Director Parks & Parkways

New Direction New Orleans; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A city parks management organization in New Orleans seeks a Director of Parks and Parkways to oversee vibrant public spaces and ensure accessibility. This role requires strong leadership in managing parks, urban forestry, and community engagement. Ideal candidates have at least 8 years of relevant experience and a commitment to sustainability and public service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related fields preferred.
• At least 8 years of experience in parks management, urban forestry, landscape design, or public space administration.
• Experience in capital project planning, maintenance planning, and operational oversight.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage public-facing facilities.
• Commitment to sustainability and high-quality public service.

Responsibilities

• Direct capital improvements in recreation areas.
• Manage all city-owned parks and maintain public grounds.
• Oversee urban forestry programs and coordinate maintenance projects.
• Ensure safe and accessible park facilities for residents.
• Foster community engagement and partnerships.
• Coordinate capital improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and maintenance projects in recreation and park spaces
• Ensure safe, accessible, and well-maintained park facilities for residents and visitors. Promote access to parks, green spaces, and recreational amenities across all neighborhoods
• Work in partnership with the NORD Commission
• Foster community engagement, partnerships, and volunteer initiatives to support parks and recreation programming

Skills

Parks management

Urban forestry

Landscape design

Public space administration

Capital project planning

Leadership

Community engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in related fields

Job description

Director of Parks and Parkways

Deliverable to residents: The Director of Parks and Parkways ensures vibrant, accessible, and well-maintained parks, green spaces, and tree canopy to enhance quality of life and neighborhood livability. This role safeguards public spaces through proactive stewardship, maintenance, and capital planning.

Charter Authority & Scope

Oversees all functions of the Department of Parks and Parkways as established in Section 4-1701 of the City Charter. Responsible for the administration, control, and management of all parks (except where otherwise provided by law), the cultivation and maintenance of trees, shrubs, flowers, grass, and other plants on public grounds, and the embellishment of parks, parkways, highways, and other public spaces. Performs additional duties assigned by the Mayor.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct capital improvements in recreation areas and ensures access to public green spaces across neighborhoods
• Administer, control, and manage all city owned parks, except where otherwise provided by applicable laws
• Maintain and embellish parks, neutral grounds, parkways, highways, and other public grounds
• Cultivate, plant, maintain, and remove trees, shrubs, flowers, grass, and other plantings throughout public spaces
• Oversee urban forestry programs, including tree-planting, pruning, and canopy preservation initiatives.
• Coordinate capital improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and maintenance projects in recreation and park spaces
• Ensure safe, accessible, and well-maintained park facilities for residents and visitors. Promote access to parks, green spaces, and recreational amenities across all neighborhoods
• Work in partnership with the NORD Commission
• Foster community engagement, partnerships, and volunteer initiatives to support parks and recreation programming

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in related fields preferred.
• At least 8 years of experience in parks management, urban forestry, landscape design or public space administration
• Experience in capital project planning, maintenance planning, and operational oversight
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage public-facing facilities
• Commitment to sustainability and high-quality public service

Benefits

Benefits information will be available in the future.

Additional Metadata

• Seniority level: Director
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Other
• Industries: IT Services and IT Consulting