About The Position

Deputy Director Leadership Opportunities

Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is hiring two Deputy Directors to strengthen its executive leadership team. These roles support the Director in advancing high-quality services, strong operations, and meaningful community impact across the park system.

Deputy Director – Operations and Organizational Services

Leads the systems and infrastructure that support service delivery across the department. This role oversees financial management, human resources, and internal operations, while advancing efficient processes, strong workforce practices, and effective coordination of capital projects and partnerships.

Here's What You Can Expect To Do:

Direct financial oversight of operating, capital, and grant resources
Lead human resources strategy, workforce development, and labor relations
Strengthen internal systems, processes, and technology to improve efficiency
Coordinate capital planning and project implementation with internal and external partners

Deputy Director – Community Recreation & Youth Development

Leads citywide recreation and youth development programs, with a focus on welcoming, accessible services for all communities. This role oversees recreation centers, youth initiatives, and partnerships, while strengthening program quality, community connections, and long-term sustainability.

Here's What You Can Expect To Do:

Provide leadership for recreation center operations and youth development initiatives
Build and maintain partnerships with schools, community organizations, and public safety
Advance equitable access, participation, and community engagement
Support program sustainability through earned revenue strategies and service alignment

For more information and essential functions, see our Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation our job description.

Compensation And Benefits

The Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation is part of the Non-Represented City Managers employee group (Employee Group 17). The salary range for this position is $118,497.60 – $175,968.00 annually, with starting salary dependent on qualifications and experience.

Health & Insurance Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, the City of Saint Paul offers a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and work-life balance:

Employer-paid 100% of single health insurance premiums and 80% of dependent coverage
Employer-paid life insurance equal to 1.5x annual salary
Short-term and long-term disability coverage provided by the City

Time Off & Work-Life Balance

17–29 days of paid vacation annually
6 personal leave days each year (cashed out if unused)
11 paid holidays annually
Paid parental leave up to 8 weeks (320 hours)

Financial & Retirement Benefits

Deferred compensation match up to $2,500 annually
Eligibility for additional employer contributions
Potential for recognition pay up to 5% of annual salary based on performance

Saint Paul Parks and Recreation

For over one hundred years, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation has played a vital role in serving residents and visitors across the city. The department was founded on the vision of providing welcoming spaces, accessible programs, and meaningful recreational opportunities for all.

Today, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation manages a diverse system of parks, trails, recreation centers, and natural areas that support community well-being and quality of life. The department offers a wide range of programs and services, including youth development, athletics, environmental education, and community events, while caring for the city’s urban forest, parklands, and public spaces.

From neighborhood recreation centers to regional destinations like Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is committed to creating safe, vibrant, and inclusive spaces where all people can connect, learn, and thrive.

Equity, Inclusion and Belonging: The City of Saint Paul is dedicated to dismantling systemic racial, cultural, and economic barriers that prevent people from fully enjoying and participating in our community and ensuring fairness in opportunities and outcomes for all individuals. At the City of Saint Paul, we want our workforce to reflect the diverse city that we serve. Our leaders are guided by an unapologetic equity agenda, which promotes the belief that true equity is building a city that works for all of us. We encourage you to apply as we are most interested in finding the best candidate for this job.

Position Requirements

A Bachelor's Degree in Parks and Recreation Administration, Public Administration, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Sciences, or a related field and five (5) years of public administration experience, three (3) of which relate to the field of Parks and Recreation.

A combination of education and experience to equal 9 years or more can be used to qualify for the position.

How to Apply

Submit a City of Saint Paul online application by the closing date.
Upload the following required document(s) via the online application system. You will not be able to submit your application without the document(s) attached. (Zip files and web links will not be accepted. Each uploaded attachment is limited to 10MB.)
- A resume

First time applying online? Read our How to Apply Online Guide.

Need technical support? For help with the online application, please call 1-855-524-5627.

Learn more about our Hiring Process

Unclassified Posting: This is an UNCLASSIFIED position and is therefore not governed by City Civil Service Rules.

Selection Process: Applicants who meet the criteria and requirements stated on the job posting will be placed on a hiring list for consideration. Hiring Managers may interview/hire anyone from the list.

