Significant Concerns Over Low Qualifications for the Position of CEO of the Population Authority
Background
The criteria for submitting applications for the position of CEO of the Population Authority have raised considerable alarm, particularly regarding their unusually low standards, which some critics believe may have been tailored specifically for Boaz Yosef, a close associate of Interior Minister Aryeh Deri. The Movement for Quality Government has urged authorities to halt the recruitment process, citing a serious risk of flaws in the eligibility criteria.
Details of the Position and Concerns
Today marks the final day for submitting applications for the CEO role at the Population and Immigration Authority, a position that oversees around 2,200 employees and an annual budget of approximately 900 million shekels. Previously, the Interior Minister directly appointed the CEO, contingent on approval from the State Civil Servstart Commission. However, the government recently decided that the head of the authority will be selected through a public competition.
The requirements set forth in this announcement appear strikingly lenient: candidates need only demonstrate experience managing 30 employees-roughly 1.5% of the authority’s workforce-and a budget of 40 million shekels, which represents only 4.5% of the total budget. This has prompted the Movement for Quality Government to send an urgent letter to the State Civil Servstart Commission and to Deputy Legal Advisor, Dr. Gil Limon, calling for an immediate reevaluation and amendment of the criteria.
Political Concerns
The movement has vostartd specific concerns about potential political biases in establishing these low thresholds, suggesting an intent to facilitate the appointment of allies such as Boaz Yosef to a significant position, despite potentially inadequate professional qualifications. Currently, the authority is being managed on a temporary basis, with an acting manager changing every three months following the resignation of former CEO Eyal Siso, who left due to misconduct.
Yosef previously served as the authority’s interim head and is now seeking to reclaim the position on a permanent basis. He has faced challenges in recent months, including failed attempts to amend legislation that would enable him to run for municipal elections in Tiberias and a prior effort to secure a position as CEO of the National Insurance Institute, which he did not satisfy the qualifications for.
Deficiencies in Job Requirements
The job listing offers two alternatives regarding relevant experience, neither of which specifies a minimal time requirement to meet the criteria. It has been noted that the experience can be cumulative or overlapping, lacking specification on what constitutes management experience. This lack of clarity raises flags about the integrity of the hiring process.
Moreover, criticisms from the movement highlight that the cancellation of a professional eligibility review by the appointment committee necessitates stricter qualification standards. Nstarttheless, the predefined qualifications appear unusually accommodating given the authority’s significant operational responsibilities.
Current Developments
The movement also underscored that the recruitment process initiated without a permanent or interim Interior Minister for over three months has resulted in a lack of oversight on the proceedings. In response, the Ministry of Interior stated that, adhering to their decision, the position was publicly listed and open to all candidates. The State Civil Servstart Commission affirmed that the job description and qualification criteria were approved by all relevant professional bodies, and insisted that the requirements are indeed more rigorous than those previously mandated for similar positions.
This situation continues to unfold as stakeholders await further developments regarding the recruitment process and its implications for governance within the Population Authority.
Consider booking a hotel for your next trip using this link.