Salary : $162,671.00 - $203,154.00 Annually
Location : 110 E. La Habra Blvd., La Habra, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 00490
Department: Community Services
Division: Administration
Opening Date: 08/04/2026
Closing Date: 8/25/2026 6:00 PM Pacific

Description
Applications submitted without the required documents will be considered incomplete. Please be sure to scan and attach the required documents to your online application.

ABOUT THE POSITION
The Deputy Director of Community Services administers and oversees support for a complex multi-division department staffed with over 120 FTE's. In addition to the divisional responsibilities outlined above, the Deputy Director is responsible for assisting in the development of the annual departmental budget; directs grant and fundraising activities; serves as liaison to the Community Services Commission; ensures that events such as the Tamale Festival, Concerts in the Park, La Habra 5K Race and 4thof July fireworks display are properly organized, planned and executed, and provides supervision to division managers and support staff, in addition to other related duties as required.
This Deputy Director of Community Services is part of the Management Team and is expected to work on high level operational and administrative projects.The culture of the Management Team can be summarized in one word - teamwork. The group is strongly cohesive, collegial and cooperative. The Management Team work closely together on a variety of projects and will help each other when needed. The culture is dominated by a feeling of mutual support, a friendly sense of humor, and open communication. Team members are dedicated to one another's success, but will also challenge one another to maintain a dynamic of growth and organizational betterment.
IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will be a committed, innovative leader with excellent interpersonal and stakeholder relationship skills, along with a positive track record in organizational development and leveraging community assets and who will feel comfortable having a highly visible role in the community. The Deputy Director is expected to maintain active engagement and involvement with the community, its youth sports groups, and its non-profit organizations. The Deputy Director will work closely with the Director and will be a "big picture", team oriented professional with the vision and organizational experience to coordinate multiple departmental functions and maintain effective working relationships with the public. The Deputy Director is expected to assist and foster growth and individual development for the Department's mid-management and supervisorial staff, while holding them accountable to a high standard of professionalism. Budget and fiscal management acumen is essential.

The City of La Habra's motto is "A Caring Community" and the Community Services Department is on the vanguard of that philosophy. The Deputy Director must foster a customer friendly focus, be a problem solver and pay attention to detail. Community involvement and input is a vital step in the planning process for new and enhanced programs and projects, which will require the Deputy Director to closely interact with key stakeholders in the community. In addition, the Deputy Director is expected to be a hands-on manager who fosters creativity, but will also be willing to deal with issues directly when needed. It is expected that candidates will have effective written skills, can communicate effectively, and are skilled at public presentations. Candidates should expect to have varied schedules and are expected to attend most, if not all, major events and programs to ensure their successful implementation. Finally, the ideal candidate should have an open and approachable demeanor, be friendly with staff, peers and the public, and bring a good sense of humor to the job.

Examples of Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
(Duties may include, but are not limited to the following):

• Assists, directs and participates in the development and implementation of department goals, objectives, policies and priorities; formulates departmental rules, procedures and policies and ensures that they are carried out; reviews policies and work of outside service providers and consultants as they relate to community service programs and projects; communicates departmental service philosophy to community and staff.
• Supports the Director to provide accurate and timely preparation of reports for use by the City Manager, City Council, various Boards and Commissions and other regulatory agencies; keeps abreast of changes in the applicable Federal, State and local laws, rules, and regulations; analyzes and evaluates the impact on the strategic plan for community services.
• Plans and prepares the annual department budget; tracks revenue and expenditures; verifies and approves purchase orders; monitors budget for periodic adjustments and transfers; oversees inventory of department supplies and equipment; ensures that adequate fraud prevention policies and practices are followed, completes and reviews grant funding requests; directs and participates in fundraising activities.
• Supervises, promotes, implements, and evaluates various recreational programs and events, including the annual 4th of July fireworks display, annual Tamale Festival, summer sports camp programs, and specialized one-day events and programs.
• Responds to and resolves sensitive and difficult public inquiries and complaints.
• Recruits and hires staff to meet departmental needs; assigns and reviews work upon completion; reviews and approves time cards and leave requests; conducts staff meetings as required; completes and conducts performance evaluations of assigned staff; holds employees accountable for their actions and will counsel and take corrective action as required.
• Proposes and reviews proposals for new programs and services; evaluates existing programs and services for improvement and cost effectiveness; prepares and reviews marketing and publicity materials and proposals; surveys community for input related to needed programs and services; researches and evaluates outside service providers.
• Attends and participates in meetings and functions of community groups, school districts, organizations, and with individuals; serves on boards and committees; develops broad community support and participation in the creation of recreation centers; develops and implements capital funding campaigns; and aids in the development of joint use agreements with local agencies.
• Serves as liaison to Community Services Commission; provides technical and professional assistance to commission; researches and prepares policy recommendations for consideration by the commission.
• Other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE GUIDELINES

EDUCATION: A Bachelor's degree in recreation administration, public administration, business administration, or closely related field, from an accredited college or university. A Master's degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE: Five years of increasingly responsible community services experience, with at least two years at a mid-management level, responsible for administering revenue producing and fundraising programs and services, experience in direct supervision of assigned staff and working with city councils, commissions, and boards.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS
A valid California Class C driver's license must be maintained at all times.

DEMONSTRATED KNOWLEDGE OF AND PERFORMANCE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

• Principles, practices and methods of public management.
• Program development, design, implementation and evaluation.
• Budget preparation and administration.
• Supervision and personnel management.
• Program marketing and publicity.
• Grant funding sources and requirements.
• Conflict resolution and consensus building.
• Record keeping practices and procedures.
• Emergency procedures, First Aid and CPR.
• Management and operation of recreation facilities and equipment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Effective methods of public and customer relations.

ABILITY TO:

• Provide support to the Director and oversee a multi-division department combining recreational programs and community services.
• Prepare and administer a departmental budget.
• In collaboration with the Director, develop and maintain revenue producing programs and facilities; locate and obtain grant funds and other needed resources to meet the goals and objectives of the department and city.
• Attract and maintain community support and interest in a wide variety of recreational programs and support services.
• Prepare and maintain a variety of clear and accurate written documents, reports, files and records to meet applicable guidelines and requirements.
• Supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff.
• Use and operate modern office equipment including a computer and related software programs.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of assigned duties.
• Make effective oral and written presentations.

Supplemental Information
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Satisfactory results from a background investigation, physical examination and administrative screening.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet while in the office and moderately loud when in the field.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISASTER SERVICE WORKER: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all La Habra city employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a City application online through the Human Resources Department webpage atCompleted applications and resume will be accepted until 6:00 PM, Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Applications will be screened and those applicants deemed best qualified will be invited for an oral interview, written and performance test. Candidates must successfully pass all three components of t