Director of Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront

General Purpose

The Director of Parks, Recreation & Waterfront provides strategic and operational leadership for the planning, development, and management of Burlington’s parks, recreation, waterfront, cemetery, and urban forestry systems. This role is responsible for guiding the department’s vision, aligning resources with community needs, and ensuring safe, equitable, and vibrant public spaces and programs for all residents and visitors. The Director oversees budgeting, personnel, capital planning, program evaluation, and external partnerships while serving as a key liaison to community organizations, regulatory bodies, and other City departments. This position is a mayoral appointment; the Director serves at the pleasure of and reports directly to the Mayor.

Union Affiliation: Non-Union
Pay Grade: $110,710.32 – $124,677.33 Annually
Remote Tier 2: Up to one (1) day remote/week.

Essential Job Functions

• Leadership support for City’s parks, recreation, harbor, cemetery, and arboriculture programs and facility maintenance staff.
• Prepare and administer department’s annual budget; monitor all department expenditures, prepare budget amendments as needed.
• Prepare and evaluate Master and Strategic Plans combining staff, public and administration input into Department direction.
• In conjunction with the Mayor and Commissions, define department goals and allocate resources as needed to accomplish them.
• Directs and participates in personnel actions such as hiring, performance evaluation, discipline and termination, within the guidelines of the City’s personnel policies and collective bargaining agreements.
• When necessary allocate personnel to department functions as needed to carry out Department goals.
• Administer union contract; hear and adjudicate grievances.
• Evaluate annual fee schedules and recommend adjustments as needed.
• Negotiate contracts, manage, and monitor lease compliance for concessions or private entities operating within City Parks harbor and City Park facilities; initiate corrective actions as necessary.
• Solicit and administer state and federal grants for park and harbor development, penny for parks program, personnel development, student work study projects and recreation programs.
•  Leading the team responsible for overseeing  third-party consultants and contractors to ensure services are delivered effectively and support development goals Guide and supervise preparation of bid documents; recommend contract awards and coordinate with planning team to conduct field investigations to ensure construction projects meet contract standards.
• Solicit private businesses to support Department programs and facilities
• Serve as Ex-Officio Board Member for Parks Foundation of Burlington providing leadership and direction for private philanthropy initiatives that support the mission of the parks comprehensive plan.
• Advise Mayor and Commissioners of important public issues and seek their advice on major policy matters.
• Forecast burial trends, cemetery life expectancy to help prioritize cemetery design and development.
• Maintain coordination of work efforts with other departments, including with the Burlington School District on various partnerships and programs and athletic programs that rely on city fields/courts, etc.
• Participate in review of construction and planning documents (public and private) in coordination with Planning to ensure compliance with City’s open space plan, its addendums and ordinances.
• Ensure that tree inspections, maintenance, and planting occur in accordance with the approved Urban Forestry Management Plan.
• Prepare agenda packets, attend meetings and make recommendations on policy issues to the Board of Parks & Recreation, Harbor and Cemetery Commissioners.
• Issue permits, lease agreements and contracts for private or public uses of City parks.
• Supervise Harbormaster for the Burlington Harbor; oversee and execute facility Ensure compliance with ACT 250 at impacted parks and overseeing all major events and festivals on the Waterfront.
• Maintain positive public relations by providing information to the public and by responding to public comments.  Act as the department spokesperson to the media.
• Formulate, recommend and enforce rules and regulations for the control, safety and convenience of park users and cemetery operations.

Non-Essential Job Functions: 

• Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications/Basic Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree, in Recreation Management, Physical Education, Landscape Architecture, Horticulture, Park Planning and Design, Public or Business Administration or a related field and three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in planning and implementation of recreation programs and services and/or public parks or private sector grounds maintenance or similar field, to include management of financial, physical and human assets is required.
• Designation as a Certified Professional Recreation Professional (CPRP) or Certified Professional Recreation Executive (CPRE) through the National Recreation and Parks Association is preferred. Public sector experience is a plus.  An equivalent combination of certification, education and experience may be substituted to meet minimum job requirements at the discretion of the Mayor.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Experience working with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of parks management including operations, maintenance, capital improvements, long and short-term planning and department administration preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of recreation philosophy and program planning preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of ice arena programs and operation preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of budgetary procedures and fiscal accountability, and strong commitment to fundraising, enterprise operations is required.
• Knowledge of management principles and practices; ability to accomplish work through others.
• Ability to coordinate with other city departments to facilitate interdepartmental work efforts problem solving and planning activities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective employee, City government and public relations and communications, including, working with Neighborhood Planning Assembles, citizen groups and individuals, City Council, Board of Finance, Mayor’s Office.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing across a broad spectrum, including internal personnel communications; as well as external user groups, committees and general public.
• Ability to actively support City diversity, equity, and cultural competency efforts within stated job responsibilities and work effectively across diverse cultures and constituencies.
• Perform responsible and difficult work involving the use of independent judgement, agenda and personal imitative.
• Interpret and apply Federal, State, County, and City laws, codes, regulations and guidelines affecting recreation programs and activities.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as evidenced by ongoing trainings and professional development.
• Regular attendance is necessary and is essential to meeting the expectations of the job functions.
• Ability to understand and comply with City standards, safety rules and personnel policies.
• Must be able to establish residency in Burlington within one year of hire or qualify for exemption of residency requirement by either having school-aged children in a public school outside of Burlington or having been promoted from within other City employment.