Salary : $64,787.00 - $100,408.00 Annually
Location : 2000 S. Alston Ave., Durham, NC
Job Type: Full time with benefits
Job Number: 26-06088
Department: Parks and Recreation
Opening Date: 08/19/2026
Closing Date: 9/2/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Position Description
This position is devoted to providing aquatics programming and activities as well as management of aquatics facilities. Incumbents provide supervision of recreation programs, multiple operational areas of aquatics facilities, and may also serve as manager on duty for general recreation facilities. Incumbents are responsible for overseeing program administration and implementation as well as full- and part-time staff. Decision-making includes providing input into management objectives, establishing work goals and objectives of a unit to carry out management direction, and selecting the method to address a problem or issue, subject to the constraints established by management objectives and direction. An incumbent is responsible for coordinating recreation and leisure activities for the City and surrounding communities including managing facilities; developing, implementing and managing programs; arranging and assisting with special events; supervising personnel; managing programs; creating community partnerships; interacting with community organizations; leading projects; monitoring project budgets; securing equipment; contracting vendors, entertainment and equipment; working with volunteers and community organizations; developing joint ventures with outside agencies; and serving on community-based committees.

Supervises support staff including conducting performance evaluations, coordinating training, and implementing hiring, and discipline and termination procedures.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Coordinates an assigned recreation programming area including planning, prioritizing, developing, implementing, evaluating, and promoting programs and events; develops and implements project plans, goals, objectives, and operational strategies; supervises staff, including planning, assigning, and evaluating work, training and coaching; ensures adequate staffing levels; attends and facilitates meetings; and ensures recreation programming and facility safety, operational efficiency, and compliance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Administers program, event, and/or project budgets; monitors expenditures; prepares cost estimates; researches and analyzes financial and related data; and makes budget recommendations.
• Manages recreation facilities including coordinating facility usage and scheduling; assesses program, project, and event needs; monitors inventories; oversees equipment safety and inspections; determines replacement and purchasing needs; coordinates purchase and equipment installation; and ensures compliance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Prepares, reviews and maintains reports, records, promotional materials, and other documentation; reviews proposals; maintains databases; researches and analyzes information; develops and makes recommendations; and reviews work to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Provides customer service; collaborates with community organizations, residents, volunteers, vendors, and City departments or external agencies; serves on community committees; establishes partnerships; investigates complaints and resolves escalated customer services issues; provides facility tours; develops materials to promote programs and events; and executes marketing plans and promotion of programs and facility use.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Supervisory principles, practices and techniques (based on assignment).
• Techniques and methods for organizing, prioritizing, assigning and monitoring work (based on assignment).
• Recreation programming and facility management.
• Community engagement principles.
• Practices and methods of coaching and leading the work of others (based on assignment).
• Principles and practices of program administration and management.
• Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis.
• Principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative research.
• Best practices, trends and emerging technologies.
• Project management principles.
• Principles and practices of budget development and administration.
• Principles and practices of effective oral presentations.
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations (based on assignment).
• Customer service principles.
• Specialized equipment relevant to area of assignment.
• Modern office technology.

SKILL IN:

• Supervising and evaluating staff performance.
• Training and coaching staff.
• Managing multiple recreation programs and/or facilities serving diverse constituencies.
• Overseeing the implementation and adherence to quality assurance and standards.
• Developing policies and procedures.
• Reading, analyzing, evaluating, interpreting and summarizing written materials and statistical data.
• Researching industry trends, solutions and best practices.
• Interpreting, monitoring and reporting financial information and statistics.
• Authoring and preparing original reports, documents and presentations.
• Exercising political acumen, tact and diplomacy.
• Facilitating group discussions and building consensus using persuasive reasoning.
• Preparing and managing budgets and related reporting.
• Interpreting and applying applicable laws, codes, regulations and standards (based on assignment).
• Providing customer service.
• Utilizing a computer and relevant software applications.
• Utilizing communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, the general public and others to sufficiently exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in recreation, leisure services, or a related field.
• Two years of recreation program management, facility management experience, OR recreation supervisory experience.
• A valid Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED- with Anaphylaxis and Epinephrine Auto Injector Certification within the first six months of employment.
• Valid, unrestricted, North Carolina driver's license "or" if you currently have another states driver's license, must be willing and able to obtain a valid NC driver's license within 60 days of hire
• American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED and at least one of the following three certifications upon hire and must obtain the remainder within one year of hire:
  1. American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Instructor certification (or equivalent)
  2. American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor certification (or equivalent)
  3. Either a Certified Pool Operator or Aquatic Facility Operations Certification (either of these certifications will satisfy the 3rdcertificate requirement).

