Dallas committee recommends SGR to conduct inspector-general search

The City of Dallas' ad hoc Administrative Affairs Committee on Jan. 20 voted to recommend Strategic Government Resources (SGR) to the full City Council to lead the search for a permanent inspector general.

The recommendation came after two vendor presentations and committee questions about experience, timing and cost. SGR proposed a national outreach and a typical 90-day search timeline; Michael Malinoff, SGR's proposed lead recruiter, described SGR's public-sector recruiting tools and said the firm would verify finalists' credentials and conduct background checks. SGR quoted a cooperative-contract price of $28,419 that includes up to $2,500 in ad placement; recruiter travel would be billed separately. SGR also offered a 12-month placement guarantee.

Midtown Group, the other finalist, pitched a faster initial resume delivery—promising a short list within 10 days of award—and a 22.5% contingent fee based on first-year salary. Midtown's director of SLED, Molly O'Reilly Pohl, said Midtown maintains a national pipeline and has recruiters located in Texas and Dallas. Midtown offered a six-month replacement guarantee and said its recruiters had already begun targeted searches on LinkedIn after being contacted by the city.

Committee members pressed both firms on two recurring issues: whether candidates can meet the city's charter requirement for the inspector-general position to be a practicing attorney (in good standing where required) and how many candidates the firms had already identified who hold both a JD and an inspector-general certification. SGR said it would verify candidates' bar status and credentials during finalist-stage vetting. Midtown acknowledged a narrower candidate pool for combined JD/IG credentials but said it had started outreach and found a pipeline.

Chair Middleton moved to recommend SGR; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. City Manager Dunsel Gibson told the committee staff will aim to place the recommendation on the Feb. 11 City Council agenda.

What's next: The committee's recommendation goes to the full council for approval. If council approves the cooperative-contract award, SGR would begin stakeholder interviews and develop the position profile and timeline; SGR cited a typical 90-day window from posting to finalists in town.

Quotes

"We have a 12-month placement guarantee," Michael Malinoff said about SGR's services. "We will verify finalists' credentials and conduct background investigations."

"We can provide a short list within 10 days of award," Molly O'Reilly Pohl said for Midtown Group, adding that Midtown had already started candidate outreach.

Ending

The Administrative Affairs Committee referred the hiring recommendation to full council; the City Manager's office said staff will target the Feb. 11 council agenda for consideration.