Assistant Parks Director

The Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District is seeking an Assistant Parks Director. The Assistant Parks Director will serve as a key member of the District’s executive team, acting on behalf of the Parks Director/General Manager as needed and providing leadership across one or more bureaus. The bureaus may include Parks and Resources, Business Operations, or Planning and Development dependent on the incumbent’s skill set. This role involves direct oversight the planning, acquisition, and management of District-owned and managed properties. The Assistant Parks Director plays a critical role in strategic, master, and site planning efforts, recommending improvements to enhance efficiency and maximize public use. They participate in budget preparation, ensuring equitable distribution of resources for park, recreation, and educational site management. Additionally, this position fosters positive relationships with the Board of Supervisors, County Executive Office, and other stakeholders, by presenting project updates and representing the District in public meetings, advisory groups, and regional organizations. The position will also play a critical role in evaluating policies and ordinances for improvement, developing standards and overseeing staff performance to ensure operational effectiveness.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

Competitive candidates will have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, public engagement experience, and certifications such as Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) or Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE).

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in parks planning, parks construction management, and parks operational development with at least six years of supervisory experience within a government agency.

 A master’s degree in a relevant field is strongly preferred. Additionally, experience in achieving Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) Accreditation is highly desirable.

For more information about this opportunity and RivCo Parks view a brochure here.

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in planning, landscape architecture, public or business administration, management, environmental studies, history, natural sciences, forestry, recreation, or a closely related field to the assignment. A master’s degree in recreation, environmental science, organizational leadership, public or business administration is preferred. (Additional qualifying experience may substitute for up to two years of the required education on the basis of one year of full-time experience equaling 30 semester or 45 quarter units of the required education.)

Experience: Six years of administrative management or supervisory in a government agency in the area of recreation, community
services, community program planning, park management, planning, development, or facility operations which
must have included high-level independent action and decision skills.

Knowledge of: Principles of personnel administration, supervision and employee development; principles of budget preparation and fiscal management; principles of management; public service program planning and service delivery techniques; program planning and evaluation techniques; revenue sources and requirements; equipment, materials and methods used in park operations and maintenance.

Ability to: Plan, coordinate and supervise the work of others; analyze administrative, fiscal and personnel problems, evaluate alternatives and devise workable solutions; identify and resolve departmental operational problems; coordinate the utilization of personnel, equipment and other resources within the division; interpret and apply federal, state and county laws, regulations and policies of park operations and maintenance; prepare budget requests and costs and materials estimates; develop and prepare concise and logical oral and written reports; establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Other Requirements:
License: A CADL is required for this position. 

Possession of a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) or Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) certificate issued by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is preferred.