Senior Manager Community Recreation & Culture Services

City of Coquitlam; Coquitlam; Hybrid; CAD 168,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional municipality in Canada is seeking a Senior Manager for Community Recreation and Culture to lead high-quality, inclusive programs and services. This role requires extensive leadership experience and financial management skills, as well as the ability to plan and oversee complex community initiatives. The successful candidate will collaborate across departments and with community stakeholders. The position offers a competitive salary range of $168,338 - $189,357 and the chance to work in a dynamic, supportive environment.

Benefits

Attractive vacation and extended benefits package

Municipal Pension Plan

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive management experience in community recreation or culture.
• Thorough knowledge of municipal recreation and culture services.
• Experience managing complex budgets and large teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Community Recreation and Culture Services division.
• Plan and direct high-quality programs and services.
• Oversee the planning and delivery of recreation programs.

Skills

Leadership skills

Financial management

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Education

Master’s or Undergraduate degree in Recreation Administration or related field

Job description

Senior Manager Community Recreation & Culture

Regular Full Time

About Us

As one of BC’s Top Employers, the City of Coquitlam offers meaningful career opportunities that make a lasting impact within the local community. As the sixth-largest city in BC and the largest municipality in the Tri-Cities, Coquitlam is home to more than 160,000 residents and continues to grow as one of Metro Vancouver’s most dynamic and connected communities.

Our municipality serves as the Regional Town Centre of the Northeast Sector of Metro Vancouver and is thriving through innovative planning and urban design, inspiring arts, culture and recreation programs, and modern urban parks. We are well-connected by state-of-the-art transportation systems and are experiencing significant transit-oriented growth around the Evergreen Line SkyTrain stations, while continuing to build complete, livable neighbourhoods in Southwest Coquitlam, City Centre and on Burke Mountain.

Our brand is grounded in excellence in governance, strong and accountable financial management, responsible and sustainable resource management, and the ongoing development of a vibrant, growing regional urban centre supported by new infrastructure and public amenities. The City has been recognized for excellence in municipal administration and is home to a high-performing organization that values innovation, collaboration, and public service. We are deeply committed to advancing reconciliation, fostering equity, diversity and inclusion, and maintaining respectful relationships with First Nations.

We envision a bright future in Coquitlam — one built on teamwork, integrity, and service excellence — and we hope it includes you.

About You / What We Are Looking For

The City of Coquitlam is seeking an experienced, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as Senior Manager, Community Recreation and Culture, reporting to the General Manager, Community Services.

In this senior leadership role, you will provide expert advice and direction on matters related to community recreation and cultural services and play a key role in advancing the City’s vision for inclusive, accessible, and high-quality programs, facilities, and services. You bring extensive experience leading complex community-focused service portfolios, along with the judgement and independence required to manage a broad and diverse range of responsibilities that directly impact community well-being and quality of life.

Building on this foundation, you will be a trusted advisor to senior leadership and Council, capable of developing and implementing strategic and operational plans aligned with Council priorities and long-term community needs. You are skilled at translating complex program, service, and operational information into clear, actionable recommendations for non-technical audiences through well-written reports and effective presentations.

You thrive in a dynamic municipal environment and work collaboratively across departments, external partners, and community stakeholders to deliver responsive, innovative, and equitable recreation and cultural services. You bring a strong understanding of how community recreation and culture contribute to social connection, health, inclusion, and city-building, and you are motivated by the opportunity to shape services that serve a diverse and growing population.

This role requires a high degree of independent responsibility, sound political and organizational acumen, and the ability to balance strategic vision with operational excellence. You are a people-centred leader who fosters a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement, empowering teams to deliver outstanding service while adapting to evolving community expectations.

What you will do

• Plan, assign, and direct the work of the Community Recreation and Culture Services division, ensuring high-quality, inclusive, and responsive programs, facilities, and services.
• Foster a culture of excellence through clear priorities, service standards, performance measures, and effective use of resources.
• Oversee the planning, delivery, and evaluation of recreation programs, community services, cultural initiatives, and community facilities to ensure accessibility, equity, and community impact.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal departments, community partners, non-profit organizations, and external agencies to advance shared objectives and service outcomes.
• Prepare, administer, and monitor operating and capital budgets for the division, ensuring sound financial management and accountability.
• Lead a team of five managers including four Community Recreation Managers and one Cultural Services Manager
• Provide leadership on policy development, risk management, and compliance with relevant legislation, bylaws, regulations, and corporate policies.
• Provide expert professional advice and prepare written reports, presentations, and recommendations for Council and senior leadership on matters related to community recreation and cultural services.
• Represent the City and the division at Council, Committee, community, and inter-agency meetings.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, mentorship, and succession planning within the division.
• Identify emerging trends, issues, and opportunities in recreation, culture, and community services, and recommend innovative approaches to service delivery.
• Support the planning and delivery of major initiatives, projects, and partnerships related to recreation, culture, and community development.
• Provide senior leadership in the planning, development, and opening of new community facilities, including the Burke Mountain Community Centre and Fraser Mills Community Centre, representing a significant opportunity to shape and deliver major new civic amenities for the community.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s or Undergraduate degree in Recreation Administration, Business Administration, Public Administration or a related field.
• Education supplemented with 7 or more years of progressive management experience.
• Thorough knowledge of legislation, regulations, policies and procedures that impact municipal recreation and culture services.

Preferred Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience within a municipal or public-sector recreation, culture, or community services environment.
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams and managing services in a unionized environment.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, policy development, and Council reporting.
• Experience managing complex budgets and overseeing diverse service portfolios, programs, or facilities.
• Professional designation or certification related to recreation, public administration, or leadership (e.g., CPRP, PMP) is an asset.

Other Requirements

• A strong people leader with a thorough understanding of the role recreation and culture plays in supporting community health and well-being.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to foster strong relationships amongst community interest holders, and to act as a representative of this service area at the Council and executive level;
• Ability to provide strategic advice, counsel and guidance on critical issues that have community impacts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to negotiate, influence, and liaise effectively with contractors, consultants, community groups, members of the public and external agencies.
• Advanced research, analytical and problem solving skills, with an ability to interpret emerging issues, and lead strategic planning initiatives as an integral part of a dynamic senior management team.
• Strong financial management skills with the ability to manage operational budgets and expenditures for the division.
• An understanding of the strategic direction of the City.
• Excellent leadership skills including management experience in overseeing recruitment, performance management and labour relations matters

What We Offer

This excluded position has an annual salary range of $168,338 - $189,357. The rate of pay is based on a variety of factors including qualifications, knowledge, experience and skills.

You will have the chance to join a rapidly growing and diverse team dedicated to supporting the local community, and be able to engage in variety of learning and development opportunities. Additionally, there is an opportunity to participate in an earned day off/flex day program. This position is based in Coquitlam with some flexible, hybrid work options available. The City offers an attractive vacation and extended benefits package, including the ability to contribute to the Municipal Pension Plan.

Accessibility / Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Coquitlam is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer working towards enhancing equitable practices in our recruitment and retention processes. As an organization we are committed to creating an inclusive work environment to support our growing and diverse work force. To learn more about what equity, diversity, and inclusion means, and the City’s efforts in support of these principles, please visit coquitlam.ca/edi for more information.

If at any time during the application or recruitment process you require additional assistance or an accommodation, please contact our team for confidential support. Staff can also provide in-person support if required.

Applicants under consideration may be required to undergo and submit an acceptable police information check.

Good people make Coquitlam great, sign up for career alerts through our recruitment portal to stay up to date about opportunities within our team, or follow us on LinkedIn to learn more about how #YouCouldWorkHere too!

Please apply online at www.coquitlam.ca/careers by 11:55 pm on February 17, 2026.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.