Director of Parks and Recreation

Brandon University; Brandon; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Brandon is seeking a Director of Parks and Recreation Services to lead the delivery of parks, recreation facilities, cemeteries, youth services, Volunteer Management, and related programs. The role requires strategic direction, policy development, and contract management to support residents of all ages.

It emphasizes strong community engagement, collaboration with elected officials, and experience in municipal leadership, including budgeting, labour relations, and cross-department

Qualifications

• Grade 12 or GED or Mature High School Diploma.
• Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, Management or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated continuous learning.

Responsibilities

• Planning & Service Delivery: Develops plans to meet service delivery needs and guides department strategies.
• Leadership & Employee Development: Supports innovation, succession planning, and staff development.
• Management and Administration: Develops and monitors budgets and contracts; ensures policies and procedures compliance.

Education

Grade 12

Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Administration/ Public Administration/ Business Administration/ Management or related field

Job description

City of Brandon Posted: September 29, 2026
Expires: October 13, 2026

Position Conditions: This is a full-time, permanent position of 40.00 hours per week. This position is not part of a collective agreement and is open to all interested parties. The City of Brandon reserves the right to underfill this position.

The successful applicant must maintain legal eligibility to work in Canada. If the successful applicant possesses a work permit, it is their responsibility to ensure the permit remains valid.

NOTE: The successful applicants must pass a Criminal Record Check and Background Check.

Rate of Pay: $142,311.58 annually. (2026 Rate)

Closing Date: 11:59pm on October 13, 2026

This competition will include testing and an interview.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Director of Parks and Recreation provides strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for the delivery of Parks and Recreation Services, including Parks and Greenspaces, Recreation Facilities, Cemetery Services, Recreation Programs, Youth Services, Volunteer Management, Special Initiatives, Sportsplex Operations, and Contract Management.

Leads and oversees Parks and Recreation employees responsible for the development, maintenance, and operation of City parks, facilities, and recreational services. Ensures the preservation and enhancement of open spaces, urban forestry, scenic environments, and pesticide management programs, while supporting the delivery of recreation opportunities and services for residents of all ages.

This role requires extensive community engagement and collaboration with elected officials, community stakeholders, other levels of government, and the public. As a member of the City's management team, the incumbent works closely with the Senior Executive Team and departmental leaders to develop and implement strategies, policies, and initiatives that support the City's mission, vision, and core values and ensure their integration into operational activities and service delivery.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Planning & Service Delivery

• Ensures the Department provides services consistent with the City’s vision and guides the Department in development and implementation of plans to meet service delivery needs.
• Develops short and long-term goals and objectives for the Department and its sections and ensure employees have the necessary understanding, skills, training, and resources to achieve the objectives.
• Evaluates community needs, industry trends, and service delivery practices to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Attends Council meetings as required for areas related to Parks and Recreation Services.
• Assists the General Manager in strategic planning and implement Department strategic planning objectives.
• Provides feedback on the impact of new policies and procedures.

Leadership & Employee Development

• Support an environment that encourages creative thinking and innovation, stimulates others to learn, and inspires others to perform to their highest potential and achieve goals and objectives.
• Manage appropriate succession and training plans and ensure employees have the resources to perform their duties.
• Demonstrate commitment to the organization by actively participating in committees, programs, and organizational initiatives.
• Accountable for departmental culture, in alignment with the corporation’s vision and values, and creating a psychologically safe workplace;
• Ensures appropriate succession and training plans are created, and employees are sufficiently developed to perform their duties;
• Influences and inspires others to achieve individual, departmental and organizational goals and objectives;
• Builds and maintains positive and healthy relationships;
• Leads others to adapt to innovative work environments and ensures department initiatives, decisions, committees, policies, etc. are communicated;
• Promotes and guides others to understand delivery of effective services and achievement of objectives and their interrelationship.

Management and Administration

• Develops, justifies, manages and administers departmental budgets, performance and other reports for external and internal uses pertaining to the Department.
• Direct the preparation, monitoring, and reporting of all operating and capital budgets associated with Parks and Recreation Services.
• Responsible for addressing staff issues and concerns in conjunction with Parks and Recreation Management team.
• Oversee terms of contracts or financial agreements.
• Oversee marketing and programming strategies to ensure that their goals and objectives are providing maximum utilization of facilities and resources.
• Participates in labour management discussions and ensures adherence to applicable collective agreements, policies and procedures, safety procedures, government regulations, City by-laws, delegation letters, etc.;
• Interprets legislation, regulations, by-laws, policies, etc. as they relate to the department and employees;
• Coordinates the implementation of policies and programs in the department;

NOTE: This description is not intended to limit the assignment of work or be construed as a complete list of the many duties to be performed by the incumbent.

MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION:

• Grade 12, or G.E.D., or Mature High School Diploma.
• Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, Management, a related field, OR equivalent combined education and experience.
• Demonstrated continuous learning.

EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in managing for efficiency and effectiveness to bring about change in a municipal and unionized environment.
• Minimum of seven (7) years in a progressive leadership position in municipal administration or an equivalent combination of experience, education and demonstrated skills and abilities.
• Experience working in a unionized environment preferred.
• Effective work with elected officials, advisory boards, community and environmental groups.

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the applicant with the knowledge, skill and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position will be considered.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS

The duties of the Director of Parks and Recreation Services are carried out in an office environment with activities requiring travel to other facilities, work sites or businesses.

• Work is performed primarily in an office setting
• Sit at a desk using keyboard and operate office equipment (daily)
• Operate a motor vehicle (frequently)
• On site presence (daily)
• Present to large and small groups (frequently)
• site visits to various City and community facilities, both outdoors and indoors

PSYCHOLOGICAL/STRESS CONDITIONS

The Director of Parks and Recreation Services workload and environment may affect their emotional or stress levels.

• Interruptions and requests in multiple areas (daily)
• Dealing with opposition to change (frequently)
• Exposed to stressful situations (frequently)
• Demanding issues involving employees and/or union groups (frequently).

WORK CONDITIONS

The Director of Parks and Recreation Services works independently and as part of the team providing support to a variety of people.

• Works collaboratively with the management team (daily).
• Works in a shared and consultative manner with other employees (daily).
• Will be required to be available outside of normal working hours (frequently).
• Distance travel may be required (occasionally).
• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal records check

NOTE: The conditions described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The City of Brandon is committed to an inclusive, barrier free environment and will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. We thank all applicants for their interest; only those advancing in the competition will be contacted. If contacted to participate in the process, please advise if you require an accommodation. If you are interested in finding out more about the City of Brandon job opportunities as soon as they are posted, please follow us on Facebook or X!