HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 0746INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-0746
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 19, 2023
Page 1 of 1
SUBJECT: PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR RECRUITMENT PROCESS
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the City’s hiring process to recruit for the vacant
Property Management Director position. Human Resources (HR) is committed to hiring talented and diverse
individuals and desires a workforce that reflects the community we serve. The City’s recruitment efforts seek
to be inclusive so that all individuals have equal employment opportunities. The City’s goal is to conduct an
extensive and nationwide search for the organization’s next strategic individual to lead the Property
Management Department.
Recruitment Process
The HR department sought proposals from multiple executive recruitment firms to conduct the search for
the Property Management Director. HR extended the opportunity to twelve (12) executive recruitment firms
and received four (4) proposals. The City selected Strategic Government Resources (SGR) to conduct the
recruitment.
During August 2023, the City and SGR discussed the overall recruitment strategy, ideal candidate qualities,
key departmental projects and initiatives, and advertisement sources, including the job boards to advertise
the position that would attract a diverse applicant pool of qualified candidates, and agreed upon a proposed
timeline for the recruitment process, as noted below.
Tentative Timeline
• August 28 Job posting opened
• September 29 Job posting closes
• October SGR and FW Team meet to review applicants and select semifinalists
SGR screens semifinalists
• Oct/Nov SGR and FW Team meet to select finalists
• Nov/Dec FW Team interviews finalists and hosts meet and greet
The SGR screening process includes a thorough review of the candidate’s demonstrated work experience,
including questionnaires, social media review, and a background check for the top candidate(s).
Attached is the SGR brochure for the Property Management Director recruitment.
Dianna Giordano, Human Resources Director, is available to answer any questions.
David Cooke
City Manager
CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR
FORT WORTH, TX |PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR 2
Values
• Exceptional Customer
Experience
• Accountability
• Ethical Behavior
• Diversity
• Mutual Respect
• Continuous Improvement
Vision
Fort Worth will be the most livable and best-managed city in the country
Mission
Working together to build a strong community
“Where the West Begins”
FORT WORTH, TX |PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR 3
A city of Cowboys and Culture, Fort Worth is known for its Texas hospitality. The City of Fort Worth is the
13th largest and one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. With great neighborhoods, scenic terrain,
and a rich history of arts and culture, paired with world-class opportunities for business and education,
it’s not only fun to visit Fort Worth, but it’s also even more rewarding to call it home. Fort Worth truly
offers all the benefits and amenities of a bustling metropolitan city while keeping the small-town charm
that keeps it unpretentious and charismatic in all the right ways. Designated as one of America’s “Most
Livable Communities” by the Partners for Livable Communities, the city truly offers a melting pot of cul-
ture, commerce, community, and, yes, cowboys.
Once an essential stop on the legendary cattle drives from Texas to Kansas and home to cattle barons
and oil wildcatters, today, this city of more than 900,000 seamlessly blends its cattle and oil heritage
with a vast array of businesses, industries, and entertainment. Known for a commitment to preserving
its history, this modern city proudly celebrates the famous Stockyards National Historic District, home
to twice-a day cattle drives, Billy Bob’s Texas — the world’s largest honky-tonk — and Mule Alley, former-
ly the horse and mule barns utilized during World War I and now home to restaurants, shops, western
heritage brands, and creative workspaces.
The city’s downtown includes Sundance Square, a 35-block business and entertainment district fea-
turing architecture from the Victorian, Art Deco, and modern eras. The city’s cultural district boasts
world-renowned museums, galleries, and public gardens. Major events include the MAIN ST Fort Worth
Arts Festival, Mayfest – Fort Worth, and the iconic Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. In fact, Money Mag-
azine once proclaimed that “Fort Worth offers big city arts and entertainment without the attitude or
high prices of comparable metros.”
The city’s proximity to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, located midway between the two cities,
has enticed some of the best-known names in commerce and industry to locate their headquarters in
Fort Worth, including American Airlines, BNSF Railway, Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems, and
Bell Flight. Transportation, healthcare, and manufacturing are driving factors behind employment in the
city and, as Fort Worth has emerged as a popular tourist destination, the hospitality and travel sector
has become a significant economic generator.
THE COMMUNITY
FORT WORTH, TX |PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR 4
Other significant employers include JPS Health Network, Cook Children’s Health Care System, Naval Air
Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas Health Resources, and Alcon, as well as city and county
governments and the Fort Worth Independent School District. In addition, the City of Fort Worth has
several significant projects underway, including a future city hall and the continued development of
Panther Island, a mixed-use development north of downtown.
