SUPERINTENDENT - PARK MAINTENANCE

City of Long Beach; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Long Beach's Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine seeks a Park Maintenance Superintendent to lead the Grounds Maintenance Division, planning and supervising upkeep of parks, athletic fields, and other public facilities. This role reports to the Maintenance Operations Bureau and requires strong leadership and a commitment to public service.

The successful candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, at least three years of administrative and supervisory

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Parks and Recreation Administration, Public Administration, Horticulture, or closely related field.
• Three years of progressive administrative experience in contract/admin/grounds/landscape management; one year of supervisory/managerial experience.
• Valid driver’s license may be required for some assignments.

Responsibilities

• Plan and supervise grounds maintenance operations for the City's parks, athletic fields and other public facilities.
• Select, train, motivate, and discipline subordinate employees.
• Develop an effective water conservation strategy and water management plan.
• Monitor expenditures to guarantee the effective use of allocated financial resources.
• Develop and implement a long-term irrigation system replacement strategy.
• Oversee daily inspection and monitoring of contracted services to ensure contract compliance and documentation.
• Oversee the maintenance of City lakes, urban forest, nature center, Sunnyside cemetery and City cemetery.
• Prepare and present written and oral reports for various audiences.
• Prioritize assignments, while effectively responding to emergencies and resolving complaints.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Skills

Customer service

Organizational skills

Public speaking

Written communication

Oral communication

Education

Parks & Rec Admin

Public Administration

Horticulture

Job description

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine currently has one (1) opening available for Superintendent of Park Maintenance.

Appointment to this position is expected to be at or below the midpoint, $135,165.46 annually of the salary range, however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization

THE COMMUNITY

The City of Long Beach is located south of Los Angeles and adjacent to Orange County, making it an idyllic location with oceanside activities, diverse culture, and a unique economy. Long Beach is home to approximately 470,000 residents living across the area’s 51 square miles, including 166 parks with 27 community centers and many public spaces. This community is one of the most diverse in the United States, making it an excellent place to learn about and immerse yourself in various cultures. When you live in Long Beach, you get to enjoy the Southern California climate all year long, making surfing, hiking, golfing, and other outdoor activities popular in this area. Biking is a favorite pastime among residents, as this area is bike friendly. Walking around town is also easy, considering the City was rated the 10th “Most Walkable City” of over 100 cities globally. Long Beach features six miles of beaches and many parks and public spaces, as well as the Long Beach Convention Center, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, and the annual IndyCar Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

CITY GOVERNMENT

Long Beach operates as a charter city governed by an elected Mayor and nine City Council members elected by district. The City Manager, appointed by the Mayor and City Council, oversees the daily operations of 15 departments and a proposed FY26 citywide annual budget of $3.7B. The City employs over 6,000 full-time and part-time staff; dedicated to providing exceptional public services with the vast majority being represented by eleven employee associations.

• City Departments
• Proposed FY26 Budget
• 2030 Strategic Vision
• Elevate ’28 Infrastructure Investment Plan

The City of Long Beach fosters an environment where every employee is celebrated for their individuality and unique talents they bring to their role. Reflecting the diversity of the community within the workforce is a key priority embraced at every level of the organization—from management to policy creation. City Leadership actively promotes equity and inclusion by partnering with staff and community stakeholders to advance fairness in all initiatives. Transparency remains a cornerstone of these efforts with demographic data, including workforce diversity and pay equity by race and gender, shared publicly to ensure accountability and progress.

THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine is a nationally recognized and award-winning organization with 850 full-time/part-time staff and a budget of $85 million that makes our parks and beaches safe, welcoming spaces for all residents and visitors, putting people at the center of all we do – including our park users, partners, and team members – to create inclusive, enriching, healthy communities for all to thrive. The Department provides stewardship of 3,200 acres of land, and offers extensive recreational, social, and cultural programs for all ages at 166 parks in nearly every one of Long Beach’s diverse neighborhoods. Long Beach’s parks system and services are unique including, 27 community centers, 3 public pools, 2 historic ranchos, 5 municipal golf courses, 11 dog parks, 9 lakes and wetlands, 6 miles of beach, and the largest municipally operated recreational marina with 3,300 boat slips, and a 24 hour/7 day animal care operation.

THE POSITION

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine is seeking an energetic and dedicated professional to fill a Park Maintenance Superintendent position, which supports the Maintenance Operations Bureau. This position is responsible for planning and supervising grounds maintenance operations for the City's parks, athletic fields and other public facilities. This position is one of two superintendents that report to the Bureau Manager of Maintenance Operations.

• Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Grounds Maintenance Division;
• Select, train, motivate, and discipline subordinate employees;
• Develop an effective water conservation strategy and water management plan;
• Ensure the monitoring of expenditures to guarantee the effective use of allocated financial resources;
• Develop and implement a long-term irrigation system replacement strategy;
• Oversee daily inspection and monitoring of contracted services to ensure contract compliance and documentation;
• Oversee the maintenance of the City's lakes, urban forest, nature center, Sunnyside cemetery and City cemetery;
• Prepare and present written and oral reports for various audiences;
• Prioritize assignments, while effectively responding to emergencies and resolving complaints;
• Perform other related duties as required.

EDUCATION

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Parks and Recreation Administration, Public Administration, Horticulture, or a closely related field. Candidates may substitute experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position for the required education on a year-for-year basis. (Proof of education is required at time of submission, if applicable).

EXPERIENCE

• Three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in contract administration, grounds/landscaping management, project management, or a related field; including, one (1) year experience working in one or more of the following: turf maintenance, playground maintenance, landscape maintenance, urban forest management, pesticide application, and/or National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
• Must have at least one (1) year of supervisory or managerial level experience in a related field.
• A valid driver's license, or the ability to arrange necessary and timely transportation for field travel, may be required for some assignments.

The successful candidate will possess the following:

• Outstanding customer service and strong organizational skills;
• Excellent oral, written and public presentation skills;
• Ability to be sensitive to the Bureau's customers, community groups and community leaders;
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment;
• Ability and willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM PST on XXXX 2026.

The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as an individual with a disability, or other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We value diversity in our workforce and are committed to creating a workplace where every employee is respected and included. We strive to reflect the diversity of our community at all levels of the organization, promote fair and equitable employment practices, advance equity, and inclusion through our work with staff and community partners, and promote transparency by publishing workforce demographic information, including diversity and pay data by race and gender.

The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act.

Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.

The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the Unclassified Applicant Appeal Process by visiting Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov).

The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call [phone].