Director, Recreation & Enterprise Services Division (Park Division Director)

Job Announcement

Fairfax County is a dynamic community with 1.1 million residents, an award-winning park system, a top-notch school system, safe neighborhoods, and bustling town centers. At the heart of the community is the nationally recognized leader, the Fairfax County Park Authority. A large and complex park system encompassing over 24,000 acres of land, 422 parks, an estimated 18 million park visitors, 500 full-time employees, 2,500 seasonal employees and over 2,000 volunteers. The Fairfax County Park Authority has been the recipient of the prestigious Gold Medal Award for the best park system in the country and accredited by the Commission of Park and Recreation Accreditation (CAPRA) four times with 100% compliance for every review.

The Park Authority is seeking an innovative, collaborative, business-minded, and highly experienced individual to lead the agency’s Recreation and Enterprise Services Division.

Reporting to the Park Authority’s Deputy Director/Chief Operating Officer, the Director of the Recreation and Enterprise Services Division provides leadership, direction, and oversight across five branches and a large multidisciplinary staff team:

• 12 park/recreation facilities (including recreation centers, parks and outdoor aquatic facilities)
• Division-wide programming (classes, camps, preschools, childcare, events and tournaments)
• Fitness and Aquatics
• Central customer services (Registration Office, Park Permits and Rentals)
• Agency wide ADA compliance for all park facility development, access and programming

The Director of the Recreation and Enterprise Services Division brings experience in and provides executive leadership across three core areas:

Recreation Programs and Facility Operations:

• Leads the delivery of high-quality, accessible, and innovative recreation services serving a diverse community.
• Oversees operations of 9 Recreation Centers and Specialty Aquatic Facilities across the County.
• Directs a comprehensive portfolio of 10,000+ programs, including camps, workshops, and special events annually.
• Ensures effective delivery of inclusive and targeted services in aquatics, youth, fitness, adapted, and general recreation programs.
• Balances service delivery with achievement of division and agency financial targets.
• Enhances program quality, accessibility, and community engagement across all service areas.

Business Management:

• Provides strategic financial leadership for the agency’s primary enterprise division.
• Oversees an annual operating budget of $50M+ across multiple cost centers and funding sources.
• Directs financial planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, and purchasing in coordination with the Park Authority’s central business office.
• Monitors and drives financial and operational performance to meet revenue and expense targets.
• Develops tools and processes to track, analyze, and manage division-wide financial performance.
• Secures additional resources through grants, partnerships, sponsorships, memberships, and volunteer programs.

Leadership and Strategic Management:

• Leads and develops a multidisciplinary workforce of 100+ full-time staff, 2,000 part-time staff, and 1,000 volunteers.
• Sets strategic direction and ensures alignment with agency goals, priorities, and long-term plans.
• Fosters a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative team environment.
• Serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, contributing to the development and implementation of agency-wide strategy and initiatives.
• Represents the division and agency in public forums, including board, community, and stakeholder meetings.
• Builds strong partnerships to advance the Park Authority’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Exercises sound judgment, political acumen, and leadership in a complex and dynamic environment.
• Drives organizational effectiveness through communication, team building, process improvement, and performance management.
• Responsible for developing and leading implementation of annual operational plans, human resource and organizational development plans, procedures, and policies to ensure the needs of the Fairfax County community are addressed.

The position serves as a key member of the executive director’s senior management team and participates in the development and implementation of a variety of agencywide plans and initiatives. Publicly represents the Park Authority as the face of the agency and presents relevant information to internal and external stakeholders. This job varies in nature, and the incumbent must exercise considerable leadership and independent judgment. Business acumen is essential as well as effective skills in communication, political astuteness, team building, process evaluation, supervision, managing and working in a diverse environment.

The assigned functional areas are Recreation, Park management, Business, Facility management, or a closely related field.

Find out more about our Nationally recognized organization here:
Fairfax Parks: Committed to Equity
Fairfax Parks: A Hub for Health and Wellness
Fairfax Parks: A Trailblazer in Conservation

View full job detail here: Job Opportunities | Fairfax County Career Pages