It’s no surprise that the city’s list of accolades is long. It includes a place on U.S. News & World Report’s
“25 Best Places for Young Professionals,” Travel & Leisure’s “50 Best Places to Travel,” and RetireBetter-
Now.com’s “21 Best Places to Retire.” Fort Worth has also been ranked among the “Best Cities to Raise a
Family” by SmartAsset.com, and the city’s zoo was named the “#2 Zoo in America” by USA Today behind
the renowned San Diego Zoo.
The median annual family income in Fort Worth is $65,351. Average home values are in the $360,000
range.
Access to health care and education are important quality-of-life factors, and Fort Worth offers an abun-
dance of both. The city lays claim to one of the finest medical communities in Texas, including Cook
Children’s Health Care System, Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center, Texas Health Harris Meth-
odist Hospital, UT Southwestern Monty and Tex Moncrief Medical Center, Medical City Fort Worth, JPS
Health Network, and the TCU School of Medicine.
As to education, Fort Worth’s Texas Christian University (TCU), one of the state’s most prestigious uni-
versities, offers more than 100 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, fine arts, commu-
nications, education, engineering, and nursing. Texas A&M School of Law, Texas Wesleyan University,
and the UNT Health Science Center draw students from around the country and beyond, while Tarrant
County College District serves the community across multiple campuses.
THE COMMUNITY, continued
FORT WORTH, TX |PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR 5
GOVERNANCE
AND ORGANIZATION
The City of Fort Worth operates under a council-manager form of government. The City Council comprises
the mayor, elected at-large, and ten City Council members who represent single-member districts, all serving
two-year terms. The City Council adopts municipal ordinances and resolutions, makes proclamations, sets
the tax rate, and approves the budget. Positions appointed by the Council include the City Manager, City
Secretary, City Attorney, City Auditor, municipal court judges, and City board and commission members.
The Fort Worth City Council’s strategic vision priorities to enhance quality of life include:
• Economic Development & Community Investment
• Community Safety
• Infrastructure, Responsible Growth, and Fiscal Responsibility
City Manager David Cooke, who was appointed to the position in 2014, oversees the day-to-day operations
of the organization and is responsible for leading the City’s 7,877 authorized positions in implementing
the policies set forth by the Mayor and City Council, as well as managing an annual operating budget of
approximately $2.3 billion in Fiscal Year 2023. Fort Worth’s ad valorem tax rate is $0.7125 per $100 of
valuation.
Before becoming Fort Worth City Manager, Cooke served more than 13 years as the County Manager, plus
four years as Deputy County Manager in Wake County, NC, and a dozen years with the City of Charlotte,
NC. His experience also includes working for a private-sector engineering and consulting firm, teaching
economics at a community college, and serving as a presidential management intern in the Department of
Defense. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds a master’s degree in
public administration.
FORT WORTH, TX |PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR 6
The Property Management Department remains steadfast in direct support of the City of Fort Worth in its
continued vision to be “the most livable and best-managed city in the country” by creating great places for
people to live, work, and play. Their values include exceptional customer experience, mutual respect, em-
bracing diversity, continuous improvement, ethical behavior, and accountability.
This Department centralizes functions related to management of assigned City assets, such as fleet mainte-
nance and fuel management, facilities maintenance and planning, and land and property acquisitions and
sales.
The Property Management Department consists of four divisions:
• The Facilities Management Division is responsible for planning, development, utilization, and
maintenance of the majority of city facilities. This includes but is not limited to architectural
and construction management services citywide.
• The Fleet Services Division is charged with maintaining the city’s fleet and is budgeted and
accounted for in the Equipment Services Fund.
• The General Services Division has five sections, including Financial & Administrative Services,
Utility Administration, IT Services, Contract Compliance Management, & Fleet Fuel Management.
• The Real Estate Division has five sections including Real Property, Tax Foreclosed Property,
Lease Administration, Mineral Management, and Lake Worth Lease Management.
The current main goals for the Property Management Department are the following:
• Complete the final design and renovation plan for the Future City Hall building and
construction of the Future City Hall Council Chambers and parking garage.
• Complete the expansion of the Fort Worth Convention Center.
• Complete the schematic design and land acquisition for the Bond Program projects.
• Continue to expedite capital parcels and land acquisitions for capital projects delivery.
• Develop a Facilities Maintenance Master Plan.
• Implement a new fleet and fuel management system.
• Maintain city-wide fleet availability at 94% or greater for efficient delivery of city services.
• Implement the Real Estate Database System.
The mission of the Property Management Department is to support the efficient and effective delivery
of municipal services through the resourceful stewardship of the city’s physical assets. Property Manage-
ment’s vision is to be the centralized source for all city physical assets including fleet, facilities, and real
property. The Department will have a comprehensive inventory of city assets and a plan for maintenance
and replacement of these assets.
The Department has 214 employees and a total annual budget of $70,149,022.
