Christchurch council seeks ‘emotionally intelligent’ top boss

Wednesday, 10 July 2024

The Christchurch City Council wants a chief executive with “unquestionable integrity” - and emotional intelligence.

Christchurch City Council is on the hunt for a visionary leader who is commercially savvy, emotionally intelligent and, ideally, already committed to the city.

The role of chief executive was officially advertised on Tuesday, eight months after former boss Dawn Baxendale abruptly resigned.

The job description asks for someone with experience as a chief executive, of working with mana whenua, and who can maintain “unquestionable integrity”.

A briefing pack for candidates, authored jointly by recruitment agency Sheffield and the council, runs to 19 pages - twice as long as the one in 2019 when Baxendale was recruited.

It now asks for “exceptional emotional intelligence”, and someone whose style is “calm, composed, diplomatic”, and one which is collaborative. There is more emphasis on building trust and diversity in the council, and being able to accept responsibility in times of crisis.

Dawn Baxendale, Christchurch City Council’s last chief executive, left the job abruptly in November (file photo).

The applicant should also have “an innate community service orientation”.

The areas of responsibility have been reworded from when Baxendale applied, and now specifically ask for effective management of the council’s financial position and performance, as well as promoting good relationships with the media and public.

The new chief executive will also be expected to care about how the council responds to climate change, including to “ensure” council meets its carbon reduction target (the chance of which is close to zero, based on a damning report councillors considered in March).

A council spokesperson said the expected salary had not been finalised. Baxendale was on $548,548 in 2023. She left abruptly in November with 11 months left on her contract, citing personal reasons.

So far, the council has refused to say if Baxendale got a payout. However, an ongoing Ombudsman investigation may change that.

In June, after a 10-month investigation, the Ombudsman told the Gore District Council to release details of the exit package of its former chief executive, Stephen Parry. It emerged he received about $290,000 and a car.

Applicants for the Christchurch City Council job have until July 28 to throw their hat in the ring. Interviews will begin in late August, with interviews with the shortlisted applicants happening two weeks later.