Community Services Director

City of Delano, CA; Delano (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Delano, CA is seeking an experienced Community Services Director to oversee the Parks and Recreation Division and Senior Center programs. The successful candidate will lead by example, foster teamwork, and maintain strong community connections to support city growth and program development.

Responsibilities include directing departmental programs, managing budgets and grants, preparing council reports, and mentoring staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in recreation, public administration, or related field.
• Master’s degree desirable; 5–7 years parks/recreation planning/program administration.
• 2–3 years supervisory experience required.
• Valid California driver license or equivalent may be required.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct activities of the Community Services Department.
• Oversee budgets, grants, and contracts in line with City goals.
• Prepare staff analyses, reports, and presentations for City Council.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate department staff.
• Coordinate with City Manager/Assistant City Manager on departmental priorities.

Skills

Budgeting

Staff supervision

Public administration

Parks & recreation

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree desirable

Tools

MS Office

Budgeting software

Job description

The City of Delano is looking for an experienced Community Services Director to oversee the City’s Parks and Recreation Division and Senior Center programs. Candidates should be innovated, flexible, prepared for constant growth and pivoting. Ideal candidates must be able to lead by example, foster strong team work, have excellent networking skills and be community-oriented.

JOB PURPOSE:

Under direction of the City Manager and/ or Assistant City Manager plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the Community Services Department that provides landscaping and maintenance of parks, maintenance districts, medians and other City properties, recreation programs, senior programs, aquatics programs, facility and park rentals, and other divisions/programs as assigned

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Disclaimer - This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed. Other cases related duties may also be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Assists in the development of City goals, objectives, and priorities for the City.
• Establishes departmental programs consistent with and supportive of these goals, objectives, and priorities.
• Plans, organizes, and directs all departmental/division programs.
• Oversees and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of all aspects of the department and assigned division’s programs in light of the City’s goals, objective, and priorities.
• Participates in the selection and assignment of department/division employees and provides for the supervision, and training of all such personnel.
• Assigns directs, evaluates, rewards and disciplines those employees directly supervised in accordance with City policy.
• Assures that department employees are instructed in job safe practices associated with their typical work environments.
• Researches and develops suggested changes to the department/division budgets during the City’s budgetary process that implements the established goals, objectives, and priorities of the City.
• Prepares City Council agenda items for review and approval by the City Manager, Assistant City Manager.
• Negotiates with outside entities concerning the establishment of approved contractual relationships with the City concerning those matters under assigned department(s)/divisions cognizance. Administers these and other City contracts that relate to and are within the scope of assigned department(s)/divisions responsibilities.
• Authorizes the purchase of departmental/division materials and equipment within established dollar limits and the appropriate coding of such purchases.
• Provides professional staff assistance, technical support, and advice to the City Manager, Assistant City Manager and other department heads.
• Drafts correspondence in response to public inquiries; monitor assigned department(s)/divisions program activities for compliance with regulations and City priorities.
• Prepares staff analysis and reports on various projects and programs.
• Presents analysis in both oral and written form through Council and other public presentations
• Plans, organizes, directs and coordinates activities of the Community Services Department.
• Attends Council Meetings as staff, and prepares staff reports and recommendations relating to program growth and development.
• Prepares implements and administers the City’s Community Services Plan.
• Estimates department revenues and expenses, including revenues and expenses associated with grants and contracts of assigned department(s)/divisions.
• Reviews, prepares, and administers budgets for each of the department(s)/divisions assigned.
• Recommends fee schedules for various programs and establish accounting procedures for collection of fees.
• Administers the City’s graffiti abatementprogram.
• Prepares or supervises the timely preparation of mandatory annual reports to the Federal, State, County and other agencies, as assigned.
• Prepares additional periodic reports for the City Manager and City Council.
• Researches and pursues funding sources through the preparation of grant applications for department/division activities and programs, as assigned.
• Applies/manages Park and Recreation grants.
• Performs a variety of other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of PC’s and related software.
• Principles, practices, and programs related to municipal parks and recreation.
• Administrative principles and methods of goal setting and program development.
• Principles, practices, and procedures in municipal budgeting, public administration and municipal management.
• Organization and management practices.
• Funding sources applicable to program and service development.
• Supervisory principles and practices as they relate to the public sector.
• Principles and practices of contract administration and evaluation.
• Applicable Federal, State and local laws, regulations and codes.

Skilled in:

• Planning, organizing, administering, and coordinating a variety of large and complex parks and recreation programs and services, and assigning and directing the work of staff.
• Providing skilled analytical and management staff support to the City Manager and/or Assistant City Manager.
• Reading, interpreting, and applying complex procedures, policies, rules and regulations.
• Negotiating and representing City interests.
• Preparing reports, correspondence and other written materials.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships
• Communicating with employees and employee representatives

Ability to:

• Plan, organize and direct the activities of several units engaged in a variety of maintenance, recreation, and senior service activities.
• Operate a PC and related software
• Maintain effective working relationships with other people
• Devise and operate effective internal control procedures.
• Assist in the development of complex operating and capital improvement budgets.
• Organize, assign, direct, review and evaluate the work of assigned staff.
• Communicate in oral and written English.
• Represent the City in meetings with representative of public and private organizations and the public.
• Physically be present at the worksite and work a 40 hour work week.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Any combination of education and experience that demonstrates possession of the requisite knowledge, skill and abilities. A typical way to obtain these would be:

• Bachelor’s Degree in recreation, physical education, public administration, or a related field.
• Master’s Degree in a related field is desirable.
• Five (5) to Seven (7) years of increasingly responsible parks and recreation planning, program development and program administration,
• Two (2) to Three (3) years of supervisory experience required
• Maintain a valid California Driver License with a driving record acceptable to the City.
• May be required to use his/her personal vehicle.
• Must show proof of automobile insurance coverage at or exceeding the minimums specified by city policy.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit.The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in indoor conditions and regularly works near video display. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.