Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation

Overview

Are you ready to help shape the places where a community gathers, plays, and thrives? The City of Sammamish is seeking an Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation to help shape the places where our community gathers, plays, and thrives.

The Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation plays an integral role in the department’s leadership team, providing strategic direction, operational oversight, and technical guidance across the City’s parks and recreation programs. This position oversees multiple functions, including land acquisition, planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operations of the city’s parks and facilities. The Assistant Director ensures projects and programs align with the City’s strategic goals, regulatory requirements, and community needs.

Why join us?

• Impactful Work:
  Offers a unique opportunity for strategic leadership over diverse projects, from land acquisition and park design to facility operations.
• Professional Growth:
  Access to continuous learning opportunities and career advancement.
• Comprehensive Benefits:
  Health, dental, and vision insurance, FSA, retirement plans, and generous paid time off (vacation and sick).
• Collaborative Environment:
  Work with a dedicated and supportive team passionate about public service.
• Work-Life Balance:
  Hybrid work schedules and a commitment to your well-being; 14 paid holidays plus a floating holiday.

The essential functions listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility.

Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

• Directs and provides guidance to staff across multiple functional areas to accomplish departmental goals and operational plans.
• Oversees workflow, staffing, and resource allocation; assigns and communicates daily activities, priorities, and deadlines.
• Leads planning, design, bidding, and construction of parks, recreation facilities, and capital improvement projects; ensures compliance with budgets, schedules, and regulatory requirements.
• Manages consultant and construction contracts, including selection, negotiation, administration, and performance monitoring.
• Develops and monitors project budgets, authorizes payments, manages change orders, and ensures fiscal accountability.
• Evaluates conditions of existing parks, facilities, and programs; recommends improvements, designs, or expansions in alignment with long-range plans.
• Oversees parks and grounds maintenance operations, including preventative maintenance, staffing, inventory, and contractor management.
• Obtains permissive use leases and easements for park, open space, and facility development. Leads land acquisition efforts in accordance with the priorities established in the City’s Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan.
• Ensures compliance with all legal, safety, health, and funding requirements across all program areas.
• Maintains effective community engagement, including addressing concerns, presenting at public meetings, and serving as a liaison to commissions, boards, schools, and community organizations.
• Prepares reports, analyses, grant applications, and presentations for management, Council, or other stakeholders.
• Serves in emergency management roles as assigned and supports city-wide initiatives.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with those interacted with during work regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability, political affiliation, military service, or diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

• Reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures and meets with management staff to identify and resolve problems.
• Assesses and monitors workload; identifies opportunities for improvement and implements changes.
• Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates employees; provides or…