Parks and Recreation Director

Job Overview

Position Summary

GENERAL SUMMARY: Provide executive leadership, plan, direct, and coordinate the activities and operations of the Parks and Recreation Department including a civic center, conference center, ice center and nature center.  This valuable team member will be an integral part of supporting efforts to become a high-performance, data-driven, and outcome-focused organization with the ultimate goal of creating an equitable community and organization of choice, through planning, partnerships, and people.   The individual should have strong emotional intelligence and a continuous improvement mindset which will add value to our organization and community.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: Provide executive leadership and administrative oversight to all operations and activities of the Parks and Recreation Department. Work in this class includes providing high level leadership, administrative, and financial direction.   Extensive leeway is granted for the exercise of independent judgement, initiative, discretion, and collaboration. Supervision is exercised over the work of all employees within the Parks and Recreation Department, in coordination with a department leadership team.   The employee in this class establishes and maintains effective working relationships with other City employees, City commissions, business and community groups, other park and recreation jurisdictions, state and federal officials, representatives of the media, and the public. Work is under the direction of and reviewed by the City Manager through observation, results achieved, reports, and conferences.

Job Duties

JOB DUTIES:

• Supervises staff to include prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff are trained; ensuring that employees follow policies and procedures; maintaining a healthy and safe working environment; and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.
• Set vision, direction, and action plans for the department to meet resident needs.
• Develop, assist in development, and implement strategic and long-range plans of the department, including its various divisions and units, and the city.
• Oversee development and all operations of department including planning, organizing, workflow, initiating and implementing policies and procedures, human capital, budget, performance measures, project planning, project management, scheduling and management, and record maintenance in accordance with established standards and policies.
• Direct, plan, organize, and evaluate the work of department leadership team in implementing expressed goals, policies, and directives of the city and department.
• Plan and implement acquisition, redevelopment, and development of properties and facilities to improve the livability of the community.
• Develop new, evaluate current, and adjust initiatives and partnerships to further city goals and/or lead to more efficient government.
• Develop and negotiate agreements, leases, and contracts.
• Develop and maintain sound fiscal and organizational management systems, controls, and practices.
• Plan, develop, and administer department capital and operating budgets.
• Direct and participate in human resource administration including hiring, termination, grievance procedures, recruitment, training, evaluations, and union activities. Plan future human capital needs.
• Direct and build skills, knowledge, and abilities of human capital through training, mentoring, coaching, and other means as needed.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with municipal officials, residents, businesses and community agencies and groups, non-profits, legislators, advisory commissions, committees, media, and developers. Lead community engagement activities and serve as chief spokesperson for department.
• Become and remain current on the principles, practices, and new developments related to parks, parks design, park planning, and parks operations, recreation and recreation programming, facilities and facilities management, and leadership and management.
• Provide department and organizational leadership during emergency activities.
• Direct development required for providing equitable services.
• Direct and provide leadership concerning safety activities within department, facilities, and programs.
• Direct development of report and control systems and processes to provide for the efficient operation of the department.
• Develop department performance measures in coordination with department leadership team.
• Provides advice in the area of expertise to the City Manager, department managers and management teams; and gives related presentations.
• Provides advanced administrative support to the City Manager in support of organizational goals and objectives.
• Review and research data and make data-driven improvements and decisions. Ensure appropriate data integrity throughout the department.
• Prepare and administer private, state, and federal grants, applications, reports and maintain effective working relationships with government jurisdictions and personnel.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Administration and Management - Knowledge of management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, coordination of people and resources, and leadership. Knowledge of finance, planning, marketing, budgeting, and grant-writing principles, practices, techniques, and procedures.
• Leadership – Ability to independently, collaboratively, and proactively lead, take initiative, and multitask.
• Communication and Service Excellence – Ability to meet or exceed customer service needs and expectations and provide excellent service in a direct or indirect manner. Ability to effectively transmit and interpret information through appropriate communication methods with internal and external customers. Communicator adept at making presentations, facilitating meetings, and negotiating contracts. Writing skills with awareness of the audience using technical and non-technical language. Prepare and present reliable documents containing findings and recommendations.
• Collaboration and Positive Impact – Ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and civil manner and utilize existing resources, data, and learning to achieve or exceed desired outcomes of current and future organizational goals and needs.  Navigate values conflicts to identify a shared outcome and develop agreements to move forward.
• Intercultural Competence – Ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and respectful manner while appreciating the unique contributions that bring together the talents of people across multiple identities to achieve more equitable outcomes in the organization and in the community.
• Leadership – Ability to lead independently, collaboratively, proactively, and take initiative. Skills in strategic planning, resource allocation, coordination of people and resources, and leadership. Knowledge of finance, planning, marketing, budgeting, and grant writing principles, practices, techniques, and procedures. Integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness in performing assigned tasks.
• Information Technology – Ability and willingness to learn and use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology. Ability to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks.
• Critical Thinking, Analysis, Complex Problem Solving and Decision Marking – Analyzing problems, thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem, and identifying/implementing solutions. Figuring out how a system/process should work, measuring how well it’s working and how to improve it to arrive at equitable outcomes. Use deductive and inductive reasoning to solve problems.
• Emotional Intelligence – Familiar with the principles and practices of emotional intelligence.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Parks and Recreation administration or related field; and
• At least 10 years of relevant work experience, 5 of which are in parks and recreation field in a senior management/supervisory position, or
• Any combination of relevant education and experience.
• Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain a valid Iowa Driver’s License or, alternatively, the ability to travel independently throughout the community.
• Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) or ability to obtain in 18 months.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters degree in parks and recreation, public or business administrative or related field.
• Experience in facility oversight, leases, and facility contract management.
• Experience serving a diverse population.
• Certified Parks and Recreation Executive (CPRE).

Supplemental Information

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Duties require working irregular hours; and nights, weekends, and holidays as necessary to complete assigned duties and responsibilities. Work is performed in offices, community meetings, businesses, classrooms, department owned and managed spaces, and potential park and trail areas in the community. Frequent independent travel throughout the city is required. May occasionally be exposed to any outdoor weather conditions including but not limited to heat, cold, wind, rain.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL ABILITIES: 

• Clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities which permits effective communication.
• Vision or other powers of observation to review a wide variety of written material in electronic or hard copy form.
• Frequently required to sit, stand, climb, walk, squat, kneel, bend, crouch.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds assisted or unassisted.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: Employees shall establish their principal place of residence within fifty (50) miles of the corporate limits of the city of Dubuque as soon as practicable after the appointment but within two years of appointment.

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

SUPERVISORY STATUS: Administrative