ABOUT
THE DEPARTMENT
FORT WORTH, TX |PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR 7
The Property Management Director will plan, direct, and manage the activities and operations of the four
divisions of the Property Management Department, including Facilities Management, Fleet Services, Gen-
eral Services, and Real Estate. The Director will coordinate assigned activities with other departments and
outside agencies and provide complex strategic and administrative support to the Assistant City Manager.
This position directs the activities of the Department, which includes planning, coordinating, administering,
and evaluating programs, projects, processes, procedures, systems, standards and/or service offerings and
ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, codes and/or standards. The Director
will oversee staff who are responsible for planning, development utilization, and maintenance of a majority
of City facilities, including but not limited to architectural and construction management services citywide.
They will also manage staff responsible for the maintenance of the City’s fleet, utility administration and
fuel services, and real estate services such as real property, tax foreclosed property, lease administration,
and mineral management.
The Director will provide leadership in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies,
and priorities for assigned programs; recommend and administer policies and procedures; and identify
opportunities for improvement, including writing of new rules and regulations and/or proposals for new
programs. They will also represent the Department to other departments, elected officials, developers,
outside agencies, and the general public, as well as participate on a variety of boards, commissions, and
committees.
Other duties of the Director include:
• Lead efforts in evaluating proactive strategic initiatives and opportunities that will advance
the staff’s ability to coordinate with impacted internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead the development and administration of the Department’s annual budget; approve
expenditures and forecasts; and implement budgetary adjustments.
• Establish appropriate service and staffing levels; monitor and evaluate the efficiency and
effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; and allocate resources accordingly.
• Interpret, justify, and defend planning and development programs, policies, and activities.
• Negotiate and resolve sensitive and controversial issues.
ABOUT
THE POSITION
FORT WORTH, TX |PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR 8
IDEAL CANDIDATE
The City of Fort Worth seeks an experienced, energetic, and resourceful leader, with a demonstrated record
of leadership and operational experience, to serve as its next Property Management Director. The ideal can-
didate will possess a strong customer-centric approach and excellent communication skills, with the ability
to negotiate, balance, and sustain strong stakeholder relationships. They will have in-depth knowledge of
strategic asset management in the areas of facilities, fleet, and/or real property. The successful candidate
will be adept in managing organizational change and will be able to collaborate and build strong partner-
ships with internal client departments, contractors, and other governmental agencies.
The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented with a good business sense. They will be an innovative problem
solver, who is passionate about improving the quality of life for residents of Fort Worth. Exceptional inter-
personal skills are essential. The successful individual will have the ability to boost and maintain positive em-
ployee morale and to motivate and inspire employees to maximize their potential and provide the highest
level of customer service to citizens and client departments.
The ideal candidate will possess a professional history that demonstrates the following necessary
leadership competencies and attributes:
• Having strong, innovative leadership and management skills.
• Being a change agent for improving operations and asset management by implementing an entrepre-
neurial spirit.
• Possessing a management philosophy that is strongly customer-service oriented, both internally and
externally.
• Being able to creatively negotiate and implement streamlined processes and project management
through partnership with stakeholder groups.
• Possessing an organizational and political awareness of sensitive projects, programs, and services that
can involve competing interests and priorities.
• Having considerable knowledge of and experience with principles and practices of building construction,
project management, process improvement, and building maintenance.
• Having a proven track record for business process re-engineering – achieving efficiencies and innovation
while improving the delivery and quality of service.
FORT WORTH, TX |PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR 9
City of Fort Worth
Property Management Department
Fort Worth Comprehensive Plan
Fort Worth Economic Development
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
Visit Fort Worth
Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.
Fort Worth ISD
Please apply online
For more information on this position contact:
Lissa Barker, Senior Vice President
LissaBarker@GovernmentResource.com
817-266-0647
The City of Fort Worth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. Applicants
selected as finalists will be subject to a comprehensive background check.
The position requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course
work in architecture, engineering, or a closely related field, plus eight years of responsible experience in
fixed asset management of buildings and facilities, fleet vehicles and equipment, and/or real property
acquisition, disposition, and leasing. Four years of administrative and supervisory responsibility is
required.
EXPERIENCE
AND EDUCATION
COMPENSATION
AND BENEFITS
The City of Fort Worth offers a competitive salary range for this position, commensurate with experience
and qualifications. In addition, the City provides a benefits plan that includes medical, dental, vision,
life, and long-term disability insurance, a pension plan (Fort Worth Employees’ Retirement Fund), and
a 457 deferred compensation plan. Partnering with Southwestern Health Resources, the City provides
access to three employee health centers exclusive to Fort Worth employees, retirees, and their enrolled
dependents.
RESOURCES
APPLICATION
PROCESS