Superintendent of Recreation

Mt. Prospect Golf Club; Mount Prospect (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Blue Cross Blue Shield healthinsurance

Principal dental insurance premiums

IMRF pension benefits

Principal short-term disability

Life insurance and AD&D

VSP-vision discount program

Principal 457 deferred compensation

Paid time off

Staff training and facility discounts

Job summary

Mt. Prospect Park District is seeking a full-time, exempt Superintendent of Recreation to lead the RecPlex, Aquatics, Athletics, and Fitness programs.

Reporting to the Director of Recreation, you will oversee staffing, budgets, capital projects, and safety, while driving community service and program quality. The role requires collaboration across departments, staff development, and strategic planning to align operations with district goals.

Qualifications

• Provide leadership, oversight, and strategic direction for RecPlex facility operations, Aquatics, Athletics, and Fitness.
• Supervise the RecPlex Facility Supervisor, Athletics Supervisor, Aquatics Manager, and Fitness Supervisor.
• Develop annual operating budgets, capital improvement requests, and long-range financial plans for assigned facilities and departments.
• Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate staff; manage risk and safety practices.
• Ensure compliance with Park District policies, applicable laws, and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the financial performance of RecPlex, Aquatics, Athletics, and Fitness, including operating and capital budgets, revenue and expense monitoring, purchasing practices, cost recovery, and adherence to approved budgetary guidelines.
• Lead the development of annual operating budgets, capital improvement requests, and long-range financial plans for assigned facilities and departments.
• Monitor and evaluate department performance through admissions, memberships, program registrations, participation, attendance, revenue, expenses, customer feedback, and other KPIs.
• Provide oversight of RecPlex facility operations through the RecPlex Facility Supervisor, including scheduling, rentals, staffing, hours of operation, and maintenance coordination.
• Provide oversight of aquatics, athletics, and fitness operations, including programming, staffing, safety procedures, and regulatory compliance.

Job description

Incorporated in 1955 and encompassing more than 454 acres, the Mt. Prospect Park District provides outstanding recreational programs, events, parks, facilities and services. With seven primary facilities and 27 neighborhood parks, the Park District is an integral part of a thriving multi-generational community. District open space includes two outdoor pools, biking and walking paths, a dog park and sizable space for outdoor athletic programming. The District covers over 11 square miles and serves a region of over a quarter million residents in Mount Prospect and surrounding communities. The Mt. Prospect Park District is a proud recipient of the 2026 Illinois Parks and Recreation Association Exceptional Workplace Award!

We are searching for a full-time, exempt, Superintendent of Recreation for our collaborative Recreation team! Reporting directly to the Director of Recreation, the Superintendent of Recreation is responsible for developing, managing, and promoting the District’s Aquatics, Athletics, and Fitness departments. Responsibilities include facilities, programming, budgeting, capital improvements, registration procedures, purchasing equipment and supplies, rentals, managerial duties, special events, risk management and administrative duties. Additionally, the Superintendent of Recreation directs and supervises Aquatics, Athletics, Fitness, and RecPlex Department personnel (full-time, part-time/IMRF and part-time) and is responsible for recruiting, hiring, training and evaluating staff.

The full-time Superintendent of Recreation must hold a valid driver’s license and be able to successfully pass a criminal background check and pre-employment physical with a drug screen. The target starting pay range for the Superintendent of Recreation is $80,000 - $95,000 annualized and depending on qualifications. Plus, we offer a generous benefits package including

• Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance (or health insurance opt out payment)
• employer paid premiums for Principal dental insurance
• IMRF pension benefits (Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund)
• employer paid premiums for Principal short-term disability
• life insurance and AD&D
• VSP-vision discount program
• Principal 457 deferred compensation savings plan
• paid time off
• employee training and park district facility discounts and usage benefits

Please see the Essential Duties, Secondary Duties and Qualifications listed below for more information.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Provide leadership, oversight, and strategic direction for RecPlex facility operations, Aquatics, Athletics, and Fitness, ensuring programs, services, and facilities align with the Park District’s mission, strategic goals, and community needs.

Provide direct supervision, leadership, and professional development for the full-time RecPlex Facility Supervisor, Athletics Supervisor, Aquatics Manager, and Fitness Supervisor.

Establish departmental goals, expectations, and performance standards. Conduct regular meetings with direct reports to review progress, address operational challenges, support professional development, and ensure accountability.

Oversee the financial performance of RecPlex, Aquatics, Athletics, and Fitness, including operating and capital budgets, revenue and expense monitoring, purchasing practices, cost recovery, and adherence to approved budgetary guidelines.

