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Director of Parks and Recreation

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Director of Parks and Recreation

Salary

$141,204.64 - $248,821.07 Annually

Location

Virginia 23510, VA

Job Type

Unclassified

Job Number

13089

Department

Parks & Recreation

Division

Director's Office

Opening Date

08/05/2025

Closing Date

Continuous

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Description

About Us:

The City of Norfolk’s Department of Parks and Recreation is proud to be nationally recognized as a 2019 National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Gold Medal Finalist and a CAPRA (Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies)– accredited agency since 2017 – honors that reflect our unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and community service.

Description

The City of Norfolk’s Department of Parks & Recreation is currently seeking a strategic and visionary Director of Parks & Recreation to be responsible for the management, comprehensive operations and maintenance programs for all City parks, cemeteries, gardens, recreation facilities, school grounds, waterfront land, beaches, management of open spaces to include trails, city wide facilities, and other public properties. You’ll oversee the administration, development, and implementation of our nationally recognized and accredited recreation program. If you are passionate about making a difference through parks, programs, and community spaces, we’d love to hear from you!

The Director operates under the executive direction of the City Manager and requires significant independence and initiative in accomplishing program objectiveness and effective operations.

City of Norfolk

Norfolk, Virginia is America's most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the world's largest naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia, Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous publications. Working for the City of Norfolk is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others. With our commitment to competitive pay and a strong retirement package, you can do good for your community and do well for yourself. Join a caring workplace that proudly celebrates uniqueness, authenticity, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of our residents.

This position is a Senior Executive unclassified position which serves at the will of the City Manager.

Essential Functions

+ Provides leadership and direction to the Assistant Director, Business Systems Manager and division leaders to plan, organize, coordinate, and manage the performance of professional, technical, maintenance and clerical support personnel to achieve the strategic goals of the Department of Parks and Recreation.

+ Responsible for overall management and leadership of the four bureaus within the Parks and Recreation Department; Bureau of Planning and Administration, Bureau of Recreation and Community Wellness, Bureau of Parks, and Forestry Operations, and Bureau of Cemeteries. This includes budget preparation, development and monitoring.

+ Develops and implements a flexible program of community-building activities (recreation, parks, and neighborhood improvement services) for all customer segments, social groups, ages, and interest levels within the community.

+ Recommends acquisition and directs the development and maintenance of park and playground areas, structures and facilities, and waterways, trails, beaches, and city-wide facilities.

+ Manages a flexible program of recreational activities for all segments, social groups, ages, and interest levels within the community.

+ Cultivates collaboration and partnerships among city and external agencies, and residents; identifies and develops plans to address neighborhood, parks, recreation, and open space needs; and marketing of neighborhoods.

+ Directs the preparation and administration of the departmental business plan, performance measurement system, work program and budget, to ensure cost effectiveness.

+ Plans and coordinates neighborhood recreational strategies with other departments, schools, civic organizations, non-profit organizations, and other partners.

+ Directs communications and promotional activities to encourage citizen support, participation, attendance, and interest in parks, recreation, and open space programs.

+ Collaborates with various public, private, non-profit, and civic groups and individuals to promote departmental community-building activities and to ascertain desired or needed services.

+ Reviews and analyzes systems and processes, equipment usage, and performance to find ways of increasing effectiveness, improving results, and achieving improved cost efficiency in service delivery.

+ Coordinates the selection of personnel to serve in the Department of Parks and Recreation.

+ Performs as facilitator, advisor, and technical expert in terms of natural resources and management for the City Manager, City Council, municipal departments, and the public; makes formal presentations and public policy recommendations.

+ Reviews and analyzes the effectiveness of projects and programs and revises in accordance with current customer needs and desires.

+ Coordinates the development and implementation of programs and strategic plans for the betterment of the community.

Education/Experience

+ The successful candidate will have a bachelor's degree in recreation and parks management, business or public administration, or related field.

+ Eight to ten years of progressively responsible professional experience preferred, and five or more years’ senior level management experience required.

+ Master’s degree preferred.

Additional Information & Requirements

+ Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE)

+ Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP)

+ Or other related certification.

+ Valid driver’s license.

This position is open until filled.

Please click the link below for additional information.

https://www.norfolk.gov/DocumentCenter/View/103924/Director-of-Parks-and-Recreation-Executive-Brochure

+ Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.

+ Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.

+ Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.

+ Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

+ The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant’s school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

NOTE:

The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.

Non-City

Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.

01

The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.

+ I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

02

Do you have the legal right to work in the United States and, upon employment, can you provide documentation to verify this?

+ Yes

+ No

03

Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?

+ Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee

+ Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee

+ No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee

04

Please select the highest level of education you have completed.

+ High School Diploma/GED

+ Associate's Degree

+ Bachelor's Degree

+ Master's Degree or higher

05

Please select the professional Parks and Recreation certifications you possess. (CPRP, CPRE, other).

+ Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE)

+ Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP)

+ Other

06

If you selected other in the previous question, please specify “other” certification.

07

How many years of experience do you have in Parks & Recreation or a related field in management capacity?

+ No experience

+ Less than 5 years of experience

+ 5-7 years of experience

+ 8-10 years of experience

+ 10+ years of experience

08

What is your knowledge and level of experience with CAPRA Accreditation?

09

What is your long-term vision for Parks and Recreation in a growing, diverse urban community, and how would you build consensus to achieve it?

10

Do you have a valid driver's license?

+ Yes

+ No

11

Are you a qualified military spouse? (An individual who is certified by the designated local agency as being a spouse of a member of the United States Armed Forces)

+ Yes

+ No

12

Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)

+ I am not a Veteran

+ I am a Veteran

+ I am a Disabled Veteran

Required Question

Employer

City of Norfolk

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