City of Hobart CEO Kelly Grisby reveals shake-up could cost jobs

The City of Hobart’s new CEO has revealed a restructure to clean up inefficiencies could come at the cost of certain positions. HER PLANS >>

City of Hobart CEO Kelly Grigsby says the structure of the organisation is in for a shake-up after a detailed review into the operations, but certain positions within the council could be the cost of efficiency.

The shake-up of the organisation comes in three stages and is currently at the end of the first stage which is to optimise the structure of the council.

Ms Grigsby the new structure which was released on Thursday was needed to meet the growing needs of Hobart as a capital city.

City of Hobart CEO Kelly Grigsby. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“We are all committed to putting our capital city first and we have been working hard over the past four months to put our house in order so that we can do exactly that,” Ms Grigsby said.

“Why people in Hobart should care is because I want them to be proud of the city and proud of the council and know we’re set up to deliver for the city.”

She said keeping a clean house meant reassessing which positions within council were necessary.

“There are people who aren’t going to be staying with us on the journey,” she said.

“When a contract ends, it won’t necessarily be renewed.”

The CEO said she could not put on a number on how many jobs could go.

Ms Grigsby said a contemporary organisation was needed to keep up with Hobart’s growth, while being affordable.

“What it looks like for people in Hobart is we will be delivering more services, we will be influencing more decisions.”

“I want to send a message that here there are things we can do better.”

Generic Hobart, Elizabeth St Mall. Picture Eddie Safarik

Ms Grigsby said the new structure was developed over four months, consulting with the council’s 700 staff.

She didn’t believe there had ever been a review like this into the council.

“My view is it needed to be made more contemporary and because of where Hobart is at as a city, we need an organisation that is able to deliver new things,” she said.

“The organisation was doing a good job at a point in time but times have changed and Hobart has changed.

“We needed to recalibrate, that’s an ongoing process.”

The new CEO stepped into the role in May, after former general manager Nick Heath stepped down from his position in April.

Ms Grigsby previously worked as former CEO of Victoria’s Wyndam City Council.