Supervisor, River Valley Visitor Services

City of Edmonton•Edmonton, AB

7d•CA$108,839 - CA$136,046•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of River Valley Parks, the Supervisor of River Valley Visitor Services provides strategic leadership for a diverse range of activities within the iconic North Saskatchewan River Valley park system. Leading a large, multidisciplinary team of permanent and seasonal staff, you will oversee managing everything from structured public programs, rentals, and bookings to spontaneous community use. Accountable for a complex financial portfolio, you will ensure fiscal sustainability through effective revenue generation, market-driven fee-setting, and effective commercial contract management, all while maintaining the City’s steadfast commitment to equitable public access. As a bridge between corporate strategy and frontline service delivery, you will navigate the diverse, competing interests of partners and the public, ensuring all activation aligns with the Ribbon of Green, strategic park master plans and regulatory frameworks. Central to your success will be your ability to build a collaborative, engaged and high-performing culture that thrives on accountability and service excellence. This position offers a unique opportunity to translate the City’s long-term vision into a daily reality; protecting the ecological integrity of the valley while shaping it into a premier destination for recreation and tourism.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in Recreation, Tourism, Park Administration/Management, Business, Marketing, Arts, Sciences, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Minimum of 5 years supervisory experience in a park or recreation facility environment within a large complex organization
Team Leadership & Employee Relations: Lead, mentor, and manage a diverse, unionized workforce by fostering a culture of commitment and safety while effectively handling grievances, disciplinary actions, and conflict resolution
Financial & Operational Stewardship: Oversee operational budgets, financial forecasting, and reporting, while managing procurement processes and complex contracts with commercial vendors and community partners
Strategic Execution & Policy Compliance: Utilize project management principles and organizational skills to implement programs, navigate City policies and regulations, and develop business continuity plans
Communication & Safety Management: Ensure a safe environment for staff and the public while maintaining clear, effective verbal and written communication with diverse partners and the public
Alignment to our Cultural Commitments and Leadership Competencies (https://bit.ly/4brRrXm)
Embracing a culture of equity, diversity, reconciliation and inclusion
Applicants may be tested
Valid Alberta Class 5 driver's licence (or provincial equivalent)
Applicants will be required to arrange their own transportation and, where appropriate, will be reimbursed in accordance with City of Edmonton policy. This may require the applicant to obtain business use auto insurance
Hire is dependent upon a Police Information Check satisfactory to the City of Edmonton

Responsibilities

Lead the integrated delivery of all River Valley visitor services, encompassing registered, school, and drop-in programming, high-touch facility rentals (e.g., Yorath House, Alfred H. Savage Centre), over 2,000 annual picnic bookings, and contracted commercial services
Establish a unified vision for River Valley visitor experiences that dynamically balances public access with environmental preservation, ensuring strict alignment with the Ribbon of Green, the North Saskatchewan River Valley Area Redevelopment Plan, and City Plan objectives
Manage the full lifecycle of the unit's budget, driving strategic revenue-generating initiatives, leading the annual competitive fee-setting process, and securing alternative funding streams such as grants and sponsorships
Oversee the procurement of partner and commercial services, including RFPs and expressions of interest, and collaborate with Legal Services to develop contract terms and conditions that mitigate organizational risk
Direct, coach, and mentor a large, multidisciplinary team, managing organizational structure, FTE allocations, and full recruitment and onboarding lifecycles to foster a high-performance, inclusive culture
Manage full-lifecycle talent administration within a unionized environment, establishing clear performance expectations, executing formal investigations and disciplinary processes, and partnering with union representatives to resolve grievances
Provide critical technical expertise and operational insight into long-term land use planning, land acquisition, open space policy development, and priority corporate capital growth or renewal projects
Coordinate service delivery across multiple departments and branches to resolve competing interests, represent the section on corporate committees, and author comprehensive Council reports, memos, and briefing notes
Direct the implementation of the Corporate Occupational Health and Safety program across diverse indoor and outdoor amenities, ensuring legislative compliance, overseeing incident investigations, and executing emergency response plans and drills
Ensure strict organizational conformance to ENVISO requirements and associated bylaws, implement "Visitor-First" service standards, and protect City assets through regular facility inspections and preventative security measures