Recreation Services Director

The Recreation Services Director provides executive leadership and strategic direction for one of the City’s most community-focused departments. This executive-level position is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and direction of the Recreation Services Department, including its diverse portfolio of programs, facilities, services, and operations.

With a focus on City priorities, the Recreation Services Director establishes strategic goals aligned with City priorities, the Recreation Services Master Plan, and evolving community needs. The Director leads a broad range of recreational services and amenities, including parks, athletics, aquatics, racquet sports, golf, community centers, libraries, camps, special events, and other recreational programs and facilities.

This position offers an exceptional opportunity for an experienced public-sector leader to shape the future of recreation services, enhance quality of life, foster community wellness, and ensure the City continues to provide innovative, accessible, and high-quality recreational experiences for residents and visitors.

• Provides executive leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the Recreation Services Department in alignment with the City's Strategic Plan, the Department’s Strategic Plan, the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and organizational priorities.
• Serves as the City's principal advisor on recreation facilities and services, community wellness, quality-of-life initiatives, and emerging industry trends.
• Leads all departmental operations through subordinate managers, ensuring organizational effectiveness, operational excellence, and exceptional customer service.
• Shapes, implements, and monitors the Department’s Strategic Plan, long-range initiatives, departmental goals, performance measures, and service standards that support continuous improvement in alignment with City priorities.
• Guides the planning, delivery, evaluation, and enhancement of comprehensive recreation services, including park, preserve and athletic field maintenance, libraries, aquatics, athletics, racquet sports, golf, community centers, adaptive recreation, nature center, special events, outdoor recreation, and other community programs.
• Directs the planning, design, construction, renovation, replacement, and lifecycle management of recreation facilities and related capital improvement projects.
• Coordinates capital improvement planning and project implementation in collaboration with City departments, consultants, contractors, and other public agencies.
• Develops and maintains a collaborative working relationship with the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District to coordinate strategic planning, capital improvement initiatives, funding opportunities, recreation programming and policies, and shared community pride.
• Evaluates community needs, demographic trends, and industry best practices to develop innovative recreation programs, facilities, and services.
• Ensures effective stewardship of public assets through sound risk management, regulatory compliance, and responsible operational oversight.
• Promotes sustainable, resilient, and accessible facility design and operational practices.
• Develops departmental policies, operating procedures, and administrative practices that ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, accreditation standards, and City policies.
• Oversees the recruitment, selection, coaching, mentoring, performance management, and professional development of management and supervisory staff.
• Shapes organizational development initiatives, succession planning, leadership development, employee engagement, and workforce planning.
• Builds strategic partnerships with educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, youth sports organizations, cultural organizations, community groups, and business partners.
• Leads community engagement efforts related to recreation planning, capital improvements, and service delivery.
• Advises the City Manager, Deputy City Manager, City Council, advisory boards, and executive leadership on departmental operations, policies, budgets, and strategic initiatives.
• Represents the City before community organizations, professional associations, governmental agencies, and regional, state, and national recreation organizations.
• Serves as executive liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board by providing professional guidance, preparing agendas and reports, presenting departmental initiatives, facilitating board…