It might be the toughest job in the Dunedin City Council.
But that has not stopped 16 candidates putting their hand up to help rebuild public trust in the council's vehicle fleet operation.
The council has been advertising for a new fleet and parking operations team leader since September 5.
Applications closed last week, and council group chief financial officer Grant McKenzie said 16 candidates had applied.
The successful applicant would replace former Citifleet team leader Brent Bachop, who died suddenly last year after being approached about irregularities with the vehicle fleet operation.
He was later found by Deloitte and Dunedin police to be at the centre of a $1.5 million fraud, which involved the sale of 152 council cars, and the pocketing of proceeds, over more than a decade.
The role has been filled since then by acting Citifleet team leader Reece Smith.
The successful applicant would oversee the council's vehicle and parking operations, including the maintenance and replacement of vehicles as necessary, the job description said.
They would also monitor all council vehicles to ensure their use complied with council policies and fringe benefit tax requirements.
But, perhaps most importantly, they would have to demonstrate an ability to ''manage and maintain accurate records'' while also working to ''promote a good image of the council''.
An appointment was expected to be announced by early November.
