Work Period: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or as required

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in Parks & Recreation Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field (Master’s preferred). Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in parks & recreation administration, including supervisory experience.

Licenses and Certifications: Valid driver’s license and satisfactory motor vehicle record. CPRP or CPRE certification preferred.

Knowledge: Knowledge of municipal parks and recreation operations, best practices, and trends. Strong leadership, team-building, and staff development skills. Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, public presentations). Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities in a dynamic environment. Skills in budgeting, data analysis, and performance management. Ability to build collaborative relationships internally and externally; Skilled in strategic planning, organizational development, and employee performance management.

Skills: Skilled in planning, organizing, assigning, directing, and reviewing work; supervising, motivating, and evaluating staff to obtain effective results and meet established time frames. Interpersonal skills necessary to provide effective leadership to subordinates, maintain a variety of internal and external contacts, and work cooperatively with superior and subordinate staff. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing; exercise sound judgment in complex operational, personnel, and financial matters.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES: The Assistant Parks and Recreation Director oversees professional, skilled, maintenance, and administrative staff while supporting the Director in managing all departmental operations, programs, and services. The role provides leadership across multiple divisions, ensuring alignment with City policies, service standards, and organizational goals. It guides the development and execution of departmental initiatives, performance measures, and strategic priorities, and serves as acting Director when needed.

Department Leadership & Administration: Assist the Director in long‑range planning, policy development, budgeting, and department‑wide initiatives. Manage daily departmental operations in recreation, parks maintenance, aquatics, athletics, events, and other functional areas. Coordinate with division supervisors to establish goals, monitor performance, and ensure program effectiveness. Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, customer service, and continuous improvement throughout the department. Serve as Acting Director in the Director’s absence.

Staff Supervision & Development: Supervise, mentor, and evaluate assigned division managers and staff; establish performance expectations, promote professional development and support succession planning. Lead cross-functional team and collaborate with City departments to accomplish strategic initiatives and operational priorities. Promote a positive, inclusive work environment aligned with City values.

Project & Program Oversight: Oversee implementation of capital projects, facility improvements, grant‑funded initiatives, and special projects. Support the development and evaluation of recreation programs, community events, and service offerings. Ensure compliance with safety standards, policies, and federal/state/local regulations.

Budget & Resource Management: Assist in developing, administering, and monitoring the department’s operating and capital budgets while ensuring responsible stewardship of public resources. Monitor expenditures and financial performance across divisions. Identify grant opportunities and support grant applications, tracking, and reporting.

Community Engagement & Partnerships: Represent the department at public meetings, community events, advisory boards, and stakeholder gatherings. Build and maintain partnerships with schools, nonprofits, athletic associations, and community groups. Respond to citizen inquiries, complaints, and suggestions with professionalism and solutions-oriented communication. Develop collaborative partnerships that enhance recreational opportunities and improve quality of life for the community.

Operational Excellence: Support development and implementation of policies, procedures, and service standards. Oversee procurement processes, contract administration, vendor performance, and compliance with City purchasing policies. Lead or support emergency response operations, weather-related activations, or special incident management as assigned.

Examples of Other Major Responsibilities: Develops and maintains cooperative relationships with other City departments and the general public contacted in the course of work. Supervises the preparation of or prepares reports, papers, and other documents appropriate to the department; maintains and updates records and manuals. Keeps Director and City Managers informed of division's activities and problems; provides technical advice to Director in area of expertise. Presents exhibits and recommendations to various committees, commissions, and groups; examples include City Council, City Council Committees, Park Board, Park Board Committees, and civic groups. Represents the City at meetings and through correspondence with county, state, and federal agencies. Supervises and monitors in-house and contracted capital project installations. Regularly responsible for funds, building premises, inventory, or other property owned, controlled, or leased by the parks department. Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications. Performs other related duties as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Typical office environment combined with routine field visits to parks, facilities, and project sites. Occasional evening, weekend, and holiday work are required for meetings and special events. Must be available to respond after normal business hours for emergencies, weather events, community incidents, and other departmental operational needs.

Mental and Physical Abilities: Ability to maintain regular, predictable and punctual attendance. Analytical skills necessary to evaluate delivery of services critically, respond to deficiencies by identifying and implementing appropriate corrective actions, develop and administer sound policies, procedures and budgets, and oversee the work of others. Ability to concentrate and pay close attention to detail when preparing and reading reports, preparing budgets, or investigating citizen complaints; perform routing office work and conduct field inspections at parks, facilities, construction sites, and recreational events, including walking over uneven terrain. Limited amount of physical effort required associated with walking, standing, and lifting and carrying light objects approximately (5-10%) of work time.

Additional Information: Selected applicant must pass a background investigation and drug screen.

Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources jobs in Oklahoma City

Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation