The Department Head of the Year award recognizes a local government management professional who has made significant contributions toward excellence in leadership while serving as a department head at his or her employer.
> Eligibility Criteria. To be considered for eligibility, candidates must be:
- An ACCMA member
- Endorsed by the chief administrator or manager of the nominee’s employer
- A full-time department head reporting to a local government manager or administrator
- Responsible for the following areas at an executive level:
- Staff management: supervises staff development and performance; manages program having direct influential relationship with the CAO on program implementation and administration
- Financial management: preparation and administration of operating budgets, determining program cost effectiveness and comparing alternative strategies
- Policy facilitation and implementation: developing and analyzing policy alternatives and implementing policies
- Service delivery: ensuring effective organizational performance, having responsibility for at least one year (not including internships in conjunction with an academic program)
> Nomination Process. Any ACCMA member can make a nomination by completing the Nomination Form below or by downloading and emailing a completed Nomination Form to info@accma-al.org. All entries must be received by April 10 for work performed through March 30 of that same calendar year. Awards will be presented at ACCMA’s Winter conference.
> Submission Review Process. All entries will be reviewed, and a selection will be made by the ACCMA Awards Committee, which is appointed annually by the Board of Directors in June. Submissions will be judged by the extent to which the individual exhibits excellence in leadership by adhering to the following criteria:
- Sets a high standard of integrity by leading through example; motivates and inspires people around them
- Encourages an environment in which others feel free to bring new ideas and ways of looking at a problems
- Encourages meaningful and dynamic relationships with peers, employees and vendor partners
- Promotes the professional development of those whom s/he supervises
- Maintains a positive approach to giving and receiving feedback
- Demonstrates a high level of self-awareness and accountability for him/herself and those in his/her department
- Has brought ideas (either his/hers or those of department members) that have been implemented that have shown cost savings, improved quality and/or increased efficiency to the work of the organization – either in his/her department, across multiple departments and/or among multiple agencies
