Director, Parks and Recreation

The purpose of this classification is to provide executive leadership and operational oversight for the Town's Parks and Recreation Department, including parks and facility operations, recreation programs, athletics, special events, capital projects, long-range planning, financial management, and employee development.

The Director is responsible for ensuring departmental services, resources, staffing, facilities, and programs are effectively aligned with community needs and Town priorities. The position provides leadership in organizational development, operational efficiency, strategic planning, performance measurement, capital improvement planning, and continuous improvement.

Work is performed independently under the general direction and supervision of the Senior Director of Community Services. The Director supervises and provides leadership to Parks and Recreation management, supervisory, professional, technical, and support personnel.

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Provides leadership and directs the operations of the Parks and Recreation Department, including personnel, programs, parks and facility operations, maintenance, athletics, special events, budget administration, capital projects, procurement, and long-range planning.

Regularly evaluates the Department’s organizational structure, staffing model, span of control, roles, and workflows to ensure alignment with community needs, service demands, operational efficiency, and long-term departmental priorities; recommends and implements organizational and operational improvements as appropriate.

Develops and implements departmental goals, policies, procedures, standard operating procedures, performance standards, and management systems. Delegates development and implementation responsibilities appropriately while maintaining accountability for departmental performance and outcomes.

Provides strong leadership in employee relations, performance management, accountability, conflict resolution, and workplace conduct. Supervises and evaluates assigned staff; provides coaching and corrective direction; works closely with Human Resources on employee development, retention, discipline, and organizational effectiveness.

Develops and maintains a department-wide employee development and succession planning strategy. Identifies opportunities for employee training, professional certifications, cross-training, knowledge transfer, career development, and leadership succession.

Directs planning, coordination, and implementation of departmental programs, services, projects, and work activities. Collaborates extensively with other Town departments, governmental and regulatory agencies, consultants, contractors, community organizations, and other stakeholders to accomplish departmental and Town priorities.

Identifies and evaluates opportunities for sponsor ships, community partnerships, intergovernmental collaboration, and other strategic relationships that may enhance programs, facilities, services, or departmental objectives, consistent with Town policies and priorities.

Provides overall leadership and accountability for departmental safety, risk management, regulatory compliance, inspections, and corrective-action processes across parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, facilities, programs, and special events. Ensures compliance with applicable laws, codes, ADA requirements, professional standards, and Town policies, and oversees appropriate inspection, certification, incident review, and risk-mitigation practices.

Develops and administers the departmental operating and capital budgets. Monitors expenditures and revenues, evaluates service levels and financial performance, conducts benchmarking, and develops long-range financial strategies consistent with community needs and Town priorities.

Evaluates fees, cost-recovery strategies, sponsorship opportunities, partnerships, and other approaches to improve the financial sustainability and effectiveness of departmental services while maintaining appropriate access and service levels.

Develops, monitors, and reports department-wide performance measures and key performance indicators, including program participation, facility utilization, maintenance performance, project delivery, budget performance, cost…