Recognized as one of the best towns in the U.S. by the Guardian, the Town of Chapel Hill, NC seeks a strategic and innovative thinker to serve as its next Parks and Recreation Director. Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation seeks a visionary leader for their next Director who is passionate about how parks and recreational programs increase quality of life for community members at all points along the age continuum. If you are an outstanding leader who is interested in shaping the footprint of parks in Chapel Hill, inspiring innovation in recreation programming, establishing new public-private partnerships, ensuring equity in programming and access, and attracting and developing talented staff to serve a broad set of customers, this opportunity is for you. 

About the Department and Position: The Parks and Recreation Department has 55 full-time and up to 150 part-time employees in four divisions (Business Operations, Park Maintenance, Planning, and Recreation), with an annual operating budget of $7.7M and over $10M in planned capital improvements. The Department operates and maintains over 730 acres of public spaces, including 8 community parks, 17.6 miles of greenways and natural surface trails, 4 swimming pools (3 indoor pools), 2 recreation / community centers, 14 tennis courts, and 6 pickleball courts, and 4 municipal cemeteries. Year-round programs are designed for those of all ages and abilities with a mission “to enliven our community by providing exceptional service, creating opportunities for inclusive recreational and cultural experiences and nurturing beautiful, sustainable spaces.”

Reporting to the Town Manager and overseeing two direct reports – Parks and Recreation Assistant Director and Senior Manager – Park Planning and Operations, the Director is responsible for fulfilling the department’s mission by leading staff to meet strategic goals. The next Director will nurture relationships with key collaborative partners including the Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation and Greenways Commission.

Qualifications: A Bachelor’s degree with municipal parks and recreation experience – specifically 5 or more years of successful and progressive levels of responsibility in both parks and recreations divisions is required. Master’s degree and CPRP certification are strongly preferred. 

Salary and Benefits: The hiring range for this position is $126,000-$145,000. Compensation is negotiable based upon experience and qualifications. The Town’s excellent benefits package can be viewed here.

To apply, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/developmentalassociates and click on the Parks and Recreation Director – Town of Chapel Hill, NC title. All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal – NOT the Town Employment Application portal, nor any other external website; it is not sufficient to send only a resume. Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application. Applicants are encouraged to apply by February 19, 2023. Successful semi-finalists will be invited to participate in virtual interviews and skill evaluation on March 21-22, 2023. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate. All inquiries should be emailed to hiring@developmentalassociates.com. The Town of Chapel Hill is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The recruitment and selection process are being managed by Developmental Associates, LLC.