Parks & Recreation Director Jobs

The City of Golden is currently seeking a Parks & Recreation Director. Come and see why the City of Golden is the place you want to be!

Being a Golden employee is more than just a job, it's a lifestyle. Golden is a vibrant outdoor community making it a great place to live, work and play.

• Paid time off – Paid vacation starts at 16 days (that's over 3 weeks!), plus 12 days of sick time and 12 paid holidays each year.
• Great benefits – The City matches up to 8% of your retirement contributions, plus offers a full-spectrum of benefits and perks, including tuition reimbursement (check it out)!
• Location, location, location – Work near great restaurants and shops, hit the trails, and enjoy the outdoor scenery of Clear Creek and the foothills. Convenient commuting from all directions.

The Parks and Recreation Director is a strong and engaging leader responsible for a high-performing department with a $25 million budget, 8 direct reports, and an overall staff ranging from 100 to 400 including seasonal employees. The Director leads day to day operations and ensures effective collaboration and consistency among the division’s functional departments and with the city organization.
In addition to developing, planning, and implementing department goals and objectives, the Director oversees the recreational, golf, and park activities of the City including the development of new programs, construction and repair of municipal facilities, maintenance of parks, golf course, cemetery, open space, community buildings, campground, and forestry divisions. The position is also responsible for development and management of the department’s annual operating and capital improvement budgets; supporting the development of staff, and relationships with outside agencies and organizations. This position reports to the Deputy City Manager and serves on the City’s Executive Leadership Team.
The City of Golden desires a creative, flexible, and passionate leader willing to try new things for alternative programming and boosting attendance to city facilities. A leader with a strong work ethic, collaborative management style, and a keen ability to communicate, listen, engage, and respond while maintaining a sense of humor will serve the department well. This role offers the right leader a tremendous range of potential opportunities to make an impact on the City of Golden now and into the future.
The ideal candidate has demonstrated leadership and management experience in parks and recreation with the ability to lead and develop large teams, exercise fiscal responsibility, and be seen as a leader both in the department and city-wide. With a proven track record for building relationships, the ideal candidate will support a diverse and collaborative environment while guiding the department through potential challenges and opportunities. The new director must be a strong communicator and able to handle conflict calmly and effectively while demonstrating flexibility and adaptability to changing situations and priorities. Competitive candidates will also possess proven budget and fiscal experience.
Additional characteristics being sought include:

• Knowledge of recreation activities and programming including pertinent laws and regulations.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to exercise these skills to foster community engagement and collaborate with local organizations and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of and interest in resource management using best practice, organic focus, harm reduction strategies.
• Proven leader with high emotional intelligence and the ability to motivate, encourage, inspire, and motivate staff including the recruitment and development of diverse teams.
• Passion for community service and commitment to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.
• Excellent problem solving and decision-making abilities, including the ability to develop and implement comprehensive plans, policies, and procedures.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree with major course work in parks and recreation, administration, or business, AND a minimum of 7 years’ experience in public administration including at least 3-5 years of supervisory experience in a public service setting. Master’s degree preferred. Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) or Executive (CPRE) through the National Recreation and Parks Association is given strong consideration. Successful leadership, strategic planning, budgeting, and business development experience is critical. Possession of a valid driver’s license and good driving record is also required.
The City of Golden is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce.
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.