Salary: $85,862.40 - $108,763.20 Annually
Location : Des Moines, IA
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Job Number: 8477.11.2026
Department: Parks
Opening Date: 11/12/2026
Closing Date: 11/23/2026 4:00 PM Central
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Non
Occupational Group: Non-Civil Service
Location of Vacancy: Parks and Recreation
Recruitment: Entrance
Selection Method: Applicants deemed most qualified based on qualifications may be contacted for an interview. Qualified applicants who need a reasonable accommodation must inform this office at [redacted] or TTY at Iowa Relay at 711 or [redacted] prior to closing date.
General Statement of Duties Directs, manages, plans and supervises the recreation program in assigned areas. Schedules and supervises the maintenance and repair of Parks areas and related facilities. Hires, trains and supervises full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees in assigned areas. Serves as the point-of-contact between the Neighborhood Associations and the public in assigned area; performs directly related work as required.
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NOTE: Supervisory program is for Aquatics Acceptable Experience and Training• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in Leisure Studies, Parks and Recreation Administration or a related field; and
• Considerable (3 years) experience managing organized recreational programs; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the work. Experience can substitute education at the rate of two years of experience for each year of education.
Required Special Qualifications• Candidates for positions in this class must pass a post-employment offer background check including a physical examination and drug screen;
• Possession of a valid Iowa driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility;
Examples of Essential Work (Illustrative Only)• Directs, supervises, trains and evaluates recreation programs and the work of Parks personnel involved in Parks Maintenance and repair activities;
• Inspects Parks areas and related facilities to identify maintenance, cleanliness and repair needs and assigns subsequent duties to the appropriate personnel, inspecting all projects upon completion;
• Supervises the bi-annual process of winterizing and spring start-up activities for pools, sport complexes, skating rink, concession stands and other related facilities;
• Inspects public use facilities for safety features and assigns immediate repairs to remedy any unsafe area;
• Manages and supervises the work of recreation staff involved in the delivering of a wide variety of recreational activities for children and adults within assigned area;
• Prepares and submits budgets, controls expenditures, and performs other financial monitoring/accounting as required;
• Supervises and manages the collection of fees for activities as necessary, maintains thorough and accurate records of participants and related materials;
• Manages and supervises organized league sports, record scores, develops and distributes schedules, recruits and trains coaches and volunteers;
• Develops, plans, manages and implements contractual agreements with organizations and the public, and ensures compliance of same;
• Promotes recreational activities through disseminating information on scheduled events, responding to requests for information from the public, meeting with school and community groups and ensuring a wide range of people are encouraged to participate in events;
• Manages and supervises activity centers, including ordering equipment and supplies, making staff assignments, hire instructors, recruiting volunteers, ensuring security within the building and maintaining a clean and safe environment;
• Promotes and ensures an environment of employee safety by explaining all safety precautions and monitoring for their use;
• Provides needed information and demonstrations concerning how to perform certain work tasks to new employees in the same or similar class of positions;
• Keeps immediate supervisor and designated others fully and accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems;
• Responds to the public's questions and comments in a courteous and timely manner;
• Performs other directly related duties consistent with the role and function of the classification.
01
I acknowledge that my responses to the following supplemental questions must be clear and thorough to obtain credit. Responses such as "see attached resume, see application, etc." are not acceptable.
02
Do you have a Bachelor's Degree in Leisure Studies, Parks and Recreation Administration or a related field? If Yes, submittal of college transcripts showing course work taken is required by application deadline. Please submit to the City of Des Moines Human Resources Department; electronically to humanresources@dmgov.org, by fax to 515-237-1680, or by mail to 1200 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309 by the application deadline date.
03
What certifications do you currently hold?
04
Can you describe your experience managing a team of lifeguards or aquatic staff? Include years of experience and number of staff. If no experience, indicate "none".
05
What experience do you have managing an aquatic facility, including maintenance, risk management, and guest satisfaction? If no experience, indicate "none".
Required Question
