The Village of Belcarra is seeking applications for the position of Chief Administrative Officer to provide leadership to a small, dedicated municipal services team serving the needs of Belcarra Council and its engaged citizens.

THE PLACE
The Village of Belcarra is located on the scenic Indian Arm fjord within Metro Vancouver, a short 10 minute drive to Port Moody where there are numerous commercial and transit services including West Coast Express and soon to be completed Evergreen SkyTrain extension — a 45 minute drive from downtown Vancouver. The Village has 700 residents and is surrounded by Belcarra Regional Park, Sasamat Lake / Whitepine Beach, and Indian Arm Provincial Park. It is a jewel of Metro Vancouver offering a unique spectacular natural setting in a larger urban context. The Village is entirely residential with its municipal office, community hall and public works yard as the centrepiece of municipal government and gathering place for Village residents. Surrounding Belcarra Regional Park provides ready access to popular walking, hiking and biking trails, and water activities at both a sea water beach and a freshwater lake.

The Village operates on a $1.0 million annual budget, and its 300 single-family homes have the 2nd-highest average property values within Metro Vancouver. The CAO provides leadership to two full-time administration staff, and two full-time public works staff reporting through a Superintendent of Public Works. The CAO is assisted by an established group of consultants that provide professional support in finance, engineering, planning, information technology and legal services.

THE POSITION
The CAO in the Village of Belcarra is the critical connection between Belcarra Council, municipal operations, and its citizens. Since its inception in 1979, Belcarra has had successive Councils which have been distinguished by dedicated, knowledgeable and talented councillors and mayors who believe their mission is to serve this unique village and its citizens – and leave it in a better position for successive generations. The success of our Village will be directly connected to the skill and leadership of our next CAO. The CAO position will be of interest to a candidate who has a breadth of knowledge rivalling a renaissance person and an ability to roll-up-their-sleeves and be able to connect with residents and Council who describe this Village as not the place they live but the place they call home. A candidate must be able to connect, establish and nurture trusting relationships with the variety of individuals who make-up this Village since community input and volunteer effort are essential to providing desired services and amenities, and positive outcomes. Budget resources and the regulatory realities for all B.C. municipalities translate into a requirement for the Belcarra CAO to both meet the regulatory requirements and also have the creative problem-solving abilities to facilitate it happening in an efficient and transparent manner.

The desire of the current Council is to ensure that the Village remains sustainable while providing open, responsive government that involves its citizens, not as an obligation but in the belief that broader meaningful consultation produces better outcomes for all. The CAO will bring experience, knowledge, and an ability to manage people and projects. An ability to facilitate and communicate will help to ensure that everyone can contribute to outcomes that will enable a sustainable and environmentally responsible Village. The success of the CAO will be measured by the daily ability to serve Council, citizens, staff and our internal and external partners.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Under the direction of Mayor and Council, the CAO is responsible for, but not limited to, the following duties:

Providing knowledgeable and strategic advice to Council so they are able to make informed decisions;
Providing advice for Council that examines and identifies short-term, mid-term and long-term issues enabling Council to problem solve and produce pragmatic solutions;
Providing direction and effective leadership for all municipal operations and employees;
Developing and implementing policies and programs as directed by Council;
Assisting Council in the creation and implementation of the goals and objectives of the Village’s planning initiatives;
Holding the statutory position of ‘Approving Officer’, and providing overall leadership for the planning and administration of the Village.

The ideal candidate will have:
At least three years’ experience in a smaller Canadian municipality as a CAO, Corporate Officer, senior manager, or equivalent experience in a position leading a complex public organization;
A post-secondary degree/diploma in a related discipline and/or completion of the LGA Certificate Program would be an asset;
Willingness to engage and complete levels of the LGA Certification Program;
An understanding of the Community Charter, Local Government Act, and the role of local government;
Sound knowledge of municipal finance, infrastructure and community development;
Experience with contracts including negotiations, drafting and reviewing of RFPs, FOIPPA, planning, and infrastructure;
Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate and engage with key stakeholder groups including Council, staff, residents and surrounding municipalities;
Strong written and verbal skills, for a variety of audiences including municipal staff, MPs and MLAs;
Experience liaising and negotiating with stakeholders including local MPs, MLAs, provincial and federal ministries and utilities;
Soft skills focused on interpersonal communication and a proven ability to manage and complete a number of files, attention to detail, empathy, and a cooperative attitude toward the widely varying needs of stakeholders.