer, it is no wonder that in 2013 MoneySense Magazine rated Strathcona
County as the fourth best place to raise kids in Canada, and the fourth overall best place to live in
Canada. At $147,000 per year, Strathcona County residents were also reported by MoneySense to
have the third highest average household income in Canada.
Vision Statement
Strathcona County, located in the heart of Alberta, is an energetic and thriving community.
A leader in North America’s petroleum industry and a champion for advancing diverse agricultural
business, we use our energy to power our new tomorrow.
We are a specialized municipality, and work cooperatively with our urban and rural residents to
govern as a single municipality. Proud of our distinct governance model, we promote and
demonstrate our achievements.
We are a welcoming place to live and attract people of all ages, cultures and walks of life to join us.
Families thrive in our dynamic, caring and safe community.
We strive to be a model of ecological integrity, protecting our environment and preserving our
agricultural heritage. Investment in infrastructure, quality services, cultural and recreational
programs and facilities is a priority and sets us apart.
We are Canada’s most livable community.
To learn more, visit:
www.strathcona.ca
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THE OPPORTUNITY ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER, COMMUNITY SERVICES
Reports to:
Chief Commissioner
Position Summary
The Associate Commissioner, Community Services leads the Community Services division to
support Strathcona County’s Vision and Strategic Plan and its commitment to excellence in municipal
government and customer service. As a member of the Executive Team, this key senior leader
establishes strategic direction and alignment of the organization. The Associate Commissioner,
Community Services advises, influences and informs the Chief Commissioner and Council of the
operations, affairs, and direction of the division.
The Community Services Division includes Family and Community Services, Recreation, Parks and
Culture, Strathcona County Transit, Strathcona County Emergency Services and the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police and Enforcement Services (Organizational Chart). The Associate Commissioner
guides the departments in this division in a collaborative environment with respect to organizational
capacity and providing excellence in programs and services to support the organization in its
strategic and business plans.
Key Roles & Responsibiliti es
Provide senior leadership to the Division for the purpose of aligning services and programs
with the corporate Strategic Plan and Corporate Business Plan.
 Provide expertise, guidance and recommendations to the Chief Commissioner, Council,
Executive Team and organizational leaders in all aspects of strategic community services and
business planning including design, implementation and evaluation of policies, programs and
services.
 Provides leadership to the departments and programs in the Division to ensure alignment of
their operations with the overall goals of the Strategic Plan and Corporate Business Plan.
 Lead development and implementation of the Division’s business plans to ensure that the
Community Services programs align with Strathcona County’s strategic direction and
corporate business plans.
 Lead development and implementation of the Division’s budget to align with the corporate
business plan.
Provide excellence in personal leadership that establishes and maintains a highly engaged
and effective team across the Division and the County.
 Participate in and lead the development and implementation of strategies that that build
organizational capacity, provide excellence in customer service and optimize the well-being
and morale of the division and the organization (including talent management, leadership
development and succession planning, total compensation, performance planning, employee
communication and employee support programs).
 Mentor and encourage successors. Provide clear expectations, coaching and evaluation to
direct reports to advance performance.
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 Provide senior leadership in health and safety to ensure that organizational risks are
identified and addressed and that a culture of safety is maintained.
 Foster effective relationships with Council, Executive Team, Division staff, other County
departments and stakeholders.
 Identify and maintain awareness of emerging portfolio specific topics, issues and
opportunities that warrant consideration by the Departments, Division or the Corporation.
Proactively contribute analysis, recommendations and advocacy to address same.
 Ensure widespread consultation, collaboration, communication and partnerships with all
Departments to provide frameworks and policies which effectively meet the organization’s
needs.
 Represent the County and/or Division in various capacities for the purposes of ensuring the
County’s interests and relationships are maintained and enhanced.
 Participate in County’s senior leadership team to promote and implement the strategic
direction of the corporation.
Provide Effective Leadership in delivering the programs and services within the Division.
 Integrate and direct several major and diverse functions of the Community Services Division;
determine strategic priorities, program objectives and policy recommendations.
 Ensure the Division and respective departments deliver effective and efficient customer
services within its mandate for program delivery.
 Accomplish special project results by identifying and clarifying issues and priorities;
communicating and coordinating requirements and evaluating options for courses of action.
 Oversee the planning, implementation and evaluation of specific Community Services and
County initiatives.
 Oversee sensitive or high impact organizational issues.
 Provide leadership in developing the goals and required outcomes of collective bargaining,
ensuring that productive and positive relationships are maintained.
 Collaborate with stakeholders to identify, implement, maintain and update Community
Services systems to meet the County’s current and future business needs.
