Parks, Recreation

The City of Avondale has an opportunity for a Parks, Recreation & Libraries Director position with the Avondale Parks & Recreation Department.

This is a FLSA Exempt, full-time position with benefits. Plans, organizes, and directs the activities, programs, facilities, special events and services of the Parks, Recreation & Libraries Department. Makes recommendations on operational and managerial problems, long-range plans, programs, and capital improvement plans for the department. Responsibilities include providing guidance and direction to citizen advisory boards and other supportive agencies, preparing presentations and reports for city management and council, reviewing the general operation of the department to determine efficiency, providing direction on major projects or problem areas, developing and implementing policies and procedures applicable to administrative functions, as well as providing overall policy guidance. In addition, the employee is responsible for overseeing the development, preparation, and implementation of the department budget.Administers the Parks, Recreation & Libraries Department by planning, coordinating, and implementing park planning, recreation activities, developing and maintaining the city parks system, and oversight of library operations.

Serves as a technical advisor to the Assistant City Manager, City Manager, and City Council related to library and park operations and recreation programs and all department program areas.

Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates personnel.

Establishes and monitors employee performance objectives, prepares and presents employee performance reviews, provides, or coordinates staff training, works with employees to correct deficiencies, and implements discipline and termination procedures.

Meets and confers with departmental management staff to coordinate projects and programs, implement the special event process, resolve issues, and assist in planning division operations.

Formulates rules and regulations governing the use of parks & recreation facilities and programs.

Develops long range plans, master plans, and other strategic documents and interprets results for use in planning evaluation and decision making. Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery, assesses work load, and reports opportunities for improvements within the programs.

Develops, administers, and monitors the department’s operating budget and capital improvement program. Conducts fiscal/economic impact studies and cost/benefit analyses to prepare budget projections.

Manages capital improvement projects and construction projects for the department.

Provide oversight and lead the Parks Commission and public outreach events.

Provides oversight of library operations, programs, and public events. Coordinates with the leadership team to enhance public interface and safety protocols. Provides oversight of Public Art Program, Public Arts Commission, and ensure regular updates to the Public Art Master Plan.

Provides oversight and monitors the parks capital improvement program as it relates to new park development, redevelopment, equipment replacement and improvements, trail development, and public open space areas.

Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with elected officials, City leaders, department directors, and other City staff.

Meets with citizens or special groups on behalf of elected officials and City leaders.

Represents the City at community meetings.Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Parks & Recreation Management, Public Administration, or similar is required, a Master's Degree is preferred.

Ten (10) years of experience managing daily operations, supporting the City's Strategic plan, and working at a similar-sized city or private entity.

Valid Arizona Operator's Driver's License.

Certified Parks & Recreation Professional, preferred.

Certified Parks & Recreation Executive, preferred.Work requires the ability to read emails, letter, invoice reports, ordinances, budget reports, construction documents, blueprints, technical reports, policy documents, and general correspondence.

Work requires the ability to perform general math calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Work requires the ability to write staff reports, press releases, letters, memos, grants, policy documents, operation manuals and procedures, and general correspondence. Planning responsibilities include completing administrative duties with daily recreation and parks operations, preparing and managing departmental operations and capital improvement budget, and training and mentoring the staff.

The incumbent has responsibility for final approval of budgetary recommendations to the City Council and monitors progress toward fiscal objectives and adjusts plans as necessary to reach them.

Work requires managing and monitoring work performance of senior department managers including evaluating program/work objectives and effectiveness, establishing broad organizational goals and realigning work and staffing assignments for the department.

Work is of the broadest scope dealing with highly complex concepts and issues of great importance to the City.

Highly important policies, procedures or precedents are approved or rejected by individuals in this classification.

The incumbents in this position contact others within the organization.

These contacts may involve similar work units or departments within the City, such as Finance, Administration, and Human Resources, which may be involved in decision making or providing approval or decision making authority for purchases or projects.

In addition, these incumbents work with individuals outside the City who may belong to professional or peer organizations.

Working with various state and federal agencies may also be required of the employee.

Vendors and suppliers may also be called upon for information on purchases, supplies or products.

Meetings and discussions may be conducted with customers, brokers, sales representatives, and/or the general public. Employee must maintain regular attendance. Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner. #J-18808-Ljbffr