The Pittsburgh Foundation

Jobs posted on Talent City site in First Phase of recruitment plan for New Mayoral Administration

PITTSBURGH, Pa., Nov. 19, 2013  --  The first phase of a major program began today to recruit a senior management team to help lead Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Bill Peduto’s administration with the posting of key jobs on The Pittsburgh Foundation’s specially-created website, Talent-City.com.

A total of 30 job descriptions were posted on the site, covering up to 43 positions in the areas of the Mayor’s Office, Finance and Administration, Public Safety and Urban Affairs, and Planning and Innovation, each offering annual salaries of between $60,000 and $106,000.

All except three of the positions have present incumbents. They have been notified of the Mayor-elect’s hiring process and invited to re-apply for their positions using the Talent City website. The deadline for applications for all these positions is December 15, 2013.

“We are very excited to join the foundation community to launch our first step toward building a new Pittsburgh, by opening up these key positions to the public,” said Mayor-elect Bill Peduto. “I encourage all existing incumbents and other interested parties to apply, and we will select candidates best able to serve the residents of this city,” said Mayor-elect Peduto. 

 “Our primary objective is to play a significant and engaged role in helping to enhance the quality, knowledge and experience of our local city government,” said Grant Oliphant, president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation. “Talent City represents an historic initiative placing the emphasis for local government hiring on skills and expertise rather than patronage.”

Under the Talent City program, launched by the Foundation in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute of Politics, all applicants for the posted positions will be screened by one of three specialized bi-partisan selection committees and interviews will be conducted by human resources consultants.

Overseeing the selection process is a 10-member committee, representative of the local community and co-chaired by Mariann Geyer, vice president External Affairs at Point Park University; Greg Jordan, general counsel with PNC Financial Services; and local business entrepreneur Greg Spencer.

For the jobs posted today – consisting mostly of high priority existing positions – searches will include national outreach for some positions such as director-level posts, and regional searches will be conducted for others. Recommendations will be delivered to Mayor-elect Peduto by January 5, 2014 comprising between three and five candidates for each position.  The Mayor-elect may choose from these short-lists or request additional candidates for his consideration.

A second phase of recruitment will begin in early 2014 when additional positions  for the Mayoral administration  -- comprising new and existing jobs – will be posted on the Talent-City.com site. The recruitment process is scheduled to continue for approximately six months and the Oversight Committee will provide on-going advice and evaluations through the fall 2014.

The $275,000 Talent City initiative is designed to provide comprehensive support for the new Mayoral administration in assembling an experienced and qualified team who will help lead Pittsburgh into a new era of development. Prior to the election on November 5, the initiative was endorsed by both Mayoral candidates.

“We congratulate Mayor-elect Peduto for his election victory and we commend and support him in his mission to make Pittsburgh a model for strong, community-engaged and open local government,” said Grant Oliphant.

The Talent-City.com website has also received nearly 60 responses from the public on its ‘idea portal’ where suggestions and recommendations can be submitted designed to help the new Mayoral administration to shape policy and prioritize initiatives.

  • A full list of the first phase of job postings for the new Mayoral administration can be accessed at www.Talent-City.com/jobs.