Lead the development of annual operating budgets, capital improvement requests, and long-range financial plans for assigned facilities and departments. Recommend adjustments to staffing, fees, programming, and operations based on financial performance and community needs.

Monitor and evaluate department performance through regular review of admissions, memberships, program registrations, participation, attendance, revenue, expenses, customer feedback, and other key performance indicators. Prepare recommendations to improve efficiency, service delivery, and financial sustainability.

Provide oversight of RecPlex facility operations through the RecPlex Facility Supervisor, including facility scheduling, customer service, rentals, building operations, staffing, hours of operation, fee collection, maintenance coordination, and daily operational procedures.

Provide oversight of aquatics operations through the Aquatics Manager, including indoor and outdoor pool operations, aquatic programming, lessons, rentals, special events, staffing, safety procedures, regulatory compliance, and facility readiness.

Provide oversight of athletics operations through the Athletics Supervisor, RecPlex Facility Supervisor and Fitness Supervisor, including youth and adult sports programming, leagues, tournaments, rentals, athletic special events, instructor coordination, and relationships with coaches, parents, participants, and affiliate organizations.

Provide oversight of fitness operations through the Fitness Supervisor, including fitness memberships, group exercise, personal training, fitness services, special events, equipment needs, and member engagement and retention initiatives.

Ensure supervisors and managers develop, maintain, and implement appropriate operating procedures, staffing plans, schedules, training programs, service standards, and performance evaluation processes for their respective areas.

Support the recruitment, selection, onboarding, training, development, and retention of full-time, and part-time employees. Ensure hiring and employment practices comply with Park District policies and procedures.

Ensure appropriate systems are in place to monitor part-time employee hours and applicable regulatory requirements.

Provide departmental oversight of risk management, emergency preparedness, and safety practices. Ensure appropriate procedures are established and maintained for facility inspections, incident reporting, emergency response, equipment safety, and regulatory compliance.

Coordinate with the Safety Coordinator to support CPR, First Aid, AED, lifeguard certification, and other required employee training and safety initiatives.

Ensure assigned facilities and programs comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory requirements, and Park District policies.

Collaborate with the Director of Recreation, other department superintendents, Buildings and Grounds, Parks and Planning, Human Resources, Risk Management, and other internal departments to coordinate facility needs, resolve operational issues, and support District-wide initiatives.

Develop, recommend, and participate in short- and long-term strategic planning for RecPlex, Aquatics, Athletics, and Fitness, including facility improvements, program expansion, operational enhancements, and emerging recreation trends.

Evaluate existing programs and services and identify opportunities for innovation, improved customer experience, increased participation, and expanded community access. Use community feedback, participation data, industry research, and best practices to guide recommendations.

Oversee the development and implementation of marketing, promotional, signage, and communication initiatives for assigned facilities and programs in coordination with the Community Relations and Marketing Department.

Ensure program and facility information is accurate and current across the Park District’s brochure, website, registration systems, and other communication channels.

Develop and maintain relationships with community organizations, athletic affiliates, coaches, vendors, contractors, professional associations, and other stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and enhance recreation opportunities.

Provide oversight of contracted services and vendor relationships associated with assigned facilities and departments, including vending services, equipment providers, instructors, and other contracted partners.

Prepare and present regular departmental updates, monthly Board reports, budget information, operational assessments, and recommendations for the Director of Recreation, Executive Director and Board of Commissioners, as requested.

Establish and maintain systems for collecting, reviewing, and analyzing participant and customer feedback. Use findings to recommend service improvements and monitor the effectiveness of implemented changes.

Ensure standard operating procedures, manuals, guidelines, inventories, and other departmental records are maintained and reviewed regularly by the appropriate supervisory staff.

Organize, attend, and provide leadership for athletic advisory committee meetings, coach and parent seminars, and other community engagement opportunities as needed.

Remain current with industry standards, emerging trends, and professional best practices in facility management, aquatics, athletics, fitness, recreation programming, customer service, and risk management.

Provide responsive, professional customer service and address escalated patron concerns, operational issues, and sensitive situations that require supervisory or departmental leadership.

Possess reliable personal transportation for travel between District facilities and parks.

SECONDARY DUTIES:

Serve on the safety Committee and other committees as assigned by the Director of Recreation. Provide input for risk management, safety, security plans, policies and procedures.

Perform additional duties as assigned which may be considered essential.

Perform all other duties as assigned by the Director of Recreation, and/or the Executive Director. However, in an emergency perform all duties as required.

Due to the needs of the Park District, evening and weekend hours may be required. Your work schedule may vary and your workweek may exceed regular hours at times.

Nothing contained herein shall preclude or limit the Park District from changing this written job description through addition, deletion or modification of essential job duties.

The Mt. Prospect Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.