Help bring Durango’s community events to life! As the Community Events Recreation Coordinator, you’ll support permitted events from planning through teardown. You’ll spend most of your time in the field leading on-site operations, guiding seasonal staff and volunteers, and coordinating logistics as they unfold in real time. You’ll serve as the City’s on-site representative during events, working closely with organizers, partner agencies, and internal departments to carry out approved plans and support public safety operations. Your presence helps keep events running smoothly as crowds gather and activities kick off.

When you’re not in the field, you’ll support the behind-the-scenes work that makes successful events possible, including scheduling, equipment tracking, and documentation. If you enjoy staying active, coordinating moving parts, and bringing your community together, you’ll find this work both engaging and rewarding.

The starting pay for this position is $49,913 with opportunities for growth up to $69,878 per year based on long-term growth and performance within the role.

City of Durango’s Trail to Excellence

The City of Durango is a purpose-driven organization with more than 400 full-time and 300 part-time and seasonal employees across 15 departments, all working together to provide a wide range of services that keep our community running every day. From public safety and utilities to parks and recreation, our team is dedicated to delivering high-quality services that enhance the lives of all who live, work, and visit here.

At the city, we focus on continually improving how we work and serve the community. This effort is called the Trail to Excellence (T2E), and every employee plays a part in it. Whether you work outdoors, in an office, or lead a team, your daily efforts connect to the city’s mission of providing excellent service and reaching the city’s vision of being a multigenerational community that is authentic, diverse, engaged, thriving, and environmentally responsible. The full details of this vision are outlined in the city’s strategic plan.

As a member of our team, your work will be meaningful because:

Your ideas help shape citywide improvements.
The work you do ties directly into measurable goals.
You'll be part of a system that values collaboration, innovation, and results.

We're looking for team members who share our core values of teamwork, dependability, professionalism, service, respect, innovation, and wellbeing — and who are excited to make a difference in the community we serve.

What You’ll Do in This Role:

Spend approximately 70% of your time in the field as a lead on-site coordinator, guiding seasonal staff, volunteers, and contractors during event setup, operations, and teardown.
Directly handle the physical setup and removal of event infrastructure, including stages, tents, vehicle barriers, and traffic control devices.
Follow and monitor approved traffic control plans to maintain public safety and smooth event flow, making real-time adjustments as conditions change.
Serve as a primary point of contact on-site for event organizers, partner agencies, and visitors to verify that permit conditions and safety rules are followed.
Use the remaining 30% of your time in the shop or office to track inventory, perform basic repairs on equipment, and maintain organized storage areas.
Support the Community Events Supervisor with administrative tasks like scheduling, tracking event-related expenses, managing receipts, and assisting with permit processing.
Work closely with Police, Fire, and Environmental Health teams to coordinate safety and public health operations during permitted events.
Work outdoors in various weather conditions and maintain a flexible schedule that includes early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays to match the needs of the event calendar.

You Have:

A high school diploma or GED equivalent.
At least two years of experience in event operations, facilities setup, logistics, public works, parks operations, or a related field.
Experience working directly with community members and partner agencies.
A valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain one within 90 days of hire.
The ability to obtain CPR/AED and First Aid certification.

You Will Succeed in This Role If You:

Communicate clearly and professionally with a wide range of people.
Stay calm and make sound decisions in fast-paced or changing environments.
Are comfortable performing physical work outdoors.
Can organize schedules, equipment, and logistics while keeping safety top of mind.
Take initiative and work independently when needed.
Pay attention to details, especially when tracking equipment, expenses, and documentation.
Enjoy being part of a team that supports community connection and engagement.

What We Can Offer You:

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Ample personal time off (PTO) and 11 paid holidays.
401(a) retirement plan and optional deferred compensation plan.
Basic life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
Long-term disability coverage.
Paid Family and Medical Leave (FMLA).
Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Free access to the Durango Community Recreation Center and Chapman Hill Ice Rink & Ski Area.
Holistic Employee Wellness Program, addressing physical, mental, financial, and professional well-being.
Free transit pass and family member discounts.
Reimbursement for job-related classes to foster continuous learning.
Sixteen hours of volunteer time off per year to support local non-profit organizations.

Belong at the City of Durango:

We believe in creating an inclusive workforce that welcomes diversity of thoughts, viewpoints, and experiences.

The City of Durango is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis age 40 and over, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or any other applicable status protected by state or local law. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.

City of Durango

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Community Events Coordinator