Parks & Recreation Director

Job Title: Parks & Recreation Director
Department: Parks & Recreation
Reports To: Assistant County Manager
Classification: Full-Time, Exempt
Compensation Range: $85,000 - $95,000 annually
Benefits: Employee Benefits | Lake County, CO

Join a workplace where public service meets opportunity. At Lake County  Government, employees are empowered to grow, collaborate, and make a meaningful impact every day. We offer a supportive environment that values innovation and connection, withreliablecompensation, comprehensive benefits, and a commitment to helping you succeed both professionally and personally.

• Assume Good Intent:
  Approach each interaction withpositivemindset and openness to understand others.
• Model Professionalism:
  Maintain high standards in behavior and communication that reflects our values.
• Apply County Wide Lens:
  Consider the broader impact of decisions on our community and organization as a whole.
• Be Solutions-Oriented:
  Focus on finding constructive solutions rather than dwelling on problems or challenges.
• Practice Servant Leadership:
  Prioritize the needs of others, fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment.
• Support Meaningful Work-Life Balance:
  Encourage boundaries that support personal well-being while achieving professional responsibilities.

The Parks & Recreation Director provides strategic and operational leadership for the Parks & Recreation Department, overseeing staff, programs, facilities, budgets, partnerships, and long-term planning, whilemaintainingfocus on providing inclusive access to indoor and outdoor recreation programs and amenities. Ability to cultivate collaborative partnerships with state, federal, and local partners.

This is a critical leadership position responsible for guiding the department through a period of organizational transition and renewal.

The successful candidate will be a steady, collaborative, and accountable leader who can build trust within a team that has recently experienced organizational change, strengthen morale and performance, andestablisha culture of professionalism, consistency, and service.

The Director will bring strong financial and operational discipline to the department while positioning Parks & Recreation as a visible, valued, inclusive, and innovative community resource. This includes improving the consistency and visibility of programming; strengthening partnerships with Colorado Mountain College, the City of Leadville, Lake County School District, nonprofit partners, recreation providers, and community organizations; evaluating the condition and future needs of aging infrastructure;

and aligning department resources with community priorities and long-term financial capacity.

This position requires a leader who can balance people, finances, operations, community expectations, and long-term strategy whilemaintaininga clear focus on inclusive recreation opportunities.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Provide clear, consistent, and accountable leadership to the Parks & Recreation Department.
• Establish clear expectations, roles, responsibilities, performance standards, and lines of accountability.
• Develop staff through coaching, mentoring, professional development, and regular performance feedback.
• Address performance, communication, and workplace issues promptly, fairly, and consistently.
• Foster a culture that values teamwork, professionalism, innovation, customer service, and personal accountability.
• Lead a comprehensive review and modernization of department operations, staffing practices, workflows,…