Chief Administrative Officer
Chief Administrative Officer
Municipality of the District of Guysborough
The Municipality of the District of Guysborough, located on the scenic Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, is a large rural municipality known for its stunning 400kms of coastline, abundant natural resources, and strong sense of community. With a population of just over 4,500 spread across numerous communities, the Municipality offers a blend of coastal living, outdoor recreation, and economic opportunity. Residents and visitors enjoy activities such as boating, fishing, hiking, and exploring the region’s rich cultural and historical heritage. The community is proud of its natural ecosystems and habitats, wetlands, parks, trails and open spaces, air quality, wildlife, and beaches. The Municipality also benefits from strategic investments in energy projects, mining, fisheries, and tourism, positioning it as a forward-looking municipality that balances growth with environmental stewardship. In 2018, in an effort to attract people to the area, the Municipality (MODG) opened a newly constructed Chedabucto Lifestyle Complex – a large, multi-purpose facility that includes an outdoor rink, an artificial turf field, a four-lane running track, and a new community recreation centre. Additionally, the Canso and Area Arena is currently undergoing renovations to house a full fitness centre alongside the existing ice surface and outdoor pool.
The mission statement of the Municipality’s Strategic Plan (2023-2028) emphasizes sustainability, community well-being, and economic development, ensuring a strong foundation for future generations. Like many Atlantic Canadian municipalities, MODG faces a declining and aging population and youth out-migration, in search of education and employment. However, the Municipality has built significant strengths, particularly through a diversified revenue model that supports services and infrastructure beyond what taxes alone could provide. Preserving and adapting this revenue base while honouring the different perspectives across a large, diverse municipality, provides the next Chief Administrative Officer with an exciting and challenging opportunity.
Responsibilities
Reporting to Council, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) provides strategic leadership and oversight for all municipal operations, ensuring alignment with Council’s policies and priorities, and compliance with applicable legislation. The CAO bridges the legislative responsibilities of elected officials with the administrative functions of the organization, ensuring effective governance and high-quality service delivery.
As the most senior administrative leader, the CAO leads a highly qualified and experienced team of staff and management, with multiple leaders possessing over two decades of service to the municipality. This depth of expertise allows the CAO to focus less on day-to-day operational matters and more on advancing larger, strategic initiatives. Of particular importance will be cultivating partnerships with external industry partners and negotiating large-scale deals that drive long-term growth and investment in the municipality.
The CAO will make decisions that impact and represent the entire Municipality, which spans over 2,100 square kilometers. A key element of this role is the commitment to actively engage with the diverse communities across the region—investing time to listen, learn, and understand the unique perspectives, priorities, and challenges of residents. This effort is essential to ensure that decisions are well-informed, inclusive, and reflective of the varied needs and aspirations of the Municipality as a whole
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate for Chief Administrative Officer position is a seasoned and visionary leader with a strong understanding of municipal governance and people leadership. As the ideal candidate, you possess the ability to think strategically outside of the day-to-day operations, and partner with community and industry alike to lead the municipality towards its longer-term goals. You bring a proven track record of guiding teams and developing people, while providing the most experienced team members with the space and autonomy they need to be successful.
As the ideal candidate, you build collaborative relationships across sectors and demonstrate strong political acuity and a commitment to public service. You demonstrate the ability to navigate the intersection of policy, operations, and high-level strategy, offering sound advice and clear direction to elected officials. You are skilled in cultivating partnerships, negotiating major initiatives, and driving sustainable growth. A genuine interest in community engagement is essential, as is the willingness to invest time in understanding the diverse needs and perspectives of residents across the Municipality’s expansive geography.
An undergraduate degree paired with a professional designation (accounting, legal, engineering, public administration, finance, etc.) would be considered an asset to the position. The ideal CAO leads with integrity, inspires high-performing teams, and champions continuous improvement to enhance service delivery and quality of life for all.
If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Mark Gillis, Partner, at mgillis@kbrs.ca
The principles of equal opportunity employment will be upheld throughout this process. KBRS will also provide support in the recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation in order to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact accommodate@kbrs.ca or communicate your needs to the recruitment professionals named within this advertisement.
