Agenda 12/08/2020 Item #11G (Recruitment Strategy 2021 County Manager position)12/08/2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to provide staff direction on the preferred recruitment strategy to fill the position
of County Manager and authorize the steps necessary to begin the process.
OBJECTIVE: To secure approval from the Board on the strategy to recruit and select a County Manager
upon the retirement of the current County Manager in 2021.
CONSIDERATIONS: County Manager Leo Ochs has been employed by Collier County Government
since July 14, 1986 and has held the position of County Manager since October 27, 2009. Mr. Ochs has
provided notice to the Board of his intention to retire from County service effective May 31, 2021. With
this announcement, it is necessary to seek direction from the Board on how they wish to proceed in filling
the upcoming vacancy.
There are several methodologies that the Board of County Commissioners can consider, either individually
or in some phased combination, to fill the position of County Manager. Options include the following:
1. Utilizing the standard process to hire County Manager agency staff, coordinated through the Human
Resources Division, to advertise the vacancy to interested candidates.
2. Designating all members of the Board of County Commissioners or appointing a single
Commissioner to lead the recruitment and selection process.
3. Retaining the services of a qualified executive search firm to recruit candidates for consideration by
the Board of County Commissioners to fill the vacancy.
With the first option, appointed Human Resources Division represent atives would work with each
Commissioner to gather input on the knowledge, skills, abilities and background of the ideal candidate to
fill the County Manager position. This information would be developed into a position profile that would
be brought back to the BCC for final approval. Once authorized, the position profile, qualifications and
salary range would be advertised to interested candidates through the County’s website and
announcements published in other strategic locations as directed by the BCC. The table below has been
created to indicate the key steps for the recruitment and anticipated dates of completion for each step.
Event Date
Collier County BCC provides direction on recruitment process to
select a new County Manager
12/8/2020
Human Resources gathers information to create a position profile for
advertisement
12/9/2020 - 1/5/2021
BCC approves the profile and locations for advertisement of the
vacancy.
1/12/2021
Position is advertised to interested candidates 1/15/2021 - 2/18/2021
Candidate information is reviewed and compiled for presentation to
the BCC
2/19/2021 - 3/2/2021
BCC reviews candidate applications and supplemental materials and
determines a short list of candidates to be interviewed.
3/9/2021
Candidates contacted to advise of finalist status and interview date 3/10/2021
Finalists on-site and interviewed 4/12/2021 - 4/13/2021
Selection of County Manager and salary negotiation 4/14/2021 - 4/30/2021
11.G
Packet Pg. 1012
12/08/2020
Approval of County Manager contract and appointment by the BCC 5/11/2021
If it is determined that the BCC wishes to use the second option, the process steps and timeline would be
similar to that presented under option one. A representative of the County Manager’s Office or Human
Resources could be designated to assist with gathering information, work products and other relevant
information from interested candidates to compile and provide to the BCC or designated Commissioner.
Under option three, the process would be coordinated through an external vendor selected by the Board.
The County Manager’s Agency has used the services of a number of search firms over the past decade to
recruit and place certain senior-level or difficult-to-fill positions within the organization. This option
allows the BCC to engage an executive search firm with considerable experience in the recruitment of
city and county managers, focused solely on finding the candidates most suitable to fill the role within the
organization. The proposed timeline below was developed for an external recruitment process, along with
the attached draft of a Request for Quotes document for executive search services.
The links below offer additional information regarding services provided by executive search firms:
Baker Tilly Public Sector Executive Recruitment - <https://www.bakertilly.com>
Careers in Government - <https://www.careersingovernment.com>
Colin Baenziger & Associates - <http://www.cb-asso.com/>
The Mercer Group, Inc. - <http://www.mercergroupinc.com/>
Municipal Solutions, LLC - <https://www.municipalsolutions.org/executivesearch>
Strategic Government Resources - <https://www.governmentresource.com>
Event Date
Collier County BCC provides direction on recruitment process to
select a new County Manager
12/8/2020
Provide prices for search and recruitment process NLT 12/30/2020
BCC Review of received Requests for Quotes and selection of
executive recruitment firm
1/12/2021
Notice to begin work issued 1/13/2021
Search and recruitment process 1/18/2021 - 3/26/2021
Interview and vetting process April 2021
Approval of selection by the Collier County BCC May 2021
FISCAL IMPACT: If the decision is made for a recruitment through the Human Resources Division,
costs will be incurred for strategic advertisement of the vacancy through websites and other publication s in
an amount anticipated to be less than $10,000. The estimated cost for an executive search firm is expected
to be $20,000 - $35,000, exclusive of costs of travel for the search firm’s representative who will assist the
Board with the recruitment process. With either recruitment method, additional costs will be incurred for
transportation, lodging, per-diem and other expenses related to candidate travel for three to six finalists,
estimated at $10,000. Funds are available in the County Manager’s cost center for these expenditures.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no growth management impact associated with this
Executive Summary.
11.G
Packet Pg. 1013
12/08/2020
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, is approved as to
form and legality, and requires majority vote for approval. -JAK
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners provide direction on the recruitment
for the upcoming 2021 County Manager vacancy and authorize the steps necessary to begin the process.
Prepared by: Leo Ochs, County Manager
11.G
Packet Pg. 1014
12/08/2020
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 11.G
Doc ID: 14354
Item Summary: Recommendation to provide staff direction on the preferred recruitment strategy
to fill the position of County Manager and authorize the steps necessary to begin the process. (Leo E.
Ochs, Jr., County Manager)
Meeting Date: 12/08/2020
Prepared by:
Title: Executive Secretary to County Manager – County Manager's Office
Name: MaryJo Brock
12/02/2020 2:53 PM
Submitted by:
Title: County Manager – County Manager's Office
Name: Leo E. Ochs
12/02/2020 2:53 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Office of Management and Budget MaryJo Brock Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Skipped 12/02/2020 12:01 PM
County Attorney's Office MaryJo Brock Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Skipped 12/02/2020 12:01 PM
County Manager's Office Leo E. Ochs Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 12/02/2020 2:56 PM
Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 12/08/2020 9:00 AM
11.G
Packet Pg. 1015