Division Chief (Manager II, Grade M2)

Montgomery Co; Wheaton (MD); On-site; USD 117,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Montgomery County Department of Recreation is seeking a Division Chief (Manager II) to provide strategic leadership for a broad portfolio of classes, camps, sports, and therapeutic recreation across Montgomery County. This role shapes how residents experience recreation, wellness, learning, and community across generations.

The leader will drive strategy-to-execution, inspire a talented workforce, and cultivate partnerships to ensure programs are innovative, accessible, and financially

Qualifications

• Seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in the parks and recreation field or related field.
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
• Valid Class C driver’s license when required for job-related duties.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction for a diverse portfolio of recreation programs and services.
• Lead through change and innovation, evaluating program effectiveness and growth opportunities.
• Champion inclusive and equitable recreation for residents of all ages and abilities.
• Lead a high-performing workforce with clear expectations and collaboration.
• Use data and community insight to drive decisions and inform recommendations.
• Oversee program budgets and steward resources responsibly and equitably.
• Build partnerships with government, nonprofits, schools, and businesses to expand impact.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Team leadership

Communication

Partnership building

Data-driven decisions

Budget management

Public sector

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

Please note: The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $116,956 to $190,359, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

WHO WE ARE

Montgomery County Department of Recreation is a nationally recognized and award-winning agency with a mission to provide high quality, diverse, and accessible community-based programs, activities, and services that serve the recreation and leisure needs of the Montgomery County community. The department manages 39 facilities, including recreation centers, senior centers, and indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities, and provides thousands of programs such as out-of-school activities, aquatics, classes, youth and adult sports programs and leagues, senior programs, and therapeutic recreation.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Montgomery County Department of Recreation is seeking an accomplished, visionary, and community-focused leader to serve as Division Chief (Manager II) and provide strategic leadership for one of the County’s most diverse and far-reaching portfolios of recreation programs and services.

This is an opportunity to shape how Montgomery County residents of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities experience recreation, wellness, learning, competition, connection, and community.

The Division Chief provides strategic vision, organizational leadership, and operational oversight for the Programming Division, one of the department’s most extensive and visible areas of service.

The Division encompasses Classes, Camps, Sports, Therapeutic Recreation, 55+ Programs, and Youth Development—a broad portfolio serving residents across generations, interests, abilities, and life stages.

This leader will be responsible for ensuring that Montgomery County Recreation’s programs remain relevant, innovative, accessible, financially responsible, and responsive to a changing community. The Division Chief will assess current services, identify opportunities for innovation and growth, anticipate emerging needs, and translate community priorities and organizational goals into effective programs and services.

This is a role for a leader who sees beyond day-to-day operations—someone who can connect strategy to execution, inspire a talented workforce, cultivate strong partnerships, and help define what exceptional public recreation looks like in a diverse and growing community.

THE DIVISION CHIEF WILL:

• Set strategic direction for a diverse portfolio of recreation programs and services, ensuring alignment with Montgomery County Recreation’s mission, organizational priorities, and community needs.
• Lead through change and innovation, identifying emerging trends, evaluating program effectiveness, and developing new or expanded services that anticipate the evolving needs of residents.
• Champion inclusive and equitable recreation, ensuring that programs and services are accessible, welcoming, and responsive to residents of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
• Lead and develop a high-performing workforce, establishing clear expectations, strengthening accountability, empowering employees, and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and service excellence.
• Use data and community insight to drive decisions, analyzing participation, operational, financial, and other relevant information to evaluate performance and inform strategic recommendations.
• Steward significant resources, overseeing program budgets and ensuring that financial and operational resources are used strategically, responsibly, and equitably.
• Build influential partnerships with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, schools, businesses, and other stakeholders to expand opportunities and strengthen community impact.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and senior representative of Montgomery County Recreation, communicating effectively with executive leadership, elected officials, employees, community partners, and residents.
• Translate complex issues into clear recommendations, preparing compelling written materials, briefings, presentations, and other communications for senior leaders and key stakeholders.
• Navigate competing priorities and complex challenges with sound judgment, flexibility, diplomacy, and a strong commitment to public service.
• Strengthen labor-management relationships, promoting an environment grounded in mutual trust, respect, open communication, collaboration, and shared accountability.

THE LEADER WE’RE SEEKING

We are looking for a strategic and people-centered executive who combines strong recreation and program management expertise with the ability to lead across a complex organization.

The ideal candidate will be a confident communicator and relationship builder who can move comfortably between strategic planning and operational execution. They will understand that exceptional recreation services require more than strong programs—they require engaged employees, effective partnerships, responsible stewardship of public resources, meaningful community engagement, and a willingness to continuously improve.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Significant experience leading recreation programs, community services, or a comparable portfolio of public-facing programs.
• A track record of strategic leadership, organizational management, and program innovation.
• The ability to assess complex information, identify priorities, and make thoughtful, data-informed recommendations.
• Strong financial and resource management skills, including experience overseeing budgets and allocating resources strategically.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with audiences ranging from frontline employees to senior executives and elected officials.
• Demonstrated success building collaborative relationships and strategic partnerships across organizational and community boundaries.

• A commitment to developing employees, fostering accountability, and creating a culture where people can do their best work.
• The ability to lead with integrity, empathy, sound judgment, and adaptability in a dynamic public-service environment.

Most importantly, we are seeking a leader who understands the transformative power of recreation and is energized by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Montgomery County residents.

JOIN US

Montgomery County Recreation is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and values the diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures that strengthen our organization and our community.

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. Bilingual candidates are also encouraged to apply.

This is an opportunity to join an award-winning organization, lead a talented and dedicated team, and help shape the future of recreation for one of the nation’s most diverse communities.

Some assignments require evening and weekend work, as well as occasional holiday coverage. The position also requires attendance at meetings and the ability to perform work at off-site locations.

The selected candidate will be designated as an Essential Employee and must report to work during general emergencies or periods of liberal leave.

As a manager or supervisor of unionized employees, the Division Chief is responsible for fostering a positive labor-management environment built on mutual trust, respect, communication, collaboration, and shared accountability.

• Experience: Seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in the parks and recreation field or related field (community services, public programming, hospitality, non-profit management). Three years of which were in a supervisory or executive capacity. Note: The term “executive” is further defined as a high echelon or high level position in an organization that is assigned technical research, management advisory services responsibilities, or policy-making duties and responsibilities that exerts considerable influence on organizational policy, plans, and operations through technical research, management advisory services, and/or policy-making duties and responsibilities (e.g., County positions at Grade 30 or above).
• Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree.
• Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
• LICENSE: Possession of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant's state of residence when required for job-related duties.