Municipality of the District of Guysborough
The Municipality of the District of Guysborough, located on the scenic Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, is a large rural municipality known for its stunning 400kms of coastline, abundant natural resources, and strong sense of community. With a population of just over 4,500 spread across numerous communities, the Municipality offers a blend of coastal living, outdoor recreation, and economic opportunity. Residents and visitors enjoy activities such as boating, fishing, hiking, and exploring the region’s rich cultural and historical heritage. The community is proud of its natural ecosystems and habitats, wetlands, parks, trails and open spaces, air quality, wildlife, and beaches. The Municipality also benefits from strategic investments in energy projects, mining, fisheries, and tourism, positioning it as a forward-looking municipality that balances growth with environmental stewardship. In 2018, in an effort to attract people to the area, the Municipality (MODG) opened a newly constructed Chedabucto Lifestyle Complex – a large, multi-purpose facility that includes an outdoor rink, an artificial turf field, a four-lane running track, and a new community recreation centre. Additionally, the Canso and Area Arena is currently undergoing renovations to house a full fitness centre alongside the existing ice surface and outdoor pool.
The mission statement of the Municipality’s Strategic Plan (2023-2028) emphasizes sustainability, community well-being, and economic development, ensuring a strong foundation for future generations. Like many Atlantic Canadian municipalities, MODG faces a declining and aging population and youth out-migration, in search of education and employment. However, the Municipality has built significant strengths, particularly through a diversified revenue model that supports services and infrastructure beyond what taxes alone could provide. Preserving and adapting this revenue base while honouring the different perspectives across a large, diverse municipality, provides the next Chief Administrative Officer with an exciting and challenging opportunity.
Responsibilities
Reporting to Council, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) provides strategic leadership and oversight for all municipal operations, ensuring alignment with Council’s policies and priorities, and compliance with applicable legislation. The CAO bridges the legislative responsibilities of elected officials with the administrative functions of the organization, ensuring effective governance and high-quality service delivery.
As the most senior administrative leader, the CAO leads a highly qualified and experienced team of staff and management, with multiple leaders possessing over two decades of service to the municipality. This depth of expertise allows the CAO to focus less on day-to-day operational matters and more on advancing larger, strategic initiatives. Of particular importance will be cultivating partnerships with external industry partners and negotiating large-scale deals that drive long-term growth and investment in the municipality.
The CAO will make decisions that impact and represent the entire Municipality, which spans over 2,100 square kilometers. A key element of this role is the commitment to actively engage with the diverse communities across the region—investing time to listen, learn, and understand the unique perspectives, priorities, and challenges of residents. This effort is essential to ensure that decisions are well-informed, inclusive, and reflective of the varied needs and aspirations of the Municipality as a whole
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate for Chief Administrative Officer position is a seasoned and visionary leader with a strong understanding of municipal governance and people leadership. As the ideal candidate, you possess the ability to think strategically outside of the day-to-day operations, and partner with community and industry alike to lead the municipality towards its longer-term goals. You bring a proven track record of guiding teams and developing people, while providing the most experienced team members with the space and autonomy they need to be successful.
As the ideal candidate, you build collaborative relationships across sectors and demonstrate strong political acuity and a commitment to public service. You demonstrate the ability to navigate the intersection of policy, operations, and high-level strategy, offering sound advice and clear direction to elected officials. You are skilled in cultivating partnerships, negotiating major initiatives, and driving sustainable growth. A genuine interest in community engagement is essential, as is the willingness to invest time in understanding the diverse needs and perspectives of residents across the Municipality’s expansive geography.
An undergraduate degree paired with a professional designation (accounting, legal, engineering, public administration, finance, etc.) would be considered an asset to the position. The ideal CAO leads with integrity, inspires high-performing teams, and champions continuous improvement to enhance service delivery and quality of life for all.
If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Mark Gillis, Partner, at mgillis@kbrs.ca
The principles of equal opportunity employment will be upheld throughout this process. KBRS will also provide support in the recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation in order to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact accommodate@kbrs.ca or communicate your needs to the recruitment professionals named within this advertisement.