Council approves hiring GPS executive search firm and sets manager salary range

The Sydney City Council voted on Dec. 2 to engage the executive search firm GPS to assist with recruitment for the next city manager and endorsed the selection committee’s recommended salary range.

Jason Pedic, CEO of Sydney Regional Medical Center and a member of the city manager selection committee, told council the committee reviewed proposals and believes a professional recruitment firm will broaden the candidate pool. Pedic said the committee discussed a compensation range ‘‘from, I believe it was about a 105 to a 150’’ and later clarified a recommended starting figure of about 110. He described GPS’s proposed cost as roughly $22,500, with about $12,500 due upfront and an 18-month guarantee for replacement if a placement fails.

Pedic said a professional firm would assist with marketing the job, putting together the job description and widening the search beyond local candidates. Council members asked about typical timetables; Pedic said a timeline is possible but not guaranteed and depends on the market and firm workload.

A councilmember moved and the council approved engaging GPS and the committee’s recommended salary range; the motion carried. Staff will bring the formal engagement contract and related details for city signature and return with next steps.

Next steps: staff to finalize contract with GPS, manage the search timeline in coordination with the selection committee, and return to council with candidate-selection milestones.