Gateway Junction Gas jobs

Position: Director of Corporate Services

Location: Town of Hinton (or area)

About the Town of Hinton

The Town of Hinton is a growing community of 10,000 residents set in the foothills of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, on the south bank of the Athabasca River at the junction of the Yellowhead (Highway 16) and Highway 40. Known as the “Gateway to the Rockies,” Hinton sits just 15 minutes east of the Jasper National Park gates and about 300 km west of Edmonton, and serves as an important commercial, service and supply centre for the surrounding region of west-central Alberta.

The Municipality is Governed by an elected Mayor and 6 Councillors. The Town delivers a full range of municipal services including water and wastewater, roads and transportation, public transit, planning and development, parks and trails, recreation, Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), bylaw enforcement and emergency management.

Hinton’s natural setting is central to its exceptional quality of life. The Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre houses the community’s aquatic centre and ice arenas, and its modernization is a current Council priority.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the Director of Corporate Services is a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and is responsible for the overall strategic planning, leadership and management of the Corporate Services Department, which includes finance, accounting, and taxation and assessment. The Director brings a collaborative service-oriented approach to implementing Council’s direction and working with the CAO, staff, public, municipal colleagues, agencies and community partners. The Director leads the Town’s financial planning and stewardship, coordinating the annual operating and capital budgets, long-term financial plans, taxation and assessment, reserves, investments and grant funding, and oversees the Accounting Manager and team responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable, taxation and assessment, utility billing and tangible capital assets. The Director is the designated signatory on Town agreements and may act as CAO in the CAO’s absence.

This is a timely opportunity to join the Town as Council advances priorities that include Recreation Centre modernization, housing, community resilience, sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure, and emergency preparedness.

About the Ideal Candidate

You are a seasoned financial leader and trusted advisor who brings rigour, integrity, and a steady hand to municipal finance. You are as comfortable building a multi-year capital plan or setting mill rates as you are presenting to Council or coaching a team in a unionized workplace. You navigate politically sensitive, time-critical issues with sound judgment and balance competing interests with diplomacy. You build strong relationships with staff, peers, Council and the community, and you are always looking for better ways for the Town to do business. Most of all, you believe sound financial stewardship is a public service, and that clear, transparent advice helps Council and the community make confident decisions.

Primary Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Integration

• Is a member of the Senior Leadership Team, participating in organization-wide planning and decision-making, and may perform Acting CAO duties in the CAO’s absence.
• Plans, organizes, directs, controls and evaluates all services delivered within the Corporate Services Department, providing visionary leadership that is consultative and responsive.
• Tracks trends and anticipate issues affecting the community and services to other departments; leads complex initiatives and is accountable for risk, service delivery, organizational effectiveness and the execution of several major projects.
• Liaises with provincial and municipal governments and other major service providers to promote coordination, cooperation and efficiency, and acts as staff liaison to appropriate community groups.
• Serves as the designated signer on Town agreements and champions continuous improvement.

Financial Management & Planning

• Coordinates the municipal budget process; compiles, prepares and, in discussion with the SLT, recommends the Town’s operating and capital budgets, multi-year plans and associated tax rates, collaborating with the CAO on final presentation to Council.
• Leads the municipal taxation and property assessment process, ensuring mill rates are set so the Town receives the tax funding it requires.
• Manages Town revenues, reserves, investments, debentures, banking and cash flow projections, and advises the CAO and Council on reserve strategy to plan for future capital requirements.
• Plans and oversee overall financial management, including budgeting, inventory control and reporting, accounting, insurance and treasury support, ensuring timely and effective financial reporting.
• Prepares year-end working papers and audited financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and promotes transparency by coordinating major tendering and purchasing processes with auditors and staff.
• Secures and accounts for additional funding such as grants, donations and proceeds from the sale of services, and monitors, manages and reports on Canada Community-Building Fund (gas tax) and provincial capital funding, including the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) and its successor, the Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF).

Accounting, Taxation & Assessment, and Utility Billing

• Oversee the Accounting Manager, who manages accounts payable, accounts receivable, taxation and assessment, and utility billing.
• Ensures the fixed asset ledger is current and maintained according to legislated Tangible Capital Assets (TCA) requirements.
• Prepares draft annual financial statements and oversees the information provided for audit purposes.
• Develops financial policy, controls and systems, and manages short- and long-term investments, borrowing and reserves.
• Manage grant applications, accounting and reporting, as well as the risk management and insurance functions.

Policy Development & Administration

• Develop administrative policies, procedures, bylaws and short- and long-term plans in accordance with relevant legislation and the Town’s Strategic Plan and Business Plan.
• Interprets bylaws, Acts and related statutory documents, and responds to requests for information from the public.
• Write reports, proposals and resolution recommendations in support of policies, programs, budgets and departmental operations.
• Ensures departmental compliance with policies, procedures, standards, regulations and legislation, monitoring legislative changes to maintain organizational compliance.
• Oversee the municipal and tenant uses of the Government Centre building.