 Model, support and encourage a culture of a collaborative and healthy workplace, personal
accountability, team alignment, open communication and respect, recognition and continuous
improvement.
Ensure the effective operation of the Division.
 Guide, direct and integrate Community Services operations.
 Manage the Division’s financial resources in accordance with approved operating and capital
budgets and account for the fiscal costs, resources and revenues used in providing portfolio
programs and services.
 Establish appropriate organizational structures, roles, responsibilities, systems and processes
to support employees in the Division and County. Ensure a qualified workforce to provide
quality services.
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 Manage and/or oversee relationships with outside providers to ensure value for the County’s
investments.
 Identify and pursue strategies to obtain the resources needed to reach the goals set for the
Division.
 Establish mechanisms to measure, monitor and report performance outcomes in the delivery
of Community Services Division services (quality, financial, productivity, continuous
improvement, employee engagement).
 Oversee recruitment, orientation, performance management and professional development of
employees that are direct reports to help further the Division’s goals and objectives.
Key contacts
The Associate Commissioner, Community Services will establish and maintain effective and
productive relationships with the following:
 Executive Team
 Council and Council Committees
 Daily/weekly contact with Department Directors
 Local Boards and Community Groups
 External Agencies – Strathcona County Library, Heartland Housing Foundation, Information
and Volunteer Centre
 Capital Region Board and provincial authorities
Direct Reports
 Director, Family and Community Services
 Director, Recreation, Parks and Culture
 Director, Strathcona County Emergency Services
 Director, Strathcona County Transit
 Superintendent, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Enforcement Services
 Coordinator, Finance and Business Planning
 Manager, Municipal Support Services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Enforcement
Services
 Executive Assistant
THE PERSON
Education & Experi ence
 A related university degree is required. A related professional designation such as CLGM is
desired.
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 An extensive, positive and successful career track record of progressively more senior positions
in a municipal organization.
 Proven ability to provide leadership, focus and to adapt and integrate complex policy and
program initiatives.
 Requires experience in working effectively with elected officials, community volunteers, boards
and committees and public participation processes.
 Extensive experience in strategic planning, organization and team development.
 Significant exposure to implementing development plans, capital works and infrastructure
improvement programs.
Knowledge, Skills & Attributes
The ideal candidate will possess considerable breadth and in-depth knowledge of planning and
reporting processes, business planning and fiscal frameworks, and human resources best practices.
In addition, they will require in-depth knowledge of the Municipal Government Act and other
legislation applicable to municipal government.
Leadership Skills: collaborative, progressive and visionary. Develop and mentor others to be
leaders; create, support and lead by example to build a high-performance team and a positive work
environment. Is appreciative, engaging, understanding and knowledgeable of issues and concerns.
Identifies opportunities, inspires action and achieves results.
Strategic and Business Planning: provides leadership to all planning initiatives and ensures
accountability for achievement of results throughout the Community Services Division. Is able to
maintain focus on the strategic direction and long term vision while balancing the need to address
the immediate and emerging needs.
Service Excellence: ensures customer satisfaction through timely, proactive and knowledgeable
actions that go the “extra mile”, while effectively managing customer expectations in context of the
County’s priorities, policies and service delivery standards.
Build Relationships: effectively builds relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders. Flexible,
adaptable, collaborative and demonstrates a positive attitude. Diplomatic with well-developed
negotiation skills.
Communication: open, honest and tactful with all audiences. Demonstrates respect to all in a clear
and straightforward style.
Creativity and Innovation: the ability to utilize theory, principles and experience to develop new and
unique ways to identify root causes of organizational issues and find effective ways to address them.
Integrity and Trust: honest, sincere, dependable, authentic and trustworthy. High ethical standards
and an honest, open-minded and consistent approach to working with staff and stakeholders.
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Politically Astute: knows and understands legislative and regulatory processes and has an intuitive
ability to read the political implications of recommendations and actions. Guide and mentor Council
with solid and informed recommendations.
Management Skills: encourages and inspires new ideas and approaches. Ensures timely and
efficient budgeting, financial and information reporting. Uses resources effectively and efficiently;
sets clear expectations; ensures accountability through the performance management system.
Decision Making: assesses complex/sensitive situations to determine the importance, urgency and
risks and makes sometimes controversial or difficult decisions that are in the best interests of the
organization.
COMPENSATION
A competitive compensation package will be provided including an attractive base salary and
excellent benefits. Further details will be discussed further in a personal interview.
FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Elizabeth Hurley or Kathryn Cox
Davies Park
1505 Scotia 2
10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 3R8
Phone: 780-420-9900
Email: [email protected]
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