Parks & Recreation Director

Salary : $147,984.00 - $208,224.00 Annually
Location : Various, Elk Grove, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2026-91
Department: Parks and Recreation Department
Division: Parks and Recreation Admin
Opening Date: 09/18/2026
Closing Date: 10/16/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
The Cosumnes Community Services District's Parks & Recreation Department is in search of a full-time Parks & Recreation Director. This pivotal role will provide forward-thinking leadership to the Parks & Recreation Administration Division's staff and programs, with a strategic and visionary approach that has a profound and lasting impact on the District and the wider Community.
For consideration, candidates must submit a current Resume and Cover Letter.
Position Description:

Under general direction, this position provides leadership and direction for assigned service areas; manages day-to-day operations of the department including managing, directing and integrating administration of assigned Parks & Recreation service areas, which may include recreation and community services, park and golf operations and maintenance, and/or department-wide administrative and strategic services; the position plans, organizes, supervises and implements programs, operations, and budgets for or within assigned management functions for the Department; provides strategic leadership, organizational direction, and executive-level oversight of assigned functions; assignment requires effective working relationships with employees, department heads, businesses and personnel from other jurisdictions, public officials and the general public.

Salary InformationThe salary range for the Parks & Recreation Director classification is between $12,332.00 - $17,352.00 monthly. The District typically appoints new employees at step 1 of the salary range. Consideration for an appointment higher than step 1 will be based on experience, education, or the need for unique skills or knowledge and shall be no more than mid-point of the salary range.
Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of a specific statement on duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all the duties listed. Employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level as required.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES/PRACTICES

• Assists in managing and contributes to the development and administration of the Department's annual budget; directs the forecast of additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; directs the monitoring of and approves expenditures; directs and implements adjustments as necessary; evaluates new revenue-generating and cost-saving initiatives. Depending upon assignment, provides leadership for department-wide budget coordination, long-range financial planning, fee and cost-recovery analyses, grant administration, procurement, and related business services.
• Understands and applies governmental organizational structures and public-sector administrative practices.
• Negotiates contracts and agreements, including labor contracts and Collective Bargaining Agreements; determines District needs and requirements for contractual services.
• Prepares and administers contractual agreements for the District and evaluates contract renewals and changes; inspects and evaluates the work of the District's contractors.
• Assists in the preparation and administration of bid packages and contracts for assigned programs, services, public works, professional services, and other departmental needs; coordinates work with other public agencies.
• Monitors changes in laws, regulations, and technology that may affect District or divisional operations; implements policy and procedural changes as required.
• Provides leadership for the development, implementation, review, and continuous improvement of departmental policies, procedures, administrative systems, and organizational practices, as assigned.

SERVICE DELIVERY

• Applies management principles and methods of goal setting, program development, and administration.
• Continuously monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assesses and monitors workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement; assists in directing the implementation of improvements.
• Oversees the selection process for consultants; prepares performance specifications, estimates budgets; oversees and coordinates the work of consultants; evaluates performance and work product; reviews progress payments.
• Conducts a variety of departmental organizational and operational studies and investigations; recommends modifications to programs, policies, and procedures as appropriate.
• Manages the Department revenue generation program; analyzes cost effectiveness of staffing operations, programs, facility operations, and related contracts; develops or oversees performance measures, benchmarking, dashboards, and other tools to evaluate organizational and service outcomes, as assigned.
• Directs or supports implementation and monitoring of departmental strategic plans, accreditation requirements, organizational initiatives, business process improvements, and performance management systems, as assigned.
• Provides executive oversight for department-wide administrative systems and technology, workflow modernization, records management, asset management, fleet, and related business applications, as assigned.
• Responds to emergency calls, particularly in instances in which public safety is an issue, based on operational assignment and Department needs.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of public services as they relate to the area of assignment.
• Performs various related essential duties as required.

SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT

• Applies principles and practices of effective management and supervision.
• Supervises personnel, including training, assigning and reviewing work, planning, maintaining standards, coordinating activities, allocating personnel, acting on employee problems, recruiting and recommending or approving the hire of new employees, or promotions/salary increases; enacting discipline when appropriate.
• Conducts performance evaluations of assigned personnel at periodic intervals as required.
• Ensures that all personnel are informed of District and Department policies, and works through subordinate managers to ensure adherence to policies.
• Leads through subordinate managers and professional staff; establishes performance expectations, promotes accountability, supports leadership development and succession planning, and fosters a collaborative culture of service, innovation, and continuous improvement.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION

• Manages and participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned functions and programs reflective of the District's planning efforts.
• Recommends, within departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
• Advises the Administrator of Parks & Recreation on matters within the assigned service area, including organizational effectiveness, operational priorities, strategic initiatives, resource allocation, and continuous improvement.
• Leads cross-divisional and interdepartmental initiatives, as assigned, to improve consistency, communication, accountability, and organizational performance.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

• Regularly attends District Board and other public/community group meetings to answer questions; interprets and explains existing policies on behalf of the District; presents reports to the Board and other legislative bodies.
• Serves as a liaison to other departments, elected officials, divisions, clients, residents, community groups, school districts, and private businesses; attends meetings, as necessary; negotiates and resolves significant and controversial issues.
• Provides courteous and professional service to District personnel and the public; ensures staff provide a high degree of service to both internal and external customers.
• Responds to citizen complaints that have not been resolved at a lower level within the division and/or Department.

Qualifications
Any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge, and abilities may be considered qualifying at the District's sole discretion. The education or experience requirements may be modified or waived at the sole discretion of the General Manager. At least one of the education or experience requirements must be met; however, neither requirement may be modified or waived. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Education and Training:

• A Bachelor's degree from a four-year accredited college or university in parks and recreation management, public administration, business administration, organizational leadership, finance, or a closely related field appropriate to the assigned service area. A master's degree is desirable, but not required.

AND

Experience:

• Seven (7) years of full-time work, including in-depth experience in one or more areas of parks and recreation management, public administration, organizational leadership, business administration, strategic planning, financial or administrative management, or another field directly related to the assigned service area. Experience with a local government agency, such as a special district, is desirable.
• At least five (5) years of full-time work must have been in a management or supervisory capacity.
• Experience leading professional-level managers and/or multiple functional work units is highly desirable.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and techniques of organization, planning, management and supervision including training, performance evaluation and discipline;
• Principles, practices, methods, terminology, and technical considerations applicable to the assigned service area;
• Principles and practices of public administration, strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, policy development, program and project management, and continuous improvement;
• Operational and service-delivery principles applicable to public parks and recreation agencies, including recreation and community services, park and golf operations, and administrative support functions;
• Public-sector budgeting, financial planning, procurement, contract administration, consultant management, grants, performance measurement, interagency coordination and resource allocation, as applicable to assignment;
• Current methods, techniques, principles, and procedures used in good internal and external customer service;
• Pertinent Federal, State, and Local policies, codes, laws, and regulations affecting the assigned service area and public agency administration;
• Organizational performance measurement, business process improvement, administrative systems and technology, records management, and accreditation or quality-management frameworks, as applicable to the assignment;
• Computer database programs, desktop publishing, and word processing, which are currently used in programs such as Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel. Familiarity or experience with Workday is highly desirable.

Ability to:

• Manage, plan, assign, and review and assess the work of a diverse staff in the accomplishment of multiple projects;
• Collaborate with diverse communities and people traditionally underrepresented in local decision-making; facilitate inclusive participation in programs and activities; communicate cross-culturally.
• Manage a multicultural workforce, promote an equitable workplace environment, and apply equitable program practices to diverse and complex District services.
• Use independent judgment to analyze problems that arise in the areas under supervision and implement solutions;
• Comprehend and prepare reports and forms such as accident and incident reports, inventory lists, budget documents, correspondence, attendance records, news releases, e-mail, policy manuals, timesheets, procedure manuals, and calendars.
• Identify organizational, operational, fiscal, service-delivery, and safety risks applicable to the assigned service area and institute appropriate corrective action.
• Interpret and apply complex technical, financial, operational, policy, and administrative information applicable to the assigned service area;
• Apply administrative and technical knowledge to assure compliance with contracts, policies, regulations, performance standards, and accepted professional practices applicable to the assigned service area.
• Interpret, analyze and advise District staff on industry-related laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and policies.
• Present ideas effectively, verbally and in writing; prepare and make public presentations.
• Develop and implement effective techniques for improving parks and recreation programs, operations, administrative systems, organizational performance, and services, as applicable to the assignment.
• Plan, organize, assign, and coordinate the activities of professional, technical and clerical staff; build a high-performance workforce.
• Lead through managers and subject-matter experts without requiring direct technical execution of every function; establish clear expectations and hold assigned teams accountable for results.
• Develop and implement organizational strategies; lead cross-functional initiatives; analyze complex organizational issues and develop practical solutions.
• Exercise sound independent judgment with general policy guidelines.
• Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex and confidential issues including perso