DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION, & TOURISM – 0525 Position Available In Greenville, South Carolina

Job SummaryWithin broad parameters defined by the Assistant City Manager and in accordance with general organizational requirements and accepted practices, is responsible for the overall direction and administration of the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism (PRT) Department which includes the following divisions: Administration, Parks, Recreation, Events, and Cultural Affairs. Plans, communicates, and provides a strategic vision and direction for the department. Leads and manages the development and implementation of long- and short-term plans for department operations, functions, projects, and facilities. Develops and administers programs and systems to support and promote high performance strategies to meet organizational goals. Oversees and manages accomplishment of the Department’s annual work plan. Ensures that master plans and project plans which have been assigned to the Department and endorsed by City Council are strategically implemented. Develops and monitors annual department operational and capital improvement budgets. Advises and directs subordinate managers on matters of recruitment and hiring, workforce planning, work assignments, performance evaluations, promotions, and discipline. Serves as a City liaison with a variety of public agencies, including Visit GreenvilleSC, garden clubs, neighborhood associations, Metropolitan Arts Council, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT), contractors, and the public. Negotiates contracts and agreements on behalf of the City. Attends City Council and Work Session meetings and makes presentations as directed. Essential Functions % of TimeProvide Overall Direction and Leadership to

Department:

Administer, plan, and direct the operations and activities of the department in alignment with the City’s strategic initiatives, utilizing best practices to ensure operational compliance with City policy, ordinances, rules, and regulations. Administer activities of the Administration, Parks, Recreation, Events, and Cultural Affairs divisions which also includes responsibilities for trails, urban design, capital project management, complete streets, and bicycle infrastructure. Establish, implement, and evaluate internal systems to effectively meet operating goals and objectives. Develop and evaluate policies and procedures to effectively carryout departmental operations. Promote staff collaboration, innovation, and critical thinking in developing solutions and approaches to departmental issues. Develop long- and short-term plans for department operations, functions, projects, and facilities. Collaborate with City committees, commissions, and task forces on planning efforts and projects, recreation programs and service of delivery, policy changes for use of facilities, project planning, design, and construction for parks, gardens, recreation facilities, streetscapes, bicycle infrastructure, trails, capital project/budget planning, service needs studies, facility maintenance, facility expansion, property acquisition, service level reports, and operational impacts on personnel levels and operating budget of proposed projects. Monitor each division’s progress in accomplishing annual workplan goals. Lead department efforts to continuously improve operational efficiency and effectiveness. Collaborate with staff on possible projects and service partnerships. Develop, review, and edit contractual agreements for property and services as needed. Lead community engagement with constituents and customers through meetings, conversations, and formal surveys. Implement programs that promote communication with the community on a variety of topics. Implement procedures for receiving and processing community inquiries and concerns. Meet with community groups, give talks and presentations, and represent the City at various meetings and functions. Provide timely and thorough response to inquiries made by the public, City Council, and the City Manager.35%

Lead and Manage Department Personnel:

Oversee management of department personnel through subordinate levels of supervision. Ensure organizational structure reflects clear reporting lines for optimum service delivery. Build a sense of team within the department and ensure that all are informed and have opportunity to provide input on decisions and issues that affect departmental staff. Meet with staff on a regular basis to clarify mission and objectives. Set priorities, delegate work assignments, projects, and programs; monitor workflow; and review and evaluate work products, methods, and procedures. Advise, direct, and consult with subordinate supervisors on matters of workforce planning, work assignments, scheduling, work performance, evaluation, promotion, and discipline. Coordinate with Human Resources on various personnel matters, including diversity related recruitment and outreach, employee retention programs; compensation; investigating grievances/ complaints; and taking timely disciplinary action. Select, train, motivate and evaluate professional, technical, and clerical personnel. Oversee the implementation of the department’s annual employee performance evaluation process. Lead and support department succession planning. Ensure departmental job descriptions are updated to ensure roles and responsibilities of all positions are accurately reflected. Conduct and/or monitor employee safety program, providing oversite of departmental safety training and department-wide compliance with safety requirements.25%

