2021-12-16 Ordinary Meeting Agenda

ORDINARY MEETING AGENDA                                                      16 DECEMBER 2021


employment has been executed by all parties. In addition, as the proposed contract of employment
is considered confidential, the total value of the proposed remuneration package has not been
disclosed however the term of the proposed appointment is included.

REPORT

As a result of the retirement of Brett de Chastel the current CEO of Noosa Council effective from 2
November 2021, a comprehensive process was developed to recruit for this position.

The key elements of the recruitment process involved:
    Engaging a highly reputable executive recruitment agency to assist Council in the recruitment
     process;
    The involvement of all Councillors in the development of the success profile including the
     priorities for the new CEO;
    Engaging Mercer to undertake an independent remuneration review of the CEO position;
    Forming a Selection Panel (the Panel) comprising the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and two suitably
     experienced independent members to the assess and interview short listed candidates and
     recommend the preferred candidate;
    The Panel conducting behavioural interviews for the final shortlisted candidates;
    Psychometric testing undertaken for shortlisted candidates;
    Referee checks for the top preferred candidates;
    Meetings with all councillors to review and discuss shortlisted candidates, interview outcomes,
     the preferred candidate and remuneration package;
    A meeting with all councillors and the preferred candidate; and
    Pre-employment searches on the preferred candidate.

Recruitment Process

To facilitate a robust executive search strategy and recruitment process, a Request for Quotation
(RFQ) was conducted and overseen by an assessment panel comprising the Director Executive
Services and the People and Culture Manager. Six recruitment consultancy organisations were
invited to respond to the RFQ. From this process, Davidson Search and Advisory (Davidson) was
selected and engaged on 14 July 2021 to manage the executive search and assessment process to
secure a new CEO for Council.

A meeting facilitated by Davidson was held with all Councillors on 5 August 2021 to develop a
Success Profile for the new CEO position and to determine the priorities for the new CEO. A copy of
the Position Profile is provided at Attachment 1.

Advertising of the position commenced online on SEEK, the Davidson website and Linkedin on 18
August 2021 and closed on 8 September 2021. In addition to advertising, targeted search activities
were undertaken to ensure that the talent pool for the role was of a high calibre.

The sequence of applicant assessment processes conducted by Davidson to identify suitably
qualified and experienced candidates involved:
    87 applications were received of which 68 were male 19 were female.
    The assessment of all applications and the identification of 13 candidates whom the Consultant
     considered to be the most highly ranked against the selection criteria. The remaining 74
     candidates were assessed by the Consultant as not demonstrating the experience or skills
     required to meet the criteria for the role and the expectations of Council.
    Supporting the Panel to evaluate and determine the short-listed candidates to be interviewed
     by the Panel.



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