Parks and Recreation Assistant Director

County of Delaware•Media, PA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation supports the Director in the overall administration, operation, and continued development of Delaware County's parks, recreation programs, facilities, and community amenities. This position provides operational leadership for park programming, athletic field permits, special event permits, picnic permits, facility rentals, and Clayton Park Golf Course operations. The Assistant Director is responsible for supporting high-quality customer service and safe, efficient operations by coordinating with County departments, supervising staff, managing facility and program scheduling, administering permit processes, developing operational procedures, and implementing initiatives that expand and enhance recreational opportunities throughout Delaware County. As a member of the Parks and Recreation leadership team, the Assistant Director works closely with the Director to identify operational needs, forecast staffing and budget requirements, evaluate facilities and programs, and recommend improvements. The position requires the ability to manage multiple projects and activities occurring simultaneously across various County locations. The Department of Parks and Recreation operates in a fast-paced environment with programs, events, and facility activities occurring throughout the County. The Department maintains approximately 855 acres across 15 outdoor properties and operates four community buildings. As the Department continues to expand programs and recreational amenities, all team members are expected to support the Department's overall mission, goals, programs, and operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Recreation Administration, Parks and Recreation Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience may be considered.
Three or more years of progressively responsible experience in parks and recreation, recreation programming, facility operations, public administration, or a related field.
Prior experience coordinating programs, facilities, events, permits, or operational activities.
Experience supervising or providing leadership to staff, programs, or projects.
Valid driver's license and ability to travel between County parks, facilities, and other work locations as required.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification such as Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP).
Experience working in municipal, county, or other public-sector parks and recreation operations.
Experience with recreation management, scheduling, permitting, or facility management software.

Responsibilities

Assist the Director with the overall administration and daily operations of County parks, recreation facilities, community buildings, programs, and recreational amenities.
Oversee and coordinate daily operations of recreation centers, parks, community programs, facility rentals, athletic field permits, special event permits, picnic permits, and related recreational activities.
Provide operational oversight and support for Clayton Park Golf Course, including scheduling, customer service, facility coordination, and performance monitoring.
Supervise, guide, and support assigned staff to ensure effective operations, quality customer service, and adherence to County and departmental policies and procedures.
Assist the Director with the development and administration of the Department's annual operating budget, including forecasting expenditures, evaluating operational needs, researching purchases, and recommending appropriate allocation of available resources.
Manage facility and program scheduling and develop efficient workflows to ensure permittees, departmental staff, maintenance personnel, Delaware County Park Police, County Facilities, Public Works, and other involved parties receive appropriate information and comply with established policies and procedures.
Support the development, implementation, and expansion of recreational programming and community opportunities throughout Delaware County.
Collaborate with community organizations, athletic leagues, Friends of Parks groups, vendors, municipalities, and other partners to support programming and recreational initiatives.
Monitor program, facility, and golf course performance through participation data, customer feedback, operational metrics, and other available information.
Evaluate program participation and facility utilization and provide recommendations for improving or expanding use of County parks and recreational facilities.
Respond to customer concerns, permit issues, facility concerns, and operational matters in a professional and timely manner.
Identify facility, grounds, technology, and equipment needs and coordinate with the County Facilities Department, Public Works Department, Information Technology, capital project staff, and other County departments as appropriate.
Assist with planning for facility improvements, maintenance projects, equipment replacement, and other capital or operational needs.
Develop, maintain, and improve administrative processes, electronic scheduling systems, permit procedures, operational guidelines, and related departmental workflows.
Support special events and major recreational programs, including coordination of staffing, facilities, logistics, permits, security, and operational requirements.
Attend Parks and Recreation Board meetings and provide operational updates, recommendations, reports, and information as requested by the Director.
Assist in preparing information necessary to support timely purchasing decisions, equipment requests, facility improvements, and other departmental needs.
Represent the Department at meetings, community events, public presentations, and other functions as assigned.
Assist the Director with implementation of departmental goals, strategic initiatives, policies, and operational priorities.
Serve as acting Director when designated or in the Director's absence.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Department's mission and operations.