Recreation Senior Manager

City of Boulder•Boulder, CO

15d

About The Position

Under limited direction, Parks and Recreation Senior Managers lead a Service Area within the Department of Parks and Recreation, including Community Building and Partnerships, Recreation, and Regional Facilities. These positions are responsible for the overall direction, performance, and community impact of their assigned service area, ensuring programs, services, and facilities align with and advance department-wide goals. Senior Managers serve on the department’s leadership team and contribute to strategic planning, resource allocation, and organizational effectiveness. These roles foster a culture of operational excellence, data-informed decision-making, and collaborative service delivery to enhance the quality of life for the Boulder community.

Requirements

Ability that can be demonstrated to set goals and to achieve them.
Ability to be sensitive to how people and organizations function; anticipates where the landmines are and plans an approach accordingly.
Ability to communicate issues effectively with the public, boards and City Council, city staff, other agencies and community groups, including strong public speaking and writing skills.
Ability to demonstrate experience with recreation facility, public land or park site construction documentation, bidding, budgeting, and/or construction administration.
Ability to perform with an acceptable level of risk and can maneuver through complex political situations with confidence effectively and with confidentiality.
Ability to lead, manage and organize a large workgroup.
Ability to respond to emergency situations during and after weekday working hour needs.
Ability to work under minimal supervision and to react and make decisions quickly, while demonstrating good judgment.
Ability to navigate and make effective decisions that align with the strategic vision while working in an evolving environment.
Ability to actively solicit and foster the ideas of others, evaluating those ideas for their practical and creative merits as solutions to current and future problems and to improve the services valued by customers.
Ability to facilitate a positive work environment that supports peak performance; has the ability to determine what encourages others; and demonstrates an ability to delegate while fostering independent decision-making.
Ability to perform at all levels of the organization and obtain successful outcomes; interacts with internal and external stakeholders and customers in a manner that supports organizational values.
Ability to marshal resources (people, funding, materials, support) to get things done, uses resources effectively and efficiently, can orchestrate multiple activities at once to accomplish a goal.
Ability to manage multiple capital improvement projects and to engage support from multiple constituencies.
Knowledge at a thorough level and experience managing parks and recreation operations.
Knowledge at a working level of natural resource principles, resource management techniques, and cultural resource management.
Knowledge at a comprehensive level of parks general management including familiarity with environmental management issues.
Skills in computer operations, strong graphic communication skills, including knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Skills in excellent verbal and written communication, including the ability to deal tactfully and effectively with the public.
Valid driver’s license and ability to maintain acceptable motor vehicle record.
Have and maintain acceptable background information, including criminal conviction history.
Bachelor's degree in Parks and Recreation Administration, Business, Outdoor Recreation, Natural Resources Management or a related field. Eight (8) years of experience may substitute for the education requirement only.
Seven (7) years of progressively responsible leadership and management, including prior supervisory experience in public amenity management with a performance record of effective leadership, business, and management, organizational skills, promoting innovation and fostering equity.
Three (3) years of supervisory experience.

Nice To Haves

Skills both written and verbal in bilingual (Spanish/English).
Master’s degree in one of the following: parks and recreation management, public administration, business administration or a similar field, and at least eight years of demonstrated leadership and management experience and work in an active, highly engaged, university community.
Demonstrated experience in engaging and leading staff and helping to shape a positive culture within an organization and the ability to communicate complex issues, lead successful multi-year projects and initiatives and direct staff with clarity.
Experience with Parks and Recreation in the areas of strategic planning, performance-based management objectives, recreation program and partnership development, sustainability efforts involving economic, social, and environment policy development and implementation.
Experience serving a CAPRA Accredited Agency.
Experience working with multiple budget funds including capital development and renovation funds as well as experience with enterprise management.
Experience with boards and commissions.