Final Selection Process: You will be notified if you are invited to participate in the final selection process which may include an interview, job simulation, work sample submission, or other evaluation method.

Pre-Employment Screening: This position requires a background check which may include criminal history, and employment history as a condition of employment. Candidates will be required to submit proof of education to Human Resources upon conditional job offer, if qualifying with education.

Human Resources Contact Information:

Michelle LeBow at 651-266-6519

Email: michelle.lebow@stpaul.gov

The City of Saint Paul encourages individuals to apply for positions regardless of criminal history.

Veteran’s Preference: If you are a veteran and would like to receive Veteran’s preference in accordance with MN Statute 197.455, you must submit a photocopy of your DD214 preferably at time of application. Click here for more information.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The City of Saint Paul is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Veterans, women, persons of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The City of Saint Paul offers a competitive benefits package for permanent, certified positions. Temporary positions are not eligible for benefits.

Benefits vary with each position and the collective bargaining agreement. Benefits may include:

City Paid Benefits

Health Insurance
Vacation/Holidays
Sick Leave
Life Insurance
Subsidized Metro Bus Pass
Deferred Compensation
Retirement Program

Optional Benefits

Dental
Flexible Spending Accounts
Disability Insurance
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
Long Term Care Insurance

For a Detailed Overview, Visit General Benefits.

01

The thorough completion of the supplemental questions is very important in the screening and application processes. In addition, documentation of work experience referred to in the supplemental questions must be included in the application. Your education, training, and experience are subject to verification. I understand that giving false information, failure to accurately represent myself, or not providing required documentation as listed on the job announcement will result in disqualification from this position.

02

Which of the following represents your highest level of completed education?

High School diploma or GED
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree
Doctorate
None

03

If you have a degree, please specify your field of study (major), such as Public Administration, Parks and Recreation, Business Administration, Environmental Sciences, or a related field.

04

Please select the position you are applying for. Your selection will determine which supplemental questions you must complete.

Deputy Director – Operations and Organizational Services (Complete Questions 5–7)
Deputy Director – Community Recreation & Youth Development (Complete Questions 8–10)
Both Deputy Director positions (Complete Questions 5–10)

05

Describe a resource allocation decision where every option had downsides. How did you decide, who disagreed, and how did you manage the impact of that decision? (Operations applicants)

06

Tell us about a time cross-functional work was breaking down and impacting service delivery. What did you do to realign teams that did not report to you? (Operations applicants)

07

Describe a time you needed to shift workforce culture, roles, or performance expectations to meet changing operational needs in a unionized environment. What made the change necessary? How did you approach it, and what resistance or tradeoffs did you encounter? (Operations applicants)

08

Describe a time when community feedback conflicted with organizational priorities, budget, or policy. How did you decide what to do, and how did you communicate that decision back to the community? (Community Recreation applicants)

09

Describe a partnership that was critical but fragile (e.g., competing agendas, low trust, or political sensitivity). What did you do to stabilize it and deliver results? (Community Recreation applicants)

10

How have you created or improved systems (not just processes) to ensure consistent program quality and safety across multiple sites or teams? What challenges did you experience and how did you overcome them? (Community Recreation applicants)

11

RECRUITMENT: How did you first find your way to our website to apply for this position? (check all that apply)

City of Saint Paul website
City of Saint Paul employee
City of Saint Paul job interest card
City of Saint Paul walk-in
City of Saint Paul Posted! newsletter
City of Saint Paul Gov.Delivery notifications
Friend or family member
League of Minnesota Cities website
Governmentjobs.com website
LinkedIn
Facebook
X (formerly known as Twitter)
Indeed.com website
ZipRecruiter
Pollen website
MinnesotaWorks.net
College or University
Community organization
Job fair
Professional association
Saint Paul Elevate Session
People of Color Career Fair
Other

12

RECRUITMENT: If not indicated above, please specify where you heard about the position (e.g., specific organization/website name, City of Saint Paul employee name).

13

Are you currently a Saint Paul resident?

Yes
No
Prefer not to answer

14

If you indicated "yes" as a current Saint Paul resident, please indicate your zip code.

Required Question

City of Saint Paul

New Jobs

Economic Development Intern

Community Recreation Leader

Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation