BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Port of Bellingham is beginning its search for a new executive director, but the role may look a lot different.
Plans are underway for the Port to hire a national recruiter, according to a presentation at its commission meeting on August 12.
Once the recruiter is on board, the hiring process for a new director will last through late November at the earliest and may extend into December or even later.
The commission expects that community members will have input on the final candidates during a public forum.
My Bellingham Now previously reported that the commission voted in June to oust Rob Fix as executive director, citing a need for a “new vision and a different direction.”
Commissioner Ken Bell noted at the meeting that he thinks the role has evolved into a two-person job.
“My thought has always been that we needed a second body at the executive director position, that we need a chief operating officer maybe,” Bell said. “Let the executive director be the executive director and not necessarily all of the personnel.”
The commission tabled the discussion for a future meeting so the job description for the executive director could be changed accordingly.
If they decide the second position is necessary, it would fall on the new director to hire their own candidate, whether it be a deputy director or chief operating officer.
