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Pima Association of Governments

  Is Currently Seeking an

Executive Director

The Community

Tucson is located in the heart of Southern Arizona?—an area known as the Sonoran desert?—about 100 miles south of the state capital Phoenix, and 60 miles north of the Mexican border.  The area is one of the longest continually inhabited areas in the Northern Hemisphere. The Tucson metropolitan area has 900,000 people over 9,000 square miles. The urban area has expanded significantly over the last three decades and is expected to grow to more than 1.6 million by 2040. Over 95% of the population resides within the Tucson metropolitan area in eastern Pima County.

Tucson boasts the best of both worlds?…the progress and innovation of a metropolitan community and the friendly, caring atmosphere of a small town.  Tucson?’s rich cultural heritage centers around a unique blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican American and Anglo-American influences. Blessed with the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert and an unsurpassed climate of 360 sunny days a year, residents embrace a rare lifestyle and are committed to preserving that quality of life.

Travelers come thousands of miles to enjoy Tucson?’s pleasant climate, spectacular scenery, great golf, world-famous attractions and laid back lifestyle. Everything that makes Tucson a great place to visit, makes it an even better place to live.

When you?’re in Southern Arizona, there?’s plenty to do, naturally.  You?’ll find outdoor adventures for all ages and abilities.  Explore our national parks and dramatic Sonoran Desert or take in a community event that reflects the region?’s rich cultural roots.  In Tucson, you can visit an exhibit at one of the city?’s fascinating museums, galleries or historic sites. Or attend a live symphony, opera, or theatrical performance.  And with golf, collegiate athletics, and three Major League spring training teams there is a sport for everyone to enjoy.

Tucson?’s climate varies from the 2400 foot desert basin to the 9100 foot forests of the Santa Catalina mountains.  The City?’s dry desert air and winter sunshine make it a popular health and winter resort. 

Tucson/Pima County is home to several colleges and universities, including The University of Arizona, Chaparral College, Prescott College, Tucson University, Pima Community College and the University of Phoenix. The University of Arizona has an enrollment of 36,000 and is ranked as one of the top research universities in the nation.

The medical needs of the community are served by fifteen hospitals and medical centers including the Arizona Cancer Center, University Medical Center and Tucson Heart Hospital.

The Organization

The Pima Association of Governments (PAG) was created in 1970 by the Arizona Governor as a voluntary association of city and county governments in developing strategies for addressing cross-cutting air quality, water quality, transportation, growth, economic development, land use, human services and other challenges.  PAG is one of 450 regional councils in the country created to address these complex issues which can best be addressed through regional cooperation, planning and action. As the population increases, so will the demands placed on the region?’s physical infrastructure.  Regional leadership is required to address issues such as environmental resources, social services, transportation and regional development.

PAG serves as a forum where local, state, and tribal governments can gather to discuss common issues, conduct regional planning, provide information and technical assistance, and administer federal, state or local governmental programs of a regional nature.  Member jurisdictions look to PAG to provide a regional context for actions taken by federal, state and local governmental agencies. 

PAG?’s mission is to provide accurate, credible information to local government and agency officials, so that they can make informed decisions for the region?’s future. PAG?’s programs focus on issues which cross jurisdictional boundaries, such as air quality, water quality and transportation.  This mission is accomplished through:

?§         The sharing of information between all levels of governments and public;

?§         Generating data and information which can be used by decision makers; and

?§         Using an inclusive, consensus-building approach to address issues related to future growth, development and the quality of life in the region.

PAG embraces a regional vision which recognizes the independence of each PAG member jurisdiction and celebrates the diverse environmental and cultural influences that distinguish our region.

PAG is a non-profit corporation, not a unit of government.  It is a voluntary association of its members.

The PAG Regional Council, made up of elected officials from each of its member jurisdictions, is the governing and chief policy-making body for the association. It is comprised of one elected official from each of its eight member jurisdictions (Pima County, City of Tucson, City of South Tucson, Town of Marana, Town of Oro Valley, Town of Sahuarita, Tohono O?’odham Nation and Pascua Yaqui Tribe) and the Pima County representative of the State Transportation Board.

PAG is the ?“Metropolitan Planning Organization?” (MPO) for the greater Tucson area.  As an MPO, PAG is responsible for coordinating the urban transportation planning process and receives federal transportation funding for distribution to its member jurisdictions. 

PAG is also the designated air and water quality planning agency for the region.

The agency?’s annual budget for FY 2002-2003 is $7.6 million.  PAG is financed, similar to most other regional councils, by annual contributions from member jurisdictions, by federal and state contracts, and by grants from government entities.