Chief Administrative Officer Support

• Serves as the CAO’s trusted advisor on the Town’s financial position, budget performance, taxation, reserves, debt and long-term financial sustainability, providing timely, objective and professionally sound advice.
• Supports the CAO in fulfilling the budgeting responsibilities set out in the Town’s CAO Bylaw, including overseeing preparation of the annual operating and capital budgets, monitoring and reporting on approved budgets throughout the year, and preparing the year-end financial report on all Town financial activities.
• Helps the CAO ensure effective financial and administrative systems and controls are in place, and that expenditures remain within approved budgets and comply with Town policy, including the Procurement Policy and procedures for unbudgeted and emergency expenditures.
• Prepares Requests for Decision, reports, policies, long-term plans and resolution recommendations for the CAO, presenting complete background, options and implications so Council can make well-informed decisions.
• Keeps the CAO informed of emerging financial, operational and political issues, risks and community concerns, so that Council can be advised promptly and fully.
• Serves as the Corporate Services Director Designated Officer under the Town’s Appointment of Designated Officers Bylaw, exercising delegated powers, duties and functions under the Municipal Government Act under the supervision of, and accountable to, the CAO.
• Supports the CAO in negotiating and executing contracts, agreements and transactions as a designated signer, identifying any budgetary impacts that require a report and Council approval.
• Acts as CAO when appointed during the CAO’s absence, carrying the full duties, powers and functions of the role to ensure continuity of administration and Council support.
• Leads special projects and undertakes other duties assigned by the CAO.

Council Support

• Develops and monitors departmental goals and objectives that support Council’s Strategic Plan.
• Attends Council meetings, public hearings and regional governance meetings as a resource and representative of the Town.
• Advises Council and the CAO on departmental matters, working collaboratively with the CAO, Directors, managers and teams in alignment with Council direction, municipal legislation and governance requirements.

People Leadership

• Leads, supervises and develops all departmental staff, including annual performance evaluations, coaching and mentoring supervisors and staff, and identifying training and professional development opportunities.
• Determines staffing needs and, in cooperation with the Human Resources Manager, plans for succession.
• Communicates organizational and departmental direction, values, standards, policies and procedures, and meets with staff regularly.
• Manages performance in alignment with the Town’s performance management and progressive discipline policies, and maintains a professional relationship with the Union, addressing grievances as applicable.

Safety, Risk & Emergency Management

• Ensures appropriate safety and risk management policies and procedures are in place and followed, and that insurance and regulatory requirements are met.
• Maintains an effective departmental safety program that adheres to WCB and Occupational Health and Safety requirements, and ensures staff are appropriately screened and trained.
• Promotes good risk management practices with community partners and customer groups, and a health and safety mindset across the organization.
• Participates in mandatory emergency management training and exercises and fills an assigned role when the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) is activated.

Qualifications

• A post-secondary degree, diploma or certificate in Business Administration, Commerce, Public Administration or a related discipline; a combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation is preferred.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of supervisory experience in progressively responsible positions, including supervising and managing a diverse portfolio of services preferably within a municipality.
• Experience in financial planning and budget preparation, property tax and assessment, cash flow, investment and general ledger accounting, with a high level of expertise in budget preparation and planning.
• Experience in a municipal administration setting and knowledge of municipal finance and legislation are preferred.
• Completion of, or progress toward, the National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration (NACLAA) Level I and II, or equivalent, is preferred.
• Advanced proficiency with computers and systems, database management and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrated ability to support, coach and develop staff in a fully participative, unionized workplace, and to influence and collaborate as a member of the management team.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly to diverse audiences, including Council.
• Sound judgment, a high degree of personal initiative and integrity, and the ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

Conditions of Employment

• Valid First Aid and CPR certificate (if not current, training will be supported).
• Satisfactory background screening, including Criminal Record Check and Credit Inquiry.
• Bondable.
• Class 5 driver’s licence with a satisfactory driver’s abstract.

Compensation

The salary range is approx. $142,000.00 to $172,500.00 per annum based on a 35-hour work week and commensurate upon relevant experience.

Benefits

• Local Authorities Pension plan (LAPP).
• APEX.
• Extended health, vision and dental coverage, life insurance, weekly indemnity and long-term disability.
• Paid vacation, floater days, wellness days and sick leave.
• Active Living Allowance, Employee and Family Assistance Program, and virtual care through Teladoc Health.
• Tuition support, conferences and seminars, an e-learning platform, and leadership development and coaching.
• Cost-of-living adjustments, long-term service awards, free parking and a welcoming team culture with social events.
• Work-life balance in a mountain community surrounded by world-class outdoor recreation.

NOTE: Only applicants that satisfy the experience and qualifications outlined herein will be contacted for further review.

Work Location: In person