BUSINESS MANAGER POSITION DESCRIPTION AND INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS September 2010
THE CRADLE COAST AUTHORITY The Cradle Coast Authority was created in 2000 by the nine local governments of North West Tasmania to provide leadership and coordination on issues affecting the region as a whole. The Cradle Coast region includes the municipal areas of Burnie City, Central Coast, Circular Head, Devonport City, Kentish, King Island, Latrobe, Waratah-Wynyard and West Coast Councils. The Authority is currently home to NW Tasmania’s regional tourism and natural resource management bodies, health promotion and arts development programs, and a growing range of regional-scale local government projects including planning and waste management reforms. The Authority has around 30 employees and an annual turnover of around $5 million, and operates under a skills-based Board appointed by representatives of its member councils. For more information on the Authority’s Strategy and current activities, visit www.cradlecoast.com.
THE POSITION Role The Business Manager will be responsible for management of the Authority’s financial, administration and internal management systems to meet corporate governance requirements set out in its own Rules, relevant legislation, and individual contracts funding agreements. Specific duties and functions include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Management of the Authority’s overall financial operations, including preparation and monitoring of budgets, financial reports and audit processes for projects and core operations as required by the Board, member Councils and partner organizations
2. Management of all office and support systems including customer service, lease and maintenance contracts for the Authority’s offices, vehicles, equipment, consumables and services and professional and IT services 3. Supervision, training and mentoring of existing Office Manager, Senior Administration Officer and part time Finance Officer positions, as well as contracted providers and shared positions 4. Management of the Authority’s policy and governance systems including human resource management, risk management, internal procedures, Audit committee, insurance and OH&S 5. Continuous improvement of business models for recovery of hosting costs of externally-funded projects while maximising the synergies and efficiencies of shared services and resources 6. Working as part of the senior management team with the Board to regularly review the Authority’s strategic roles and objectives and develop its capabilities to meet new challenges Reporting and liaison The Business Manager will:
report directly to the Executive Chairman, attend monthly Board meetings to present and take questions on monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports, and related developments attend quarterly meetings of representatives of the Authority’s member Councils, including the AGM, to present and take questions on financial reports, and related developments meet regularly with an audit committee of the Board to discuss and review the detailed financial information, processes and management decisions underpinning formal financial reports participate in weekly management meetings with other corporate services and program managers to coordinate financial, administrative and program delivery activities assist program and project managers with project budget development and scheduling processes, as well as the setting and application of recruitment, tendering and contracting procedures contribute to routine checking, recording and approval of project proposals, funding submissions, grant deeds and funding agreements, and incorporation in accounting system contribute to organisation-wide strategic planning and review processes
THE PERSON This is an important role in a diverse, dynamic and constantly evolving organisation. The successful applicant will need to manage a busy workload, other staff and a range of internal and external clients, ensuring the organisation’s finance and administration meets high professional standards. The Authority will acknowledge all applications for this position, and shortlist candidates for interview based on their statements responding to the following essential key selection criteria: 1. Relevant qualifications and professional certification 2. Management-level experience in comparable roles, included demonstrated capability to supervise and mentor staff and build working relationships with internal and external clients 3. Demonstrated knowledge of corporate, financial governance and reporting standards applicable to public corporations, not-for-profit organisations and recipients of public funds
4. Ability to work as part of a small, multidisciplinary management team, accountable to a Board
Candidates selected for interview will be further assessed on the basis of their responses to standard interview questions, as well as evidence of other personal and professional attributes relevant to successful operation in this role, including
Preparation for interview and understanding of the overall role of the Authority Professional presentation and approach to answering questions in the interview Ability to communicate complex information in a clear and confident manner Other skills or working knowledge directly relevant to this position
THE PACKAGE A competitive remuneration package will be negotiated with the preferred applicant. The total package offered will include salary and superannuation components, and salary packaging options. For indicative purposes at this stage of the recruitment process, the value of the total remuneration package (including superannuation) offered will broadly be in the range of $70 000 - $90 000, but the Authority reserves the right to make formal offers within or outside this range. The position is based on an initial three-year, performance-based contract, with a six-month probation period and annual review. Normal working arrangements are 37.5 hours per week. Overtime will not be paid but managers may work flexible hours to ensure appropriate life/work balance.
THE LOCATION This position is based at the Authority’s offices in Burnie, on Tasmania’s beautiful NW coast.
APPLICATION PROCESS Applicants are invited to submit A current, detailed resume, Statements addressing the essential selection criteria (no more than 1 page per criterion), and Further information or statements regarding suitability for the position (no more than 2 pages). Referee checks will be conducted with the applicant’s consent when the preferred applicant has been selected. Referee details may be provided with the application, or after selection is confirmed. Applications should be sent by email to Gillian Binet at gbinet@cradlecoast.com, clearly marked CONFIDENTIAL – BUSINESS MANAGER, by 5 pm Monday 4th October 2010. All applications will be acknowledged and further selection processes advised within two weeks of the closing date.
For further information regarding this position or the application process, please contact Gillian Binet on 03 6431 6285.
Approved September 2010
Roger Jaensch EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN