Applicants flood city of Kent for CAO, finance director jobs

People are showing plenty of interest in filling two high-profile city of Kent jobs.

People are showing plenty of interest in filling two high-profile city of Kent jobs.

Sixty-seven people have applied so far to be the new chief administrative officer (CAO) and 43 applied for the finance director job, according to city spokeswoman Michelle Wilmot.

Those numbers are expected to go up in the next couple of days as more applications are processed by the Olympia consultant hired by the city to help fill the positions. The application deadline for both jobs was May 9.

“The recruiting firm will screen the applications and let us know how many actually meet the requirements of the jobs,” Wilmot said in a Monday email. “We should have that information, and proposed timeline (for filling the jobs) by the end of this month.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The City Council voted 5-1 in March to hire Karras Consulting for up to $60,000 to conduct a nationwide search for a new CAO and finance director. Mayor Suzette Cooke proposed hiring the consultant. Cooke will pick a replacement for both jobs. Under the strong mayor form of government, she does not need approval from the council for the hires.

“If all goes well, and there are applicants that meet the qualifications, Suzette will start conducting interviews in June,” Wilmot said.

Wilmot said it’s uncertain at this time how many applicants might be interviewed for each position.

“We don’t have a predetermined number of people that will be interviewed … I don’t think we know enough yet,” Wilmot said. “That number could change given the number of qualified candidates or lack thereof.”

Both jobs are filled by interim hires. Tom Brubaker has served as interim CAO since John Hodgson retired last May. Paula Barry is the interim finance director after Bob Nachlinger retired in January.

The salary range for a new CAO is $121,200 to $169,668 per year, according to the city of Kent 2014 pay rate list. The salary range for a finance director is $106,776 to $149,496.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Chase Jones and his attorney Brad Barshis reading Jones’ statement to the judge. Photo by Joshua Solorzano/Sound Publishing
Man who killed four in Renton crash sentenced to over 17 years in prison

The prosecutor reported that he was traveling at 112 miles per hour when he crashed into the victims.

t
Three Kent men honored by state during fallen worker ceremony

One died falling from Seattle bridge; two others were fatally shot

City of Kent Corrections Facility, 1230 Central Ave. S. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Medical examiner identifies woman found dead in city of Kent jail

Cause and manner of death are pending for 45-year-old woman

File Photo, Kent Reporter
Large Kent Police response finds no weapon threats on Central Avenue

About a dozen police vehicles arrived in 700 block of Central Ave. S. Thursday, April 24

U.S. District Courthouse in Seattle. COURTESY PHOTO, USDOJ
Kent man pleads guilty to federal drug trafficking charges

Part of international drug ring that distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine

Kent School Board members Tim Clark and Meghin Margel. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Kent School Board recall group files for reconsideration

Petitioners take next step after judge dismissed petitions to recall Meghin Margel, Tim Clark

t
Future female firefighters learn key skills at workshop

32 women participate in firefighting, emergency medical services training

t
Kent pedestrian killed in April 21 crash identified

Vicente Islas Gomez, 50, died of multiple blunt force injuries along Central Avenue South

Courtesy File Photo, WSDOT
Section of State Route 167 in Kent to be fully closed night of April 24

From 10 p.m. Thursday, April 24 to 4 a.m. Friday, April 25 between S. 180th Street and S. 212th Street

t
Kent man wanted in DV incident reportedly ‘has left the area’

Avon Cobb still on the run; flashbang device might have caused fire at Auburn business where he fled

Courtesy Photo, Comcast
Some Comcast, Xfinity Business customers lose service in Kent

Vandals damage cable line; service expected to be restored by 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 22

The city of Kent Corrections Facility, 1230 Central Ave. S. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Female inmate, 45, dies while in custody at city of Kent jail

Found unresponsive Tuesday morning, April 22