City of Calgary - Request for Proposal - 26-1557 Consulting Services for Executive Search to Identify Water Utility Oversight Board Chair and Members

The City of Calgary (The City) is seeking the services of an executive search firm with demonstrated specialized expertise in recruiting candidates for public sector Boards, specifically to assist in sourcing a Board Chair of the Water Utility Oversight Board. In addition, the search firm may be required to identify and recruit additional Board Members to ensure the Board is comprised of individuals with diverse skill sets and backgrounds relevant to the water utility sector. The Water Utility Oversight Board will function as a governance entity, tasked with offering expert oversight and strategic direction to The City Council on critical issues pertaining to the reliability, resilience, and long-term sustainability of Calgary’s water utility system. This initiative follows critical failures of the Bearspaw South Feedermain, which exposed gaps in infrastructure resilience, risk management, and governance. An Independent Review Panel has recommended a future organizational model led by a Chief Operating Officer to strengthen oversight and operational performance. They also recommended the creation of a Water Utility Oversight Board, reporting to Council to support Council in their oversight of the Utility. This engagement supports recruitment of members of that Board. The Consultant will also help identify the skills/experience/expertise required for success. The Consultant will leverage experience in regulated utilities, particularly Alberta-based, and public sector Boards. Council will be presented a recommendation for a compensation framework, developed by an external consultant, in early May and this search will utilize the approved compensation framework to inform the compensation quantum and structure for the Chair and Board Members. This agreement allows The City to engage the selected executive search firm for up to five (5) years to support recruitment for board and governance appointments, with no guarantee of a minimum workload. Note: This Request for Proposal (RFP) is being issued as an urgent procurement and therefore is subject to shortened posting timelines.