Oversee Parks and Recreation Services:

Oversee the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of long-range plans for recreation programs, parks, trails and facilities to accommodate according to city growth, goals, and parks and recreation needs. Assess and monitor community needs, providing an expanding and flexible program of recreational activities for all segments, groups, ages, and interest levels of the community. Identify opportunities for improving service delivery methods and procedures for development and implementation of new program areas. Ensure administrative systems for facility and program scheduling, calendaring, and other functions are streamlined and efficient. Oversee the updating of the Parks Master Plan, including managing consultants, facilitating stakeholder groups, reviewing, and editing documents, and presenting to City Council. Recommend the acquisition, development and maintenance of park and playground areas and of structures and facilities to best serve the interests of the community. Coordinate with appropriate personnel on grant opportunities.10%

Oversee Events and Cultural Affairs Programs:

Direct the planning development, promotion, and implementation of city-sponsored events, community events, and a variety of complex arts and cultural affairs projects. Develop and manage special event proposals, contracts and budgets including the solicitation of sponsorship revenue. Conduct events in a manner that upholds the high level of service represented by the City’s brand. Manage and oversee the Art in Public Places (AIPP) program, including the selection process for commission of artists, contract management and public outreach/education. Ensure compliance with state laws, City ordinances and rules and regulations for all events held on City property. Implement a plan to promote events to the public through partnerships with outside organizations. Oversee the City’s special event permitting process and ensure compliance with City policy and procedures. Coordinate with the public and other outside organizations that are requesting to conduct special events on City property to ensure the best use of local resources and compliance with City policy. Act as City liaison to national sporting events, local event board of directors and non-profit organizations. Work with community partners to solicit sporting events by writing bid proposals and meeting with sports organizing bodies. Determine site locations and feasibility. Work with other City departments such as Police, Public Works, Communications & Engagement, etc. in coordinating support services by the City. Develop and implement City of Greenville Event Emergency Action Plan. Review and evaluate special event and cultural programs on an ongoing basis to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality programs and services.10%

Develop and Administer Department Budget:

Develop and administer the department’s operational and capital improvement budget in alignment with the City’s strategic plan. Direct the development and submission of the annual department budget making operational and capital project budgetary recommendations to the City Manager, assuring that appropriate linkages exist between budget goals, funding limitations, and service levels adopted to meet specific departmental/organizational goals. Review expenditure reports and progress reports for operational and capital project budgets throughout the fiscal year. Conduct monthly monitoring of budget expenditures against budget allocation. Work collaboratively with division administrators and department staff in overcoming and budget challenges within the fiscal year or project life. Work with department staff in closing out completed budget year and capital projects. Ensure that purchasing and financial transactions are properly conducted in accordance with City administrative policies and procedures. Administer departmental contracts and oversee all ongoing projects.10%

Direct and Oversee Project Management Initiatives:

Direct project management initiatives and/or provide administrative oversight of department projects. Lead collaborative discussions with department staff on capital project prioritization. Directly lead and manage planning, design, and/or construction projects including constituent participation, consultant selection and management, and contractor management. Provide administrative oversight of park, recreation, trails, urban design, and streetscapes. Manage highly visible urban design projects, both planning and construction. Review and manage overtime spending in every division of the department.10%Perform other duties as assigned.

Job RequirementsBachelor’s degree in parks and recreation administration, sport management, horticulture, business, public administration, or a related field.

Over eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in the parks and recreation field to include experience in parks maintenance, recreation programs, event planning, operations, and budgeting.

Must have at least six (6) years of responsible supervisory and administrative experience.

Preferred QualificationsMaster’s degree in a related field.

Experience in a growing community.

Driver’s License RequirementsValid South Carolina Class D Driver’s License.

Performance RequirementsKnowledge of:

Federal, state, county, and city laws, codes, regulations, and guidelines affecting recreation programs and activities.

Principles and methods of parks and recreation planning.

Principles and practices of successful event planning and public property management.

Modern principles and methods for developing and implementing a wide variety of recreation, social, and leisure activities for children and adults.

Recreational, social, and cultural needs of the community.

Principles of human resource management, supervision, training, and performance evaluation.

Application of information technology to the work of the department.

Principles of facility supervision, facilitation, and maintenance.

Comprehensive planning, organizing, implementing, and executing special events and cultural affairs, including solicitation of sponsorship funds.

Principles and practices of effective strategic planning.

Principles and practices of project management.

Principles and practices of budget development, administration, and accountability including funding sources impacting program and service development.

Principles of local government procurement procedures and practices.

Principles of effective public relations and interrelationships with community groups and agencies, private businesses and firms, and other levels of government.

Ability to:

Provide administrative support and professional leadership and direction of the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department.

Interpret and apply federal, state, county, and city laws, codes, regulations, and guidelines affecting recreation programs and activities.

Perform responsible and difficult work involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative.

Analyze problems; identify feasible solutions; project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, City Council, commissions and committees, community organizations, individual citizens, governmental agencies, contractors, and vendors.

Work effectively under pressure and deadlines with consistent interruptions.

Manage multiple projects and perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines.

Understand organization implications of decisions and exercise sound judgment to make proper decisions in handling incidents at all types of events.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials and staff at all levels to execute department programming.

Communicate at a superior level verbally and in writing, including capacity to communicate complex ideas compellingly to a variety of audiences.

Exercise integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.

Engage in a professional and cordial manner with the public attending events.

Properly train employees in handling crowds and the general public attending events.

Apply a high level of creative thinking, complex analysis, and reasoning to originate and develop innovative program or production concepts, techniques or procedures which can have a major impact on the nature and quality of programming or operations.

Effectively handle situations that involve a high degree of difficulty (i.e. contentious confidential sensitive or political) with very diverse, very important contacts both inside and outside of the organization.

Use discretion, persuasion, conciliation, dispute resolution, mediation or negotiation skills when dealing with complex situations.

Consult on issues, presenting complex information, explaining analysis and rationale, and making recommendations with the requirement to exercise persuasion to obtain cooperation, consensus, or approval of action to be taken.

At an advanced level, read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical journals and procedures, financial reports, legal documents, and governmental regulations.

Work with advanced mathematical operations methods and functions of real and complex variables.

At an advanced level, write policies, contracts, speeches, formal presentations, and/or technical and legal documents and correspondence.

Operate general office equipment to include scanner, printer, copier, telephone, and computer with Microsoft Office Suite and related business software.

Working ConditionsPrimary Work Location:

Office environment and outdoors (e.g. festival and event sites, facilities, parks, etc.).

Protective Equipment Required:

Rain jacket, gloves, hard hat, steel toe boots, hats, safety vest, and sunglasses.

Environmental/Health and Safety Factors:

Occasional exposure to unpleasant environmental conditions and/or hazards. Occasional outside work. Monthly exposure to extreme temperature and wetness and/or humidity.

Physical Demands:

Constantly requires vision, hearing, and talking. Frequently requires standing, fine dexterity, sitting, and handling/grasping. Occasionally requires foot controls, climbing, walking, and twisting. Rarely requires lifting, carrying, reaching, kneeling, pushing/pulling, balancing, bending, and crouching and stooping. Light strength demands include exerting up to 20 pounds occasionally, exerting up to 10 pounds frequently, or negligible amounts constantly AND/OR walking or standing to a significant degree.

Mental Demands:

Constantly requires time pressures, frequent change of tasks, performing multiple tasks simultaneously, irregular schedule/overtime, and working closely with others as part of a team. Frequently requires tedious or exacting work and working in noisy/distracting environment. Occasionally requires emergency situations.

Americans with Disabilities Act ComplianceThe City of Greenville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. Prospective and current employees should contact Human Resources to request an ADA accommodation.

DisclaimerThe above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

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