EMERGENCY SERVICES RECRUITING

Front-Line Emergency Services
Since 2006, Ravenhill Group has specialized exclusively in municipal recruiting. Our focus is recruiting ‘Top Talent’ Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, City Managers, General Managers, Directors, and Managers. During that time, we have successfully introduced hundreds of municipal leaders to our clients across the country in places like the City of Peterborough, City of Moose Jaw, Big Lakes County, City of Corner Brook, City of St. Catharines, City of St Albert and many more.

Front-line Recruiter

Our expert staff includes James Drennan a former Bureau Commander for the OPP Academy and former CAO of Canada’s largest police association.

Bruce Malcolm, a seasoned recruiter with 30 years’ + experience – a proven track record for recruiting Police Chiefs. Advisor Murray Rodd who has an established reputation in front-line emergency services formerly Chief of Peterborough Police ( retired)

If anything, it truly defines Ravenhill Group is the value we attach to meeting the growing demand for top talent emergency services leaders through personal relationships. We meet and surpass client expectations through genuine one-to-one recruiting, bringing the very best Passive candidates ( those not looking for work) face to face with opportunities they were not aware of... that’s because they simply weren’t looking for a job change
Our Philosophy

Police Chief Searches

Over the past few years our team has completed assignments with Saugeen Shores,
Peterborough, Stratford, Prince Albert and City of Windsor to recruit new Chiefs.
We also worked for the City of Richmond BC on the recruitment of a General Manager of Law & Security –the city is policed by the RCMP on a contract basis. 

The GM role is the highest civilian. We are Ethical Headhunters™ actively searching for the best people, always keeping in mind that we are representing our client. We do our best to answer every inquiry politely and honestly.

Bruce Malcolm

Police Chief Specialist

New Brunswick

Bruce is the consummate person and professional networker. Over the past decade, he has built a solid reputation as an ethical Executive Search Consultant who specializes in municipal recruiting. In a career that has been highlighted by service to others, his focus has always been on finding the ‘right person’ for the job, whether for one of his many clients or for one of his own businesses.

“… No client has ever asked us to find them an ‘ordinary’ City Manager” dbm50

Bruce created and developed the A.S.K. Selection™ assessment process ( see page Appendix X). It is a proprietary, comprehensive selection tool that help clients better ensure ‘FIT’ when hiring. The process seeks to eliminate the dangers of ‘gut-level’ decision-making when choosing the ‘right’ candidate.

For most of his working life, Bruce has been involved with the development of ‘human capital. A known Talent Management expert, Bruce recognized early in his career that –
“… Getting the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus is the key to success” Jim Collins

Some Areas of Expertise
  • Responsible for recruiting hundreds of successful senior managers including City Manager, SAO, General Manager, Commissioner, Fire Chief, Police Chief, Director of Corporate Services, CFO, Director of Engineering, Director of Planning, Director of HR, and more.
  • Author/Editor of the award winning, Canadian Municipal Recruiting Report.
  • Writer- Developer of valuable selection, pre-screening and interview processes tools.
  • Skilled contract negotiator… works with the Selection Committee.
  • Coaches municipal staff/councils to maximize human capital potential.
Resume: D. Bruce Malcolm

Bruce began his recruiting career in the 1970s with Prudential Assurance Company, recruiting, training and mentoring junior executives. He followed this with five years in his own business in southwestern Ontario and Dallas Texas. Bruce returned to Canada in 1984 to head up Executive Recruiting at Keith Bagg & Associates a Toronto based search/personnel firm.

He launched Ravenhill in 2002 where he recruited for a variety of senior roles such as General Manger, CFO, CEO, Director and Executive Director. Since 2006, he has been a municipal recruiting specialist.

Managing Partner Ravenhill Group Inc 2002 – present

Board Experience in Canada
  • Numerous not-for-profits, including church and mission boards.
  • Chairman SCA International (formerly Shantymen Christian Association) 2012 -2023
Education and Qualifications
  • B. Law, Economics, Psychology, University of Toronto 1973
  • OSC and Studies in Securities – 1975.
  • Business School of HK 2002
  • Xerox Selling Skills I, II & III
  • Awards and Recognition
  • Doctor of Commercial Science, London Institute of Applied Research, London England 1973

Jim Drennan

B.A., M.Sc., Ph.D., C. Crim.

Police Chief Specialist

Based in New Brunswick

Jim joined Ravenhill Group in 2014 to lend his very credible experience to our Front-Line Emergency Services initiatives. Former Dean, School of Justice and Business Studies, Fleming College.

Jim was the Chief Administrative Officer of Canada’s largest police association and union, the 8,000 member Ontario Provincial Police Association, involved in all aspects of labour relations and collective bargaining. He is a founding Co-Chair and Member of the Canadian Police
Jim holds diplomasSector Council in Ottawa. t and Leadership, Crime and Deviance, Law Enforcement and Administration, Labour Relations, General Police Studies. He also holds degrees in Criminology, a Master’s degree in education and a Doctorate in Criminal Justice.

Contribution to Police Leadership Development

James Drennan is a standing member with the ‘Rank Determination Board’ of the OPP. This board is responsible for investigations, selections and recommendations to the Commissioner for all municipal police executive ‘Deputy Chiefs and Chiefs of Police. 

When a municipal police service was amalgamated into the OPP process involved investigations, interviews and qualification examination of municipal Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs to serve at a comparable rank in the OPP.

Recruiting for Front-Line Emergency Services?

Tell us about the position and we will show you how how we can help.