City of San Jose

Parks Manager - Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services

City of San Jose$143K — $175K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in parks and/or recreation management or a related field preferred.
  • 6+ years of experience in park management or public administration and 3+ years supervisory experience.
  • Strong understanding of applicable professional principles and federal/state regulations.
  • Proven leadership and mentoring skills fostering teamwork and accountability.
  • Valid California Driver's License required.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee park maintenance operations, ensuring safety and cleanliness of facilities.
  • Supervise and develop staff, promoting a culture of teamwork and improvement.
  • Manage budgets, contracts, and operational priorities to enhance services.
  • Implement maintenance standards using data and performance metrics for decision-making.
  • Coordinate infrastructure improvements and capital project initiatives.
  • Support emergency responses and large-scale event management needs.
  • Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to address community concerns.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision.
  • Employee Assistance Program, life insurance, and disability coverage.
  • Pension plan for full-time employees.
  • Paid leave and holiday pay specific to the job classification.
  • Educational reimbursements and professional development opportunities.
Full Job Description
Salary: $143,860.08 - $175,309.68 Annually
Location : San Jose
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
DEPART: Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services
Opening Date: 07/15/2026
Closing Date: 7/29/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Position Duties
The salary range for this classification is $143,860.08 - $175,309.68, paid annually.
All salary ranges include an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates' qualifications and experience.
PRNS is seeking two Parks Managers for its Parks Maintenance and Infrastructure (PMI) Team. These senior-level managers play a key leadership role in the operation, maintenance, and improvement of City parks, facilities, trails, open space, landscaped areas, and related recreational amenities.
Parks Managers are responsible for overseeing assigned park maintenance operations, centralized service areas, programs, staff, budgets, contracts, projects, and service delivery within the Parks Division. Depending on assignment, this may include responsibility for district-based maintenance operations, specialized maintenance teams, infrastructure support, contract oversight, park ranger coordination, volunteer-supported service delivery, fee collection, or other operational functions that support safe, clean, and accessible parks throughout the City.
This position directly supervises operations and/or program staff, including Parks, Recreation and Facilities Supervisors and other assigned personnel. Parks Managers are responsible for providing leadership, direction, coaching, and accountability to ensure maintenance standards, work plans, customer service expectations, safety practices, and departmental goals are met.
These senior-level managers help develop and advance plans to operate, maintain, repair, and improve parks and related facilities across assigned areas of responsibility. This work requires coordination with a large and diverse group of stakeholders, including PRNS operations staff, other City departments such as Public Works and the City Manager's Office, City Council Offices, commissions, community members, contractors, vendors, corporate partners, community-based organizations, and "Friends of" groups.
The City is seeking a strong, innovative, collaborative, and politically sensitive leader who can manage competing priorities, support staff, solve complex operational challenges, and promote PRNS as a national leader in parks and recreation. Parks Managers are expected to exercise sound judgment, communicate effectively, build strong working relationships, and ensure services are delivered equitably across the City.
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
  • Overseeing daily park maintenance operations and ensuring parks, facilities, trails, landscapes, sports fields, playgrounds, restrooms, and related amenities are maintained in a safe, clean, functional, and welcoming condition.
  • Supervising, mentoring, and developing staff while fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, safety, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
  • Managing assigned budgets, contracts, purchasing, staffing plans, work plans, performance measures, and operational priorities.
  • Implementing park maintenance standards using data, work order systems, inspections, condition assessments, and performance metrics to guide decision-making and improve service delivery.
  • Coordinating repairs, renovations, infrastructure improvements, irrigation upgrades, sports field improvements, facility maintenance, and other capital or operational projects.
  • Supporting emergency response, large-scale events, encampment-related operations, weather-related response, vandalism recovery, and other urgent operational needs.
  • Collaborating with internal and external partners to address community concerns, improve park conditions, support special projects, and advance department and Citywide priorities.
  • Developing operational procedures, improving service delivery systems, and supporting division-wide initiatives related to asset management, business intelligence, equity, sustainability, safety, and customer service.
  • Representing the Parks Division in meetings with City leadership, elected officials, community groups, partner agencies, contractors, and members of the public.
  • Supporting long-term planning efforts that align with ActivateSJ equity goals.


Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience

Completion of 60 semester units/90 quarter units from an accredited college or university in parks and/or recreation management or a related field AND six (6) years of experience in park management or professional public administration in planning and organizing community cultural or recreational facilities and programs, including three (3) years of supervisory or lead experience over an assigned maintenance or service district, facility or citywide or regional-serving program with multiple service delivery locations.
Acceptable Substitution

A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in parks and/or recreation management or a related field may be substituted for up to two (2) years of the required experience.

Additional related experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.
Required Licensing (such as driver's license, certifications, etc.)
  • Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Other Qualifications
(Incumbents may be required to have different combinations of the listed qualifications, or more specific job-related qualifications depending on the position.)

Basic Competencies

(Needed at entry into the job in order to perform the essential duties.)
  • Job Expertise- Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.
    • Safety practices and procedures related to maintenance operations.
  • Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
  • Collaboration - Develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities.
  • Fiscal Management - Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan; complies with administrative controls over funds, contracts, and procurements.
  • Initiative - Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.
  • Leadership - Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational supports and direction.
  • Management - Evaluates priorities to ensure the 'true' top priorities are handled satisfactorily; sets clear goals for the employees and the work unit.
  • Political Skill - In taking action, demonstrates an understanding and consideration of how it will impact stakeholders and affected areas in the organization.

Selection Process
The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered, or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process may consist of one or more interviews. If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Josh Marquez at
Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.
The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's for detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City's Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an to explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.
01

What is the highest level of education you have completed?
  • High School Diploma or the equivalent (GED)
  • College (1 to 29 semester units/ 1 to 44 quarter units)
  • College (30 to 59 semester units/ 45 to 89 quarter units)
  • College (60 to 89 semester units/ 90 to 134 quarter units)
  • College (90 to 119 semester units/ 135 to 179 quarter units)
  • College (120 or more semester units/ 180 or more quarter units)
  • Associate's Degree
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Master's Degree
  • Doctoral Degree
  • Other
  • None of the above

02

Please indicate how many units you have completed from an accredited college or university in the field of parks and/or recreation management or a related field.
  • None
  • 60 or more semester units/90 or more quarter units

03

If you have a Bachelor's Degree or higher from an accredited college or university in the fi

About City of San Jose

The City of San Jose is the third-largest city in California and the largest city in Silicon Valley. It is the county seat of Santa Clara County and is located in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area. The city is known for its high-tech industry and is home to many of the world's largest technology companies. The City of San Jose provides a wide range of services to its residents, including public safety, transportation, and parks and recreation. The city has a strong commitment to sustainability and has implemented many programs to reduce its carbon footprint and promote renewable energy.
Learn more about City of San Jose
Size
7,000 employees
Industry
Revenue
$4 billion

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