Additional Preferred Skills

• Certified Park and Recreation Professional
• Experience in areas of swimming programs, aquatic fitness programs, and management of aquatic facilities.
• Experience with utilizing recreation software systems.
• Experience managing the hiring process.
• Experience with facility budgets and purchasing.
• Experience managing front desk operations and staff.
• Water Exercise Instructor certification

Benefits - General Full-Time Employees

• 12-13 paid holidays per year
• 13 standard work days of vacation per year
• 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement
• 2 weeks paid military leave per year
• Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans
• State and City retirement plans
• Short and long term disability plans
• Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions
• City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System
• Paid funeral leave
• Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling
• Paid life insurance equal to annual salary
• 48 hours for volunteer work each year*
• 4 hours parental leave each year
• Workman's Compensation Insurance
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
• State retirement plan

Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
• State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire
• Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire
• Dental and life insurance, after one year of service
• Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service

01

Where did you first hear about this opportunity?

• City of Durham Website
• Walk in
• Job fair
• Employee referral
• Professional organization ***Please list the organization in "other" box below***
• Internet posting ***Please list the specific web site in the "other" box below***
• Craig's List
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• GlassDoor
• governmentjobs.com
• Monster.com
• Indeed.com
• Employment Security Commission
• Magazine/Newspaper
• Other

02

If you listed "other" above please give specific web site, organization, or publication.
03

Do you have a valid, unrestricted, North Carolina driver's license? (If you have a valid license from a State other than North Carolina, you must be willing and able to obtain a valid, unrestricted NC driver's license within 60 days of hire).

• I have a valid, unrestricted NC driver's license.
• I have a valid license from another State and I am willing to obtain a valid, unrestricted NC driver's license within 60 days.
• I do not have a valid, unrestricted driver's license.

04

Please select your highest level of COMPLETED education.

• Less than a High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)
• High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)
• Associates Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctoral Degree (PhD, Juris Doctorate)

05

How many years of recreation program management, facility management experience, OR recreation supervisory experience do you have?

• No related experience
• Less than 1 year of related experience
• 1 year but less than 2 years of related experience
• 2 years but less than 4 years of related experience
• 4 or more years of related experience

06

Do you have experience managing hiring process (contacting applicants, interviewing, etc.)?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have experience with facility budgets and purchasing?

• Yes
• No

08

Do you have experience managing front desk operations and its staff?

• Yes
• No

09

Have you supervised full-time staff?

• Yes
• No

10

Do you have experience managing daily operations of multiple facilities while balancing staff, customer service, and safety priorities?

• Yes
• No

11

Briefly describe your experience managing daily operations of multiple facilities while balancing staff, customer service, and safety priorities. If none, type N/A
12

Do you have experience making operational decisions with various aquatics positions and levels?

• Yes
• No

13

Briefly describe your experience making operational decisions with various aquatics positions and levels. If none, type N/A
14

List any aquatic-related certifications you currently hold (e.g., Lifeguard Instructor, Water Safety Instructor, Water Aerobics Instructor, CPR/AED, First Aid Instructor, CPO, AFO).
15

Please indicate which instructor certifications you currently have. Check ALL that apply:

• American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Certification (or equivalent).
• American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Certification (or equivalent).
• I have BOTH the American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Certification (or equivalent) & the American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Certification (or equivalent).
• I currently DO NOT have either of these instructor certifications or equivalent certifications.

16

Do you have the American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED certification (or equivalent)?

• Yes
• No

Required Question