CITY OF FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS DIRECTOR OF SANITATION EXECUTIVE SEARCH PROVIDED BY STRATEGIC GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
THE COMMUNITY Located on the Arkansas River at the Arkansas- Oklahoma border, scenic Fort Smith is where the New South meets the Old West. Covering just over 65 square miles, the City sits at the crossroads of Interstates 40 and 49 and US Highways 64 and 71 in Sebastian County. Fort Smith is the second largest city in the state and has a population of just over 88,000. This thriving community is a hub for commerce and boasts a diverse economy, a rich history, and a promising future. The U.S. Army established Fort Smith as a military outpost in 1817. The City was incorporated on December 24, 1842 and still has an active military presence with the Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center operated by the Arkansas National Guard and the 188th Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard. Steeped in Old West lore from books and films like True Grit to famous and infamous real-life characters like Belle Starr, Judge Isaac C. Parker, U.S. Deputy Marshall Bass Reeves, and the founder of the U.S. Army Rangers, General William O. Darby Fort Smith honors its colorful past while embracing development opportunities that will both preserve the uniqueness of the community and ensure its future growth. Forbes Magazine has named Fort Smith the number one city in America for cost of living and also highlighted the City for having the highestpaying tech jobs in the nation. The City is a regional economic center for a seven-county area in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. The economy is diversified with numerous manufacturers, two major hospitals, many retail and entertainment centers, transportation companies, and corporate service/call centers. Fort Smith is headquarters for major national corporations including ArcBest Corporation (ABF Trucking), Baldor Electric (electric motors), and Rheem (heating, cooling, and water heating product manufacturing). The area offers a variety of unique cultural and recreational attractions for residents and visitors. Fort Smith is home to Arkansas s oldest symphony orchestra and the state s oldest continuously operating volunteer little theater. Other attractions include the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, the Museum of History, and the Western Arkansas Ballet. The City has completed a $10.9 million aquatics center, accomplished jointly with Sebastian County, and constructed ten new softball fields for tournament and league play. 2
THE COMMUNITY CONTINUED From parks and walking trails to the Parrot Island Water Park and the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, the City offers outdoor activities for all ages. Fort Smith is also a gateway city for the beautiful Talimena Scenic Byway, which winds 54 miles along the crest of Rich Mountain and Winding Stair Mountain in the Ouachita National Forest. Fort Smith is served by the Fort Smith Public School District which is one of the largest districts in the state. It has 29 campuses and an enrollment of more than 14,000 pre-k-12 students. Eight of the district s elementary schools and all its secondary schools have earned honors as Arkansas Schools of Excellence. There are also several private schools in the area, including Immaculate Conception Elementary School, Christ the King Elementary School, St. Boniface Elementary School, First Lutheran Elementary School, the Montessori School of Fort Smith, Harvest Time Academy, Union Christian Academy, and Trinity Junior High. For those seeking higher education, the University of Arkansas has a Fort Smith campus. The University is part of the University of Arkansas System and offers 76 academic programs. Carl Albert State College, Northeastern State University, Webster University, and John Brown University are located within 60 miles of Fort Smith. The average effective property tax rate in Fort Smith is 0.634%. The City s median income is $36,777 and the average home price is $125,200. 3
GOVERNANCE AND ORGANIZATION Fort Smith s city government operates under the council-manager form of government. An elected Board of Directors establishes programs and policies. A professional City Administrator employed by the Board executes the Board s decisions and assists the Board with developing policy. Citizen involvement is important in Fort Smith. Many committees and commissions, including an audit committee, advise the Board of Directors. Carl E. Geffken assumed the role of City Administrator on May 9, 2016. Mr. Geffken previously served as Chief Operating Officer for Berks County, Pennsylvania, and City Manager for Reading, Pennsylvania. Fort Smith s City government has recently completed or is in the midst of several major projects and other initiatives. These include: Recent completion of fire service improvements, including a new fire station to preserve the City s very favorable fire insurance rating Construction of a $10.9 million aquatics center being accomplished jointly with Sebastian County ) Construction of ten new softball fields for tournament and league play ) Construction of the new Marshal s Museum MISSION: We are a unified team committed to consistently providing citizen focused services for the advancement of a thriving community. VISION: Providing WORLD CLASS SERVICES by: VALUING the contributions of every citizen and employee Being AGILE Being VALUES-BASED Being CONTINUOUS LEARNERS VALUES: INTEGRITY Always Absolute PROFESSIONALISM ACCESSIBILITY for All 4
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT It is the mission of the Department of Sanitation to provide solid waste services to the citizens of Fort Smith through the collection, disposal, and recycling of discarded material in a manner that is safe, efficient, environmentally sound, and cost effective. The purpose of the Fort Smith Department of Sanitation is to lead the community in a commitment to shared environmental responsibility. The department s operations serve this mission in a variety of ways. Operating the City-owned landfill, which is the largest in the state and the only landfill in Arkansas licensed for long-term operation, helps ensure that Fort Smith s environmental future will remain in its own hands. By maintaining its commitment to excellence in residential, commercial, and industrial pickup, the department provides the community with an affordable service that keeps the community clean and invests in its own sustainability. The City of Fort Smith s automated refuse collection program saves residents money and improves efficiency by using technology to pick up and empty City-provided carts instead of relying on manual heavy lifting. As a result of our commitment to the environment, the department also provides automated curbside mixed-stream recyclables collection. While the traditional sanitation department focuses on residential collection, the Fort Smith DOS also excels in commercial and industrial collection. The department works with a local utility to produce natural gas from methane generated by the solid waste in the City s landfill. The department is also pursuing the possibility of other green energy technology that would convert solid waste into a source of fuel to power gas turbines to produce electricity which can be used to serve the residents and businesses of Fort Smith. 5
