Position Summary:

Reporting directly to the Executive Management Team, the Parks & Recreation Director performs highly responsible professional and administrative work in planning, organizing, and directing a comprehensive community year-round parks and recreation program to include department facilities’ maintenance, recreation programming, cemetery operations, and developing future program and facility improvements and expansions.  With an annual budget currently over $7,591,000, the director is also responsible for the effective, efficient, and responsive operations of the department by providing inspirational leadership, effective management of activities, and performance measures, along with recreational space, programs, and services designed to meet the needs of our diverse community.

The Ideal Candidate:

Plant City desires to hire a respected, team-oriented visionary who has a reputation of being a trusted leader, a professional who the holds the highest degree of integrity, parks and recreation competence, and an unquestionable commitment to service excellence.  The new director must also bring a verifiable history of building and maintaining strong relationships in the department, the City organization, and the community.

Additionally, the ideal candidate must have exceptional communication skills and be expert at building trust, openness, and mutual respect throughout the department.  This seasoned leisure services leader must understand the importance of not only doing things right, but also have the courage and wherewithal to always do the right things.

The new director must be an outstanding listener and communicator, both orally and in writing; must have the passion, character, and competence to be diplomatic; and must be visible in the community, demonstrating a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities of providing parks and recreation services in this new era.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Oversee the Parks Superintendent, Recreation Superintendent, and Cemetery Superintendent as they manage the day-to-day operations of the department within the City’s stated core strategies.
• Ensure all activities and operations of the department serve the leisure-time program needs of residents and visitors while providing for landscaping and maintaining city-owned land, recreation facilities, park structures, playgrounds, city cemeteries, athletic fields and courts, and tree trimming on City properties and travel rights-of-way.
• Hands-on involvement to ensure availability of diverse programs that are designed to allow participation from those of all age groups, interests, and abilities, including small groups to large numbers of participants, from youngsters to mature adults, and from the physically athletic to the physically challenged, proactively committed to continuous improvement.
• Supervise all activities related to hiring, interviews, disciplinary actions, evaluations, recommendations of pay adjustments, and job reclassifications for personnel in the department; utilize strong, strategic organizational development skills.
• Advise staff as they select, organize, and develop personnel to administer parks and recreation programs, facilities, and cemetery operations, using existing City facilities and coordinating with outside agencies or organizations in the use of other facilities.
• Keep the public informed of the services, facilities, and programs available through the department. Solicit suggestions from the public.
• Receive and respond to inquiries, concerns, compliments, and complaints regarding department personnel, responsibilities, and functions; proactively report issues to the City Manager.
• Represent the department at various community meetings, events, and conferences.
• Keep the public informed on all programming and facility activities through reviewed and approved press releases to print, broadcast, website, and social media platforms.
• Continuously monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of department methods, procedures, and programs; assess and monitor workload; identify and implement opportunities for improvement.
• Promote a safe environment for all users and staff; inspect facilities to ensure adherence of best safety practices.
• Cooperate with other City departments, other governmental agencies, and other volunteer organizations and private interest groups to provide for a diverse range of recreation opportunities.
• Prepare and submit reports, documentation, projections, and presentations for evaluation of facilities and programs, present and future, to the City Manager. Provide justification information for planning the addition or expansion of services and facilities.
• Provide technical assistance to community organizations or agencies relating to special activities in parks, recreation areas, public programs, and use of City facilities.
• Oversee all purchases of equipment, supplies, repairs, maintenance of equipment and vehicles, and capital expenditures for the department.
• Develop budget projections, justifications, and presentations for the operating budget and for future capital expenditures for the department.
• Plan for the acquisition, development, and operation of proposed parks, recreation facilities, cemeteries properties, and open spaces.
• Maintain current knowledge of parks, recreation, and cemetery programs and facilities through professional organizations and continuing education opportunities.
• Participate as an integral part of the Emergency Operations group in the event of a disaster.
• Perform other duties as dictated by operational necessity.

Minimum Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to carry out each essential duty or responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities; education and/or experience; and certificates or licenses required in order to fill the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Comprehensive knowledge of recreation, park maintenance, and death care programs, principles, procedures, and operations, updated regularly through conferences, seminars, and other training.
• Extensive knowledge of modern personnel management practices and procedures, including guidelines relating to federal and state law regarding facilities and programs.
• Ability to motivate and lead subordinate staff.
• Skill in developing subordinate staff to plan and carry out department goals.
• Skill in staff development planning to ensure efficient future upward mobility of staff and succession planning.
• Ability to plan the most cost-effective use of staff, materials, supplies, and equipment.
• Ability to develop innovative ways of generating revenues from department facilities.
• Ability to write and speak clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, community groups, and the general public.
• Skill in computer usage, including but not limited to email, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, desktop publishing, social media, and website development and upkeep.
• Work in an inside office environment, with regular outdoor work required while reviewing facilities and in-the-field staff; facilitating programs, special events, and projects; responding to customer reported issues; and during emergency management situations.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, and irregular hours as required for events and department needs.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management, Park Management, Leisure Services, Sports Administration, or related field.
• Five (5) years of progressive-responsibility experience in field-related administration.
• A comparable amount of training, education, or experience may be substituted for the above minimum qualifications.

Certificates and Licenses:

• Possession of a valid Florida driver’s license is required. Must be insurable by the City’s current insurance carrier.
• Certified Parks & Recreation Professional (CPRP) or Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) status is required within 3 years.
• Certified Public Manager (CPM) status is required within 3 years.
• Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) status is preferred.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Oversee the direct-reporting Superintendents who are part of an administrative and labor force of 61 employees deployed across the Parks, Recreation, and Cemetery Divisions.