Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation

City of Tucson • Toms River, NJ

2d • $39 - $58

About The Position

The City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Department is seeking a Deputy Director to oversee the Recreation and Aquatics Divisions. This leader will combine strong people and community engagement skills with sound business judgment, including cost recovery, external agreement management, and innovative activation of recreation and aquatic spaces within established budgets. The ideal candidate values collaboration, builds strong relationships with staff and the community, and is committed to understanding and serving Tucson’s unique culture. Success in this role requires a team-oriented leader who welcomes diverse perspectives and works collaboratively to solve complex challenges.

The Administrator on assignment as Deputy Director position at the Parks & Recreation Department assists the Director with overall department functions, goals, and approach to reaching milestones, specifically as they relate to recreation programs, centers, events, sports, and aquatics staff, and service delivery at pools. Maintains a strong internal and external customer focus, demonstrating excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build productive relationships with staff, community members, and stakeholders. Work is performed under the supervision of the Parks & Recreation Director. This position exercises supervision over Parks & Recreation personnel.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree
• Five (5) years of directly related experience
• Valid and unrestricted Arizona Class D Driver’s License
• Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and five (5) years of experience supervising and leading staff in operations of recreation and or aquatic nature, providing improvement and efficiencies.
• 5 years of experience specifically in a Parks and Recreation environment (equivalency option – working in the government sector for an operating department for 10 years)
• 5 years of supervisor experience of staff delivering programs in Recreation and or Aquatic environment, with familiarity with providing services to all ages, audiences, and abilities.
• 5 years of minimum experience applying and managing complex budgets (meaning more than one account or area of financial responsibility) and staffing assignments that are aligned to multiple areas of service in a Parks and Recreation environment (preferred)
• 3 years of experience working with short or long-range plans, such as Strategic Plan, Master Plan, Bond Program, Recreation Plan, where the candidate can demonstrate involvement (development, implementation, monitoring)
• 5 years of experience with budgeting, projecting, and financial management practices for a large governmental organization ( large defined as over $20M annual budget, plus over 150 full-time employees)
• Active member and involvement with tNRPA organization or associated schools
• Certifications desired not required: CRPR, CPRE, NRPA School certifications: Revenue School, Directors School, Grounds Maintenance School.

Responsibilities

• Directs staff responsible for planning, funding, and operating parks, recreation facilities, aquatic programs, and open spaces to ensure equitable access and community participation.
• Assists the Director in planning, development, and administration of parks and recreation facilities, programs, projects, and special events.
• Develops and implements departmental policies, procedures, and operational standards to support effective and efficient service delivery.
• Oversees organizational structure, staffing plans, and accountability systems to improve operational performance and ensure appropriate personnel coverage.
• Provides leadership and supervision to management staff, including hiring, training, performance management, and employee development.
• Collaborates with senior leadership to develop recreation and aquatics strategies, operational improvements, and budgetary efficiencies.
• Conducts data-informed assessments of staffing, budgets, funding, land use, and physical assets; provides feedback on capital projects and facility design.
• Oversees negotiation and administration of leases, agreements, and professional service contracts related to parks and recreation spaces.
• Serves in the Director’s absence and represents the department with community members, boards, elected officials, and partners; prepares reports, presentations, and other administrative communications.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• The City of Tucson offers a generous benefits package for benefit-eligible positions. The comprehensive, flexible, and affordable coverage is designed to optimize health and well-being, security and future, and peace of mind.
• Benefits begin with medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and FSA coverage, surpassing your standard 401(k) program by offering a rich pension plan plus optional Roth and pretax deferred compensation savings.
• With your well-being in mind, our paid time off program provides new hires with 38 paid days off in the first year of employment, with time off increasing steadily in subsequent years.
• We offer twelve weeks of paid parental leave, paid tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment, off- and on-the-job training, and opportunities to forge connections with peers and the community through employee resource groups and paid volunteer hours.
• You can learn more about our benefits at https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Human-Resources/Employee-Benefit-Snapshot.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees