Director of Parks and Recreation
THE OPPORTUNITY
The City of Wichita Falls, Texas offers a rewarding opportunity to lead a successful parks and recreation department as the next Director of Parks and Recreation with many exciting parks projects on the horizon. As the department prepares to embark on their new Parks Master Plan, it is an exciting time to lead the Parks and Recreation team while enjoying the quality of life in an affordable Texas community.
ABOUT WICHITA FALLS
Wichita Falls, Texas, located in the scenic North Texas Panhandle/Plains region, spans 70.12 square miles as the county seat of Wichita County. Known for its progressive economic environment, the city is home to 102,774 residents who enjoy a high quality of life in a setting that combines small-town charm with modern amenities. Conveniently, Wichita Falls is situated within two hours of the Dallas-Fort Worth and Oklahoma City metro areas, offering easy access via major highways like I-44 and U.S. Highways 82, 281, 277, and 287.
The City offers ample recreational and cultural opportunities, with a twenty-mile trail system, 38 parks, and numerous family-friendly amenities. Residents can enjoy the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra, ballet troupe, theaters, and rodeos. In addition, the Multi-Purpose Event Center provides convention spaces, a 10,000-seat arena, and venues for events throughout the year, ensuring entertainment for all ages.
THE DEPARTMENT
The Parks and Recreation Department provides a variety of comprehensive and diverse programs, facilities, and services to the residents of Wichita Falls. The team of over 120 FTE dedicated employees fulfill and enhance the operations of the Wichita Falls Public Library, MLK Center, and all three Parks Divisions – Parks, Recreation and Cemeteries. Services are provided with an over $12 million budget managing 1,200 acres of parks throughout a 38 park system.
THE POSITION
The Director of Parks and Recreation will plan, develop, organize and direct the operations of the recreational programs, services and facilities for the city and coordinate assigned activities with other departments and outside agencies. The Director will also proactively develop strategies to develop a Parks Foundation to assist with the implementation of the new Parks Master Plan currently under development. The Director of Parks and Recreation position has been vacant for over six years, while responsibilities have been shouldered by seasoned staff members, several are retiring soon. The new Director will need to support the team in a time of transition while capitalizing on decades of experience and historical knowledge from current staff.
The City of Wichita Falls strives to implement positive change, provide creative solutions and identify innovative approaches to better serve the community. The successful candidate will be a collaborative, adaptable and open-minded individual who is committed to excellence and seeks to cultivate relationships among team members and in the community. The ideal candidate will have confidence in their ability to lead teams with a servant leader mindset; hands-on project development experience for both deferred maintenance and new capital projects; an entrepreneurial mindset to identify and seek funding opportunities and develop fund-raising capacity to improve the overall quality of the life in the community; an enterprising spirit who brings a creative approach to sport tourism and makes the most of multi-use facilities; and a heart for serving and enjoys public engagement and contributing to the betterment of staff and the community.
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will possess any combination of education and/or experience that provides the required skills, knowledge, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. A typical combination includes:
Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in recreational science, physical education, horticulture, public or business administration, social services, or a related field.
Experience: Eight years of increasingly responsible experience in parks and recreation services and/or management, including four years of supervisory responsibility.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The annual salary range for the Director of Parks and Recreation is $134,160 to $201,344, hiring at a mid-point around $134K to $167K. Placement within this range is dependent on experience and qualifications. Key benefits include participation in the Texas Municipal Retirement System with members contributing 7% of their salary. Members are considered vested after 10 years of service. A 457 Deferred Compensation Retirement Plan is also available.
In addition, medical, dental, and vision insurance; annual longevity pay starting at 2+ years of service; paid vacation, sick leave and holidays; life insurance; and a 9/80 Work Schedule if desired are provided.
APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS
Interested candidates must submit a compelling interest letter and comprehensive résumé online by Monday, January 6, 2025, at: https://www.mosaicpublic.com/careers
Due to the public nature of searches in the State of Texas, confidential inquiries are recommended before submission of materials should you have any questions.
CONFIDENTIAL INQUIRIES ARE WELCOMED TO:
Ms. Julie Baca, Senior Consultant at [email protected] or 970-209-0404
