Salary : $84,968.00 - $102,918.40 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Varies by Position
Job Number:
Business Area: 1714 - Parks & Recreation
Opening Date: 07/10/2026
Closing Date: 7/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

JOB INFORMATION
See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

Area Manager positions coordinate and supervise, directly and through subordinate supervisors, recreation and grounds/facility maintenance functions within a designated geographical area; monitor area budgets and expenditures, including forecasting additional staffing and other resource needs and making recommendations on reduction of budget resources; interpret and explain park and recreation programs and policies to community organizations, including Community Recreation Groups, area committees and other groups and work with the organizations on various types of projects and programs; make formal and informal presentations to community groups; respond to difficult and sensitive staff and citizen questions and concerns; monitor work flow and physically inspect area parks and facilities for conformance with department standards, including program and project priorities; select, train, motivate, and direct subordinate staff; coach employees on performance issues and implement discipline in coordination with management and human resources; drive various types of vehicles (personal and city vehicles) to inspect parks and related areas, monitor operations, attend meetings, etc.; assist in the preparation of contracts and administer contracts; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by the Municipal Employees Association (MEA) are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 1/1/29
• Eligible benefited employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Area Manager employees are required to attend community meetings and events in the evenings and on weekends.
• In accordance with California Public Resources Code section 5163, all persons holding Area Manager positions must be tested for tuberculosis (TB) upon hire and every 4 years thereafter as a condition of continued employment.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

EDUCATION: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education (i.e., minimum completed units = 120 semester/180 quarter).

NOTES:

• Additional qualifying City of San Diego experience as specified below in Options 1 and 2 may be substituted for education lacked on a year-for-year basis. One year of full-time experience = 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units.
• Additional qualifying experience gained OUTSIDE the City of San Diego may be substituted for a MAXIMUM of two years of the required education. This refers to qualifying experience gained as a non-City of San Diego employee. One year of full-time experience = 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units.

EXPERIENCE: You must meet ONE of the following options:

1. Two years of full-time experience as a Recreation Center Director I, Recreation Center Director II, Recreation Center Director III, Recreation Specialist or equivalent experience with the City of San Diego.
2. Two years of full-time experience as a Grounds Maintenance Supervisor or Utility Supervisor with the City of San Diego.
3. Two years of full-time professional-level recreation experience, which MUST include:
   • Planning and directing all operations at a regional park or open space park, community center, playground, swimming facility, or recreation facility, including planning and administering a variety of recreation and/or park interpretative programs and special events.
   • Managing/supervising employees and directing building/grounds maintenance and security.

1. Two years of full-time professional-level grounds maintenance management experience, which MUST include one of the following:

• Writing/administering grounds maintenance contracts for a large organization/facility (e.g., stadiums, golf courses, public water parks, neighborhood/community/regional/coastal parks, leisure parks, recreational theme parks), and/or
• Managing/supervising crews engaged in grounds maintenance functions at these types of facilities.

NOTES:

• Qualifying supervisory experience MUST include the full range of supervisory duties, which includes employee selection, reviewing/approving timecards, writing and giving performance evaluations, training, disciplining employees, and recommending commendations.
• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.
• Custodial/janitorial management experience; grounds maintenance management supervision for small residential contracts (e.g., individual homeowners, homeowners associations), roads and/or freeways; supervising workfare and/or Regional Youth Employment Program (REGY) workers only is NOT qualifying.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver's License is required at the time of hire.

HIGHLY DESIRABLES:

• Public relations experience, including making formal and informal presentations to large community groups.
• Proficient computer skills in word processing, spreadsheet development, and database use (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Budgetary and fiscal analysis experience.
• Landscape maintenance contract administration experience, including assisting in the development of Request for Proposals (RFP) and administering contract terms and conditions.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of degree/transcripts, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.

SCREENING PROCESS

Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number; otherwise, they may miss employment opportunities.
Rev. 1 - July 10, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.

Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).

Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.

or review the
01

I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Resumes are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03

If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04

The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05

Are you meeting the education requirement with a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education (i.e., minimum completed units = 120 semester/180 quarter)? NOTE: Attach proof of degree/transcripts to your application.

• Yes
• No

06

If you are using a combination of experience and education to qualify, which of the following best describes your level of education?

• 0 to 29 semester/44 quarter units
• 30 semester/45 quarter units to 59 semester/89 quarter units
• 60 semester/90 quarter units to 89 semester/134 quarter units
• 90 semester/135 quarter units to 119 semester/179 quarter units
• 120 semester/180 quarter units or more

07

How many years of full-time experience do you have as a Recreation Center Director I, Recreation Center Director II, Recreation Center Director III, Recreation Specialist or equivalent experience with the City of San Diego?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years to less than 6 years
• 6 years or more

08

Describe your full-time experience as a Recreation Center Director I, Recreation Center Director II, Recreation Center Director III, Recreation Specialist or equivalent experience with the City of San Diego. Specify your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent performing the duties and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in this area, write "None."
09

How many years of full-time experience do you have as a Grounds Maintenance Supervisor or Utility Supervisor with the City of San Diego?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years to less than 6 years
• 6 years or more

10

Describe your full-time experience as a Grounds Maintenance Supervisor or Utility Supervisor with the City of San Diego. Specify your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent performing the duties and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in this area, write "None."
11

How many years of full-time professional-level recreation experience do you have which includes planning and directing all operations at a regional park or open space park, community center, playground, swimming facility or recreation facility, including planning and administering a variety of recreation and/or park interpretative programs and special events, managing/supervising employees and directing building/grounds maintenance and security?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

12

In which of the following areas do you have full-time professional-level recreation administration experience at a regional park or open space park, community center, playground, swimming facility or recreation facility?

• Planning and directing all operations.
• Planning and administering a variety of recreation and/or park interpretative programs and special events.
• Managing/supervising employees.
• Directing building/grounds maintenance and security.
• None of the above.

13

Describe your full-time professional-level recreation administration experience in the following areas: a. Planning and directing all operations; b. planning and administering a variety of recreation and/or park interpretative programs and special events; c. managing/supervising employees; d. directing building/grounds maintenance and security. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a speci