Assistant Director of Parks

At the City of Plano, our culture is grounded in service, teamwork, and making a meaningful impact. Our SERVE values—Stewardship, Engaged, Respectful, Visionary, and Excellence—guide how we work, while our A.P.R.O. principles—Adaptable, Professional, Relationship-Focused, and Outcome-Based—reflect who we are at our core.

This is an organization where you can grow, contribute, and be part of something bigger than yourself. That’s why our guiding principle is simple and clear: SERVE Like a Pro—it’s in our DNA.

The target hiring salary for this position is $125,000 annually, depending on qualifications. Eligible for car allowance.

Help lead one of the nation’s premier parks and recreation systems.

The City of Plano is seeking an experienced, visionary leader to serve as our next Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation.

This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact by helping lead an award-winning park system, guiding strategic initiatives, overseeing a diverse operations portfolio, and supporting a talented team dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for more than 300,000 Plano residents.

We're looking for a collaborative leader with experience in municipal operations, budgeting, strategic planning, organizational leadership, and public service. The ideal candidate is an exceptional communicator who values innovation, builds strong partnerships, and leads with integrity, accountability, and a commitment to service.

If you're ready to help write the next chapter of Plano's tradition of excellence, we'd love to hear from you.

The regular work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, the position may occasionally require evening or weekend work to attend civic, business and City-related meetings, events or operational activities and/or emergency response. The employee must also be available to travel as needed for professional conferences, training and official City representation, including occasional overnight travel.

Additional benefits include department-paid professional memberships in the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS). These memberships provide access to professional development, industry resources, networking opportunities and continuing education.

About the department: Recognized by the Trust for Public Land as the number one municipal park system in Texas, Plano Parks and Recreation oversees more than 5,300 acres of responsibility, consisting of 87 parks and 106 miles of trail. These public assets are maintained by a committed workforce of over 160 parks division employees and a generous departmental operating budget of nearly $36 million.

In 2025, Plano voters approved a $40.8 million Parks and Recreation proposition in support of new and existing park improvements. Plano Parks and Recreation is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) since 1994, and is a five-time recipient of the National Gold Medal for Excellence, most recently in 2023

As a valued Team Plano member, you will receive numerous benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
• Membership in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS), in which the City matches contributions 2:1 upon retirement
• Enrollment in the Retirement Security Plan (RSP) which is fully funded by the City
• Up to three weeks of paid vacation
• Up to three weeks of paid sick leave per year

Equal Opportunity Employer - EOE/M/F/V/D

Open positions are subject to close without notice.