The Position

The Executive Director serves as the Chief Executive Officer and is appointed by and reports directly to the Regional Council.  The Executive Director leads a professional, technical and support staff of 55 full time employees and is responsible for managing, directing, and planning PAG activities and operations. The Executive Director is responsible for all regional planning and administrative functions of the agency, including intergovernmental consultation, cooperation and coordination of programs.  The Executive Director is also responsible for the development and implementation annual work program and a $7.6 million annual budget for the agency.  Planning for the next annual Overall Work Program starts about seven months prior to the start of the fiscal year.  The Executive Director works closely with the PAG Management Committee, comprised of the chief administrative officers from the eight member jurisdictions, and representatives of the Arizona Department of Transportation, which make policy and technical recommendations to the Executive Director and Regional Council. The Executive Director also works with a number of standing and ad hoc committees which provide recommendations to the Management Committee and to the Regional Council.  The Executive Director is supported by a Deputy Executive Director and an administrative staff for human resources, finance, legal and public participation. The vacancy is being created by the retirement of long-tenure Executive Director.

Staff in the agency are broadly organized along major programs, including Environmental Planning (Water & Air Quality Planning, Clean Cities, Travel Reduction, and RideShare Programs), Transportation Planning (Planning &Programming, Revenue, Finance & Policy, Intermodal Transportation Systems, Regional Transportation Projects and Special Transportation Needs); Social Services and Regional Planning (Orthophoto/Regional Data and Information Systems, Regional Modeling).

During the development of the FY2003-2004 Overall Annual Work Program, PAG has started to address a number of strategic topics, including:  improving the effectiveness and efficiency of services and programs; increasing staff and agency accountability and excellence; improve utilization of resources; improving attainment of agency?’s mission; improving community support; enhancing staff training and development.

Candidate Profile

The Regional Council is seeking a dynamic individual to serve as Executive Director.  Candidates should have strong leadership abilities, astute political instincts and proactive planning and organizational skills.  The Council seeks an individual who is very comfortable with public relations and will maintain a highly visible public profile, communicating and championing Council-approved policy decisions and direction to the media and regional groups and organizations.  The individual will have a visionary style and be committed to increasing the relevancy of the agency.  Candidates are required to have the highest level of integrity and honesty. The Executive Director will have the ability to establish rapport and communicate effectively with persons representing a wide range of personalities and interests. 

The next Executive Director should have strong consensus building and facilitation skills and be accomplished at coalition building and conflict resolution. The individual will have a good sense of humor and will be adaptive and have the ability to establish rapport and communicate effectively with persons representing a wide range of personalities and interests.  The candidate will be a skilled negotiator who can represent PAG well with all constituencies and contacts, developing alliances and partnerships with other organizations.  The Executive Director will be outgoing and committed to a high level of personal interaction with member jurisdictions.

The Executive Director must have the ability to develop and lead an effective management team.  The Executive Director will challenge staff and stress accountability, customer service and follow through to member jurisdictions.

The ideal candidate will be a risk-taker and change agent, committed to re-inventing PAG and enthusiastically exploring new ideas and ways of doing things.  The individual will maintain close communication with the Council regarding such ventures and identifying new approaches that stand a reasonable chance of success.  Although almost a million people, the successful candidate will recognize that the community is still described as a ?“small town.?”

Education and Experience

Requires an equivalent of a bachelor?’s degree and nine years responsible managerial experience in a similar role in a government, non-profit, or private sector environment; a master?’s degree is desirable. 

Candidates should have significant experience in public administration, planning, urban development and progressively responsible managerial experience with a city, county, regional, state or federal planning or administrative agency.  Candidates should possess management experience and administrative leadership skills and knowledge to effectively lead, recommend, initiate, implement, and promote the programs and services provided by PAG.  Previous experience interacting with the media and interest groups is very desirable.

Candidates are required to have considerable understanding and, experience and patience in dealing with process and facilitation in assistance to a policy making body confronted by complex and controversial issues. Knowledge of transportation, environmental quality and regional planning highly desirable but not required.

A record of experience that demonstrates the ability to see the ?“big picture?” as well as to conceive and develop detailed innovative solutions to complex regional problems that cross-jurisdictional problems is necessary.  Familiarity with information technology and applications as they may be utilized in support of the agency?’s mission is desirable.

The ideal candidate should be knowledgeable of local government structure, process and operations, as well as being familiar with legislative and regulatory process of state and federal governmental agencies.  Considerable experience and established contacts involving obtaining grants and funds from state and federal government is necessary.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for the position is $108,528-$162,792.  Since PAG is interested in obtaining the best possible candidate for the position of Executive Director, the compensation package will ultimately depend upon qualifications of the candidate to whom an offer is extended. It will include an excellent package of fringe benefits. The Executive Director will participate in a SEP-IRA plan.  An employee funded deferred compensation program is also available.

To Apply

If you are interested in this outstanding career opportunity, please submit your resume ASAP to:

Mr. Gerald Plock

Gerald Plock Associates, Inc.

7501 Stallion Circle

Flower Mound, TX  75022

Fax 817-464-4061

Email:  geraldplock@geraldplockassoc.com

The Regional Council anticipates an accelerated search process.   Closing Date is June 20, 2003. 

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