Parks and Recreation Director

City of Kirkwood; Windsor Springs (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Kirkwood is seeking a Director of Parks and Recreation to plan, direct, and oversee a multi-facility department including parklands, community center, aquatic center, ice arena, and performing arts center.

Responsibilities include budgeting, program development, facility expansion, and staff leadership across roughly 26 FTEs and 200 PT staff, with strong focus on community engagement and policy alignment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in parks and recreation administration, recreation management, public administration, business administration, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in parks and recreation, recreation facility management, public administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of three years of supervisory or management experience.
• Experience managing budgets, programs, facilities, or departmental operations.
• Valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record, as required for the position.

Responsibilities

• Administers departmental budgets, directing and monitoring expenditures and revenues in accordance with approved appropriations, City policies, and applicable requirements.
• Evaluates departmental services, programs, and facilities and recommends improvements based on community needs, financial resources, industry trends, and best practices.
• Oversees recreation programs and facilities, including summer day camps, aquatic facilities, ice arena, tennis courts, performing arts center, athletic leagues, special events, and other recreational activities.
• Directs the maintenance, development, improvement, expansion, and use of City parklands, grounds, and recreation facilities.
• Advises the ACAO and Park Board on park planning, land use, facility development, operational procedures, and policies affecting parks and recreation services.
• Attends regular and special Park Board meetings and provides information, recommendations, and reports as needed.
• Prepares annual operating and capital budgets for Park Fund activities for Park Board consideration.
• Prepares annual budgets for programs and facilities funded through the City's General Fund and applicable sales tax funds for submission to the ACAO.
• Maintains effective relationships with residents, community organizations, businesses, employees, City officials, and other stakeholders.
• Develops and supports training and professional development opportunities to strengthen staff knowledge, performance, and leadership.
• Prepares special and routine reports regarding departmental operations, program performance, facility use, development, and other matters as directed by the Park Board or ACAO.
• Directs departmental staffing and operations, including assigning responsibilities, establishing goals and objectives, evaluating performance, and overseeing the recruitment and selection of seasonal employees.
• Oversees special events, including the annual fireworks display, and provides staff support to the Greentree Festival Committee, Arts Commission, and other committees as directed by the ACAO.
• Leads long‑range planning for parks and recreation services, including parkland acquisition, facility planning, design, construction, renovation, and expansion.
• Performs other related duties as directed by the ACAO and/or Park Board, consistent with the City Charter, ordinances, and applicable policies.

Skills

Parks admin

Budgeting & finance

Leadership & supervision

Strategic planning

Community engagement

Facility management

Education

Bachelors in related field

Job description

PRIMARY PURPOSE

Plans, directs, and oversees the City’s parks, recreation programs, facilities, and maintenance operations. Responsible for the management, development, maintenance, and expansion of City parklands and recreation facilities, including the community center, aquatic center complex, ice arena, and performing arts center. Ensures effective service delivery, responsible financial management, and alignment with City and Park Board policies and community needs.

SUPERVISION

Reports to the Kirkwood Park Board regarding Park Fund expenditures, property tax revenues, and activities under the Board's authority. Reports to the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (ACAO) regarding the management of programs and facilities funded by the City's General Fund and applicable sales tax funds.

Responsible for the direct or indirect supervision of approximately 26 full‑time and 200 part‑time employees through subordinate supervisors and other staff.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

• Administers departmental budgets, directing and monitoring expenditures and revenues in accordance with approved appropriations, City policies, and applicable requirements.
• Evaluates departmental services, programs, and facilities and recommends improvements based on community needs, financial resources, industry trends, and best practices.
• Oversees recreation programs and facilities, including summer day camps, aquatic facilities, ice arena, tennis courts, performing arts center, athletic leagues, special events, and other recreational activities.
• Directs the maintenance, development, improvement, expansion, and use of City parklands, grounds, and recreation facilities.
• Advises the ACAO and Park Board on park planning, land use, facility development, operational procedures, and policies affecting parks and recreation services.
• Attends regular and special Park Board meetings and provides information, recommendations, and reports as needed.
• Prepares annual operating and capital budgets for Park Fund activities for Park Board consideration.
• Prepares annual budgets for programs and facilities funded through the City's General Fund and applicable sales tax funds for submission to the ACAO.
• Maintains effective relationships with residents, community organizations, businesses, employees, City officials, and other stakeholders.
• Develops and supports training and professional development opportunities to strengthen staff knowledge, performance, and leadership.
• Prepares special and routine reports regarding departmental operations, program performance, facility use, development, and other matters as directed by the Park Board or ACAO.
• Directs departmental staffing and operations, including assigning responsibilities, establishing goals and objectives, evaluating performance, and overseeing the recruitment and selection of seasonal employees.
• Oversees special events, including the annual fireworks display, and provides staff support to the Greentree Festival Committee, Arts Commission, and other committees as directed by the ACAO.
• Leads long‑range planning for parks and recreation services, including parkland acquisition, facility planning, design, construction, renovation, and expansion.
• Performs other related duties as directed by the ACAO and/or Park Board, consistent with the City Charter, ordinances, and applicable policies.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES

• Comprehensive knowledge of parks and recreation administration, park maintenance, facility management, and development practices.
• Knowledge of organizational leadership, personnel management, strategic planning, and public‑sector administration.
• Knowledge of budgeting, financial management, revenue generation, cost analysis, and capital improvement planning.
• Knowledge of marketing, public relations, community engagement, and recreation program promotion.
• Knowledge of the operations and management of recreation facilities, including community centers, aquatic facilities, ice arenas, and performing arts centers.
• Ability to lead, develop, and supervise employees and subordinate managers in a complex, multi‑facility department.
• Ability to establish priorities, develop goals, evaluate performance, and implement effective operational improvements.
• Ability to analyze financial and operational data and make sound decisions regarding program costs, revenues, staffing, and resource allocation.
• Ability to develop, administer, and monitor operating and capital budgets.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with employees, City leadership, the Park Board, community groups, and the public.
• Ability to build collaborative working relationships and address community needs professionally and effectively.
• Ability to plan, organize, coordinate, and oversee diverse recreation programs, facilities, maintenance operations, and community events.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in parks and recreation administration, recreation management, public administration, business administration, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in parks and recreation, recreation facility management, public administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of three years of supervisory or management experience.
• Experience managing budgets, programs, facilities, or departmental operations.
• Valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record, as required for the position.

NOTE

This job description does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. The employee may be required to perform other duties as necessary for the effective operation of the department.