ABOUT THE POSITION The Director of Sanitation is responsible for all aspects of the Sanitation Department including direction for the following divisions: Residential Collection, Commercial/Industrial Collection, Landfill, and Fleet/Grounds Maintenance. The Director is also responsible for overseeing the recycling program and automated refuse collection program and for maximizing the environmental management of resources, including the production of natural gas from methane generated by the landfill. Duties are performed in accordance with applicable laws. Essential duties and responsibilities include the following; other duties may be assigned: Plan and direct the programs and activities of the solid waste collection and landfill operations for the City Prepare and control the budget for the Sanitation Department Develop and implement programs for efficient, environmentally sound refuse collection and disposal, safety, and equipment and maintenance Review operations of the division for conformity with applicable laws Attend various meetings on behalf of and representing the department to the public, other departments, City administration, and the Board of Directors; present department programs and recommendations to the Deputy City Administrator Act as liaison for the department and coordinate with various boards, commissions, and task forces on the department s behalf Coordinate with various state agencies and area-wide organizations to comply with regulatory requirements Confer with supervisors and lead persons on ways to improve productivity, performance, and employee morale This position directly supervises five division managers and indirectly supervises 75 employees within the department. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; and addressing complaints and resolving problems. 6
IDEAL CANDIDATE Fort Smith s next Director of Sanitation will be an innovative, dedicated manager and self-motivated leader who can maintain a collaborative and supportive work environment in the department. The Director will strategically manage the department s operational goals and will work harmoniously with department managers to carry out the organization s assigned duties. The Director of Sanitation will evaluate and recommend improvements to existing programs and propose new initiatives as needed for department and system effectiveness, efficiency, safety, and full compliance with state and federal requirements. The chosen candidate will possess a comprehensive knowledge of sanitation systems as well as the state laws and regulations governing their administration and have the technical skills required to operate and manage a municipal sanitation system. It will be vitally important for the next Director to possess a well-rounded background of both technical knowledge and management experience coupled with a successful track record of delivering excellent business operations. The successful candidate should be able to interpret and develop technical drawings, specifications, and contracts. Specific training and continuing education in the sanitation field is critical. The chosen candidate will be an efficient and diplomatic communicator and delegator with welldeveloped critical thinking skills and the ability to apply reasoning and logic to new or unfamiliar ideas, opinions, and situations. The Director will continuously evaluate processes to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness to ensure the City is utilizing its resources in the best way possible. Strong problem-solving skills and analytic ability are essential qualities for this position. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned, approachable leader who is firm but fair and will hold staff accountable for their responsibilities, timelines, and fulfillment of department goals and initiatives. The City seeks a manager who invests in the team, leads by example, and is willing to engage actively in assisting other team members with project management in order to achieve success. The next Director will build effective and supportive relationships and understand the importance of building a team environment. An interactive team member who communicates effectively with all facets of the organization, the selected individual will have excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as exceptional organizational skills. The Director should be able to successfully convey complex issues, using layman s terms when needed, to City Council, City Administration, citizens, staff, contractors, media outlets, and state and federal agencies. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE A bachelor s degree is required, with specialization in business, environmental management, or public administration preferred. Knowledge of the operations of a sanitation department and/or sanitary landfill is preferred. The selected candidate must be able to develop and maintain sound management policies and procedures and to participate in their administration. 7
COMPENSATIONAND BENEFITS The starting salary range is $66,580 to $85,716 with growth potential to $104,811. The City provides a full range of benefits, including a retirement plan and insurance, and offers a car allowance. Reasonable relocation expense reimbursement is available. APPLICATION PROCESS Please apply online at: http://bit.ly/sgrcurrentsearches For more information on this position contact: Gary Holland, Senior Vice President Strategic Government Resources GaryHolland@governmentresource.com 405-269-3445 The City of Fort Smith is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. Applicants selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a comprehensive background check. RESOURCES City of Fort Smith fortsmithar.gov Follow Us Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce fortsmithchamber.org Go Downtown Fort Smith downtownfs.com