Description
Situated within the shared, unceded territory of the L̓il̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat People) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish People), the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is a vibrant destination resort community, local government organization and leader in providing municipal programs, services, progressive planning and infrastructure. The RMOW is a high performance municipal organization and significant tourism economy serving a community of 14,000 permanent residents and over three million annual visitors. Whistler’s vision is to be a place where our community thrives, nature is protected and guests are inspired.
Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the General Manager of Community Engagement and Cultural Services is accountable for the overall direction and management of the Community Engagement and Cultural Services Division. This role leads the assessment and creation of strategic engagement and cultural development initiatives that support the resort community as it evolves to meet the needs of the community, visitors and environment.
The Community Engagement and Cultural Services Division provides Council, residents, taxpayers, visitors and the Municipality with leadership and resources in the areas of communications and engagement; cultural services; festival, events and animation programming; community facing Whistler Public Library and Recreation facilities; economic development and strategic initiatives; and provides resources and support for large cross-departmental initiatives and municipal fee for service programs.
The General Manager leads the Division in its responsibility for managing how the organization supports and interacts with residents in Whistler while also designing and implementing programs and services that the RMOW offers to visitors. This includes advancing the Arts, Nature and Heritage components of the Official Community Plan, which includes building capacity within the resort community, and providing opportunities for the community and visitors to share and experience the uniqueness of Whistler in its entirety – its landscape, lifestyle, arts, heritage, built environment, narratives and stories.
As a member of the senior management team, and one of four General Manager positions, this role also assists in creating and implementing strategic direction for the entire organization. The General Manager guides a large and diverse team through five direct reports: Manager of Communications; Economic Development and Strategy Analyst; Whistler Public Library Director; Manager of Recreation; and Manager of Village Animation and Events.
Qualified candidates possess a Bachelor’s degree with further specialization in a field such as Communications, Community or Stakeholder Engagement, Tourism or Administration and a minimum of 10 years experience in a senior executive role including proven success in leading large teams with diverse functions. Experience managing public service teams an asset. Qualified candidates should demonstrate experience with community engagement and communication; experience with cultural tourism; experience managing significant budgets including implementation of performance management measures and reporting processes; and a proven record of accomplishment with stakeholder engagement and coordination with an ability to build rapport quickly and assess, identify and convey key findings.
The General Manager role requires a collaborative and community minded thought leader who leads with a people first approach. The successful candidate provides clear direction, inspires confidence in others, motivates and garners respect and has the ability to build trusted relationships and draw people together around common goals. The successful candidate demonstrates a strong commitment to promoting a diverse and equitable workplace and contributes to a positive team environment. The successful candidate has a passion for community as well as the dedication to ensure that Whistler continues to be recognized on an international stage as a year round world class resort destination.
This position offers ongoing learning and development opportunities, a comprehensive benefit package, a nine-day fortnight schedule, and eligibility to participate in the organization’s recreation and transit pass program and remote work program. As a requirement of the position, the successful applicant must hold a valid class 5 BC driver’s license and must provide a satisfactory driver’s abstract and a satisfactory Police Information Check prior to beginning employment.
A full position profile is available by contacting hr@whistler.ca. Interested candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter online at www.whistler.ca/careers
Posting No. 142-22 | Deadline for applications is Sunday, November 27, 2022
