New Geelong chief executive Ali Wastie has set about redesigning the City’s organisational structure, promising there will be no frontline jobs lost in the reshuffle.
The City of Greater Geelong announced a recruitment drive this week as it seeks to reduce the number of municipal directorates – and their attendant directors – from five to four.
The current structure includes the directorates of city infrastructure under the direction of David Greaves, community service delivery (Robyn Stevens), customer, community and economy (Tennille Bradley), planning and design (Gareth Smith) and strategy, governance and corporate (currently vacant).
These will be replaced by city infrastructure, city life, corporate services and placemaking, with the new director positions open for both internal and external applications.
Ms Wastie, who took on the top job in August this year, said the City was seeking leaders “who are ready to take us to the next level”.
“Geelong is a phenomenal region – it’s the fastest growing in the country, Australia’s first and only UNESCO City of Design, and an amazing place to live, work, learn and play,” Ms Wastie said.
“Our organisation was recently recognised in AFR’s Most Innovative Companies as International Smart City of the Year.
“We have an incredible workforce who care deeply about each other and the people they serve, and a passionate council who really want to see us succeed. We’re very purpose-driven, working together for a thriving community.”
She stressed there would be no reduction in frontline employees through the restructuring process.
“While we’re exploring lots of opportunities to generate efficiencies, I do not have any mandate to cut jobs,” she said.
Ms Wastie said the design of the City’s new structure had been “open and transparent” and invited the current executives to reapply for director positions.
“We’ve had an incredibly collaborative process with leaders to design which functions should contribute to each directorate, building on the changes implemented throughout the last three years,” she said.
“I encourage applications from existing leaders who feel they have the right skills and experience to be part of this next chapter for our organisation.”