Responsibilities

Leads assigned service area operations, ensuring effective coordination and delivery of programs, services, and facilities that align with community needs, department priorities, and city goals.
Provides strategic leadership as a member of the department’s leadership team, contributing to long-range planning, annual work planning, and organizational direction.
Develops, manages, and monitors service area operating budgets and contributes to department-wide operating and capital budget development, including forecasting, financial analysis, and identification of funding opportunities such as grants and partnerships.
Identifies capital improvement, maintenance, and asset management needs and contributes to development and implementation of Capital Improvement Program (CIP) priorities.
Establishes performance standards, service expectations, and measurable outcomes; monitors results and ensures accountability for achieving service area and department goals.
Ensures programs and services are planned, delivered, and evaluated using data, performance metrics, and community input to support continuous improvement and effective service delivery.
Builds and maintains relationships with community organizations, governmental agencies, and stakeholders to support service delivery, expand access, and respond to emerging community needs.
Leads or supports public engagement processes, including preparation of materials and presentations for advisory boards and City Council, and facilitates community input through a variety of methods.
Integrates the city’s Racial Equity Plan into service area operations, including application of equity tools, development of performance measures, and advancement of equitable access to programs, services, and facilities.
Implements industry best practices and supports compliance with professional standards, including accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA).
Monitors trends, innovations, and emerging issues in parks and recreation and applies this knowledge to inform planning, service delivery, and organizational improvements.
Selects, leads, develops, and evaluates staff; establishes clear expectations; and supports talent management, succession planning, and workforce development aligned with department values.
Promotes a culture of collaboration, communication, accountability, and continuous improvement across teams and with internal and external partners.
Ensures compliance with all applicable city policies, regulations, and safety standards, and promotes a safe, ethical, and inclusive work environment.
Directs and oversees operations of recreation centers and aquatic facilities, including North Boulder Recreation Center, East Boulder Community Center, South Boulder Recreation Center, and associated indoor and outdoor aquatic amenities.
Oversees the planning, scheduling, and delivery of recreation programming, including fitness, wellness, aquatics, and drop-in services, ensuring offerings support community health, well-being, and lifelong recreation.
Develops and implements operational plans, staffing approaches, and service delivery models tailored to high-volume recreation environments, ensuring efficient operations and a high-quality customer experience.
Applies participation data, customer feedback, and operational performance metrics to evaluate program effectiveness, inform program development, and guide service improvements.
Establishes and enforces safety standards and risk management practices specific to recreation and aquatic operations, including staff certification requirements, facility safety compliance, and emergency procedures.
Coordinates with internal departments and external partners on facility improvements, operational needs, and initiatives that expand equitable access to recreation services.
Develops, administers, and monitors contracts, partnerships, and membership programs that support program delivery, cost recovery, and inclusive access to services.
Directs and oversees operations across regional facilities, including Flatirons Golf Course, Boulder Reservoir, Valmont City Park, and athletic turf, sports, and events.
Oversees the coordination and delivery of facility-based programs, services, and events, including golf operations and instruction, water-based recreation, sports programming, tournaments, and permitted events.
Develops and implements operational plans and resource allocation strategies to support complex, multi-site operations, balancing service quality, cost recovery, and user experience.
Provides leadership for athletic field and event operations, including scheduling, permitting, and coordination of use, ensuring equitable access, efficient utilization, and maintenance of quality standards.
Integrates facility operations with programming and event delivery, ensuring alignment between physical assets, service offerings, and community use.
Applies operational data, participation trends, and industry practices to inform decision-making, improve services, and guide long-term planning for facilities and programs.
Establishes and implements operational, maintenance, and safety practices appropriate to diverse facility types, including recreation, event, and natural resource-based environments.
Coordinates with local, state, and regional partners and regulatory agencies to support operations related to water use, environmental stewardship, permitting, and compliance requirements.
Directs and oversees community-focused programming areas, including Youth Services Initiative (YSI), EXPAND and Camps, Gymnastics, and Volunteer Services.
Leads partnership strategy for the department and serves as the primary liaison to the PLAY Boulder Foundation, coordinating fundraising efforts, donor engagement, and alignment of investments with departmental priorities.
Directs grant development, philanthropic initiatives, and funding partnerships to support program sustainability and expand services, particularly for underserved populations.
Develops, manages, and sustains strategic partnerships with schools, nonprofit organizations, and community groups to enhance collaborative programming and broaden community impact.
Oversees youth development and access initiatives designed to reduce participation barriers and expand equitable recreation opportunities, including management of the department’s Financial Aid Program.
Leads planning and delivery of youth-focused programming, including camps, enrichment programs, and gymnastics, ensuring alignment with youth development goals and community needs.
Directs volunteer engagement strategies, including recruitment, training, placement, and integration into departmental programs and services.
Leads evaluation, reporting, and analysis of program outcomes, community impact, and equity goals to inform strategic planning, funding decisions, and policy development.