Director of Parks and Recreation

Salary: $159,556.80 - $213,844.80 Annually
Location : San Luis Obispo, CA
Job Type: Officials - Appointees
Job Number: 0926PM-000242-01
Department: Parks & Recreation
Opening Date: 09/14/2026
Closing Date: 10/9/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

About the Position
The County of San Luis Obispo is seeking a strong and creative leader to serve as the next Parks and Recreation Director. The Director will oversee the operation and management of the County's parks, golf courses and recreational facilities and lead and inspire a diverse and experienced team. It is important that the new Director is a resourceful and fiscally responsible manager, with experience developing and managing department budgets, managing contracts, and a successful track record for completing projects on time and within budget. The County is preparing for the launch of its new ERP system in the Spring '27. Ideally the new Director should be experienced in the implementation process and training of staff in the use of these systems to improve efficiencies within the Department.

The new Director will be responsible for the completion and implementation of the County's Parks Master Plan and associated projects, as such the ideal candidate should been a skilled communicator with a proven track record in engaging with community stakeholders and non-profits. As a representative of the County, the Director should have experience working with and presenting to Boards and committees, community groups, and state and regional agencies. The successful candidate should be a visionary and strategic thinker with outstanding leadership skills, politically savvy, and capable of providing realistic guidance and advice to the community that allows the Board to make informed decisions.

As leader of the Parks and Recreation Department, the new Director should be an experienced supervisor, dedicated coach and mentor, and an innovative organizational developer. They must communicate clearly, set department goals and objectives, manage workloads, establish priorities, and implement efficient operating procedures and policies. The Parks and Recreation team is talented and dedicated, with both experienced and newer staff. With impending transitions in management, the new Director will have the opportunity to shape the department's future executive structure and support its continued growth and development.

View the full recruitment brochure here.
The Ideal Candidate
SALARY AND BENEFITS

Annual Salary: The annual salary range for this opportunity is $159,556.80 to $213,844.80 (an increase of this range is under consideration). Appointment will be made depending on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. A 5% approved increase will take effect on July 1, 2027. The position is part of the unrepresented bargaining unit 09. A full listing of the benefits offered can be found here

HOW TO APPLY:
To apply for this exciting opportunity, please visit our website: Peckham & McKenney

INTERVIEW PROCESS

Filing Deadline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .October 9, 2026
Preliminary Interviews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 12 - 23, 2026
Recommendation of Candidates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .October 29, 2026
Finalist(s) Interview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 5 & 12, 2026
These dates have been confirmed, and it is recommended
that you plan your calendar accordingly.

QUESTIONS?

Please contact your recruiter, Tara Schultz, with any inquiries:

• 626-644-1398

Reasonable Accommodation Notice
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-781-5959 for assistance or e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us for more information.

Veteran's Preference Points
If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran's credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.

Compensation and Benefits
Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.

In general, temporary employees are not eligible for County-sponsored benefits and may have limited benefit options available to them. For more information on benefit eligibility, please e-mail .

For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated .

Some benefits include:

- Medical (PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental (HMO, PPO) and Vision Insurance
- Health enhancing programs such as Hinge Health, GIThrive and Carrum Health for medical enrollees.
- Cafeteria (County contribution to pay for insurance premiums)
- Free visits to the employee health clinic
- Mental Health resources/benefits including Headspace
- Voluntary insurance plans (life insurance, disability, critical illness and many more)
- A lifelong retirement benefit through the San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
- Optional deferred compensation plan with up to $500 per year match (depending on bargaining unit)
- Tax savings accounts (medical and dependent care)
- Paid personal, sick and vacation days
- 12 paid holidays
- Employee Assistance Program
- Education and Wellness Allowance
- Post Employment Health Plan
- Family Friendly workplace policies
- Flexible work schedule options
- Rideshare commuter benefits
- Pet Insurance
The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.

Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:
The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.

Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:
The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or 'cafeteria' contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.

To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria),

Learning and Development
The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.

Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:

- Emotional Intelligence
- Supervisor/Manager academies
- Microsoft Suite courses
- Defensive Driving
- Financial management
- Retirement preparedness
- Teambuilding
- Written Communication
- Conflict Management
- Clifton StrengthsFinder and DISC
- Job specific conferences/trainings

Student Loan Forgiveness
Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.

Homebuyer assistance program
Employees have access to the "Assist-to-Own" program sponsored by to get a